The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-08-13
STORY OF A TRAGEDY.
RECALLING THE ROMANTIC HISTORY
OF EDITH MAY.
A Once Popular Writer who SIN Lam
cuisines In nm Insane AsyIum-Tho Au-
thor of HIbeOdOru,D

A Once Popular Writer who SIN Lam
Euishes In nm In-nno Asyium-Tho Au-
thor OF "Theodorn."
A letter from Montrose, Penn, says
The tragedy that recently startled this
usually quiet mountain city, wildly re-
calls a once familiar face that disap-
peared from these romantic scenes more
than a dozen years ago. When Joe
Drinker shot W. II. Cooper, the banker,
he assigned as his reason for the rash
act the fact that Cooper did not use his
influence to prevent the incarceration
Of the assassins sister, Anna, in an in
sane asylum, where she had been placed
some 30 years back. Anna Drinker, 70
or 30 years ago, gave promise of bril-
liant literary career by her writings
under the nam nc plume edith May"
IN those days northern Pennsylvania
seemed TO lac little better than wilder
ness to the dwcllcrs in the large cities,
and while few lovers Of literature knew
anything Of Moutrose, the readers OF
the HOme JO,unai, then edited by the
poets n. p. Willis and George p. Nor
ris, soon became familiar with the writ
ings Of Edith May" and sufficiently
interested In the writer TO ascertain that
her real name was Anna Drinker, the de-
scendant Of an ancient Philadelphia
family originally belonging to the
Society of Friends, and among the first
to claim for civilization the picturesque
mountain slopes and sequcstercd wales
Of northeastern Pennsylvania. Snsque-
hanna county was little better than a
wilderness when Miss Drinker began to
write, and the march Of settlement and
civilization had not driven from It's deep
and wooded valleys the wild deer and
other game which attracted the loot
steps of the hunter and furnished in.
SEPARATION for the pen Of the poet. Many
Of Miss Drinkers descriptive pieces
were devoted TO this charming region.
Her poems were full Of dramatic fire
and feryor, and cqualed in glowing
imagery Campbclls Gertrude Of
Wyoming" She seized ihc rich ma
terials at her hand and made them the
subject Of her sub inc thoughts. Her
writings were strong and striking, and
treated Of love and adventure with more
than womanly vigor. In the year 1853
volume Of her poems was published
by Butlcr & Co.. Of Philadelphia. II
was beautifully illustrated by some OF
her artist friends, and contained por-
trait Of the author. copied from sketch
u her by William II. Furness, Jr, son
Of the Rev, Dr. Furucss and brother Of
Mrs. Wister, well known as the trans
lator Of "Gold Elsie" and many other
delightful German tales. This volume
was introduced to the public by a brief
preface written by n. =. Willis, who,
after speaking particularly Of her won.
derfully strong and rhythmically beauti-
ful poem, "Te Dcum Laudamus," said
"Those who read this and the other
poems will have had star named to
them for whose future place and shining
they will look" He spoke truly, but
nnhnppiy the star soon disappeared
from the poetic armament, and Anna
Drinkcr became hopelcssly insane.
There were those, however, who cher
ished her memory tenderly, and among
whom by slow degrees spread the sor-
rowful tidings that from some ancestral
source had been transmitted to her the
fatal malndy that is worse than death,
because, while letting the body live it
kills the mind. For her, therefore,
seemed appropriate the lines OF her own
"Guido Savella :"
ooh the fame
a H.. ala
Her b'a2nucd missal, and the priest-like
voice
OF Reason dies in silence There are heard
No more amid her aisles fast crowding
thoughts,
No more the noble anthems Of her worship;
And Guldus soul is like some dim cathedral
That keeps with faint sweet light the hush
Of prayer
After the prayer hath ceased; the breath OF
incense
Burned upon shrnes, the solemn deep
vibrations
or music that falls trembling into stiffness"
In 1874, long after the edition of 1853
had been out Of print, second edition
was printed by James Miller, of New
York. The edition is also illustrated,
and contains number Of Miss Dinker's
DOtUlbi Wlllltu UlltI lHc t'illCl Nolumc
was issued. Among these is the charm.
ing and well.known poem entitled
"Thcodora," in which occur the follow.
ing lines:
"Sncc We know her for an angel,
Bearing meek the common load,
Let Us cali her Thoudura,
Gift of God
"ln her eyes are tranquil shadows
Lofty thoughts alone can make,
Like the darkness thrown by mountains
Ger the lake.
enc one mnlvcls at her beauty
Blended with perfect whole,
Beauty seems the Just expression
or her soul.
"Bc theme however homely
II Ia glorious Mt her WILL
Like n common air transiigured
by u masters skill.
And her words, severely simple
ASH drNpcry, Grcciun wrought,
Show the clear pymmetric outline
of hpr Thought