Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-14
lancaster !9ntelligenccr.
EuaAk POE,s COTTAGE,

EDGAR POE'S COITAdE,
wbere he wro,o :. The Raven." sold Under
the SheriH's Hammer.
New York Herald.
In the spring of 1916 Edgar Allen Poe,
with his invalid wife and his mother-in-
law, moved from the noise and hustle of
New York life to a small cottage in the
quiet village of Fordham. This cottage
was sold on Saturday under foreclosure
for $500. The plaintiff, Mr.. Nelson
Strang, was the purchaser.
Near the house is Syringa, planted by
the poet. 1t is a tall, struggling bush, in
keeping with its surroundings. Bending
down a lilac Mrs. Dockert broke a hand
full of the fragrant flowers, and, giving
them to her visitor, sent him away, say
ing: "YOu have seen the cottage you
can hear something of its master by call
ing on Mrs. Cromwell.
Turning to the right at the first corner
and following the shell path is another
white cottage, in which Mrs. Cromwell
lives.
"What do you want to know about
Eddie Poe ?" she said ; he's been dead
SO long thought he was forgotten. Well.
it's mighty curious. You folks think
more of him now than you did when he
was alive"
"You knew him % the reporter asked.
"Knew Eddie Poe? Why, was the
first neighbor his folks got acquainted
with when they moved out here thirty.
seven years ago. Mr.. Poe found me him
self in the cherry tree and he took me
right over to see his wife, poor woman, and
his mother-in-law. used to 60 over there
very often."
"Did you know much of the family p
"I knew they were mighty poor
poorer than | ever was or ever expect to
be. They lived hard over there, and
didn't have much that was nice. MIR. Poe
was good man--when he wasn't drink
ing. He seemed very fond of that poor
sick wife of his. Mrs. GLENN used to
watch him mighty close, and I've known
her to 90 to New York twice a day to
tend to his business just to keep him
from going. She knew he would get in
bad company and 90 to drinking again.
Why, I've seen him when three men
couldn't hold him in the bed. But there
wasn't better man in tho world when he
was sober. He was very fond of flowers
and used to tramp all over the woods to
find 'em. He loved birds, too and had
lots of 'em singing in his yard. He was
the greatest walker / ever saw, and used
to go to White Plains-16 miles-and
back in day. and many'; the night he
has wandered over these hills without a
coat or hat.
"When his wife died Mr.. Poe took il
mighty hard. She was buried up in tn G
old Dutch cemetery, but they afterward
moved her to Baltimore, about five years
ago. He used to cry over her grave
every day and kept it green with flow
ers.''
You have some relics, believe %
"This is the chair he used to sit in
said the old lady, rising slowly. 6 It's
just exactly like it was when | got it, ex
cept that iron strap on the arm. Some
body broke it and had it mended Here
is his own Bible, and his clock is upstairs
if you want to see it,"
1t is an eight day clock, running yet rs
it has for 36 years. The chair has been in
consta: use, but has the same cane iu
back and seat it had when the poet sal
in it.
81 bought the chair and clock" con
tinued Mrs. Cromwell. but Mrs. Clemm
gave me the Bible, and I'll never part with
it. / might sell the other things, but il
you are all going to think so much Of Mr.
Poe, l guess Pll have to think something
of him too.'
In the old Bible one passage was fount
marked-JOb, vii. 1G-'I loath it, would
not live always let me alone for my day,
arc vanity
Where did you get those flowers p
Mrs. Cromwell asked. cover at tho cot
tage, reckon. Ycu are all just alike anf
60 crazy about nothing. | wonder how
many more will want to hear abont Eddie
Poe >"