New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-05
HONOR TO EDGAR ALLAN POE.
THE MEMORIAL IN THE MUSEUM UNVEILED

stage sat Algernon s. Sullivan Edwin BOWL 10
winter the Rev. Arthur Brook, cyrus W. fieu' 80
Goodwin John Gilbert, John Biselow' william hounso
vile Alger Luther 4. Marsh. George Fawcels ho"o'
Carl schurz Edmund Clarence Stedmdn A NJ Isilno,
W. a. Mallory. the Rev. Rev. DR.. Phliip scn"n O'"'-N
di Cesnola. and others. -.
The Rev. Mr. Brooks offered prayer anu d" w
was played by orchestra conducted oy ui'"0i -,
AIgernon s. Sullivan made the Introductory "uui''''
part he said: ,..oo,.
and preserve the American memorial ny an Auei0a r
sculptor. Of great American poet viz" Than museum
1t will be shrine. The work haS Deen "' us
borne by by yne Mr. Ld%n Booth, who was
warmly seconded by such eminent actors az Lester
lsck iseph Jefferson, John Mccullough. John Gilbert
Clara Morris and Mary Anderson. American mhnagorT,
too lent their warm efforts TO us pa n,er
Mr. Mallory and Mr. Abbey. Literary men, artists ana
every profession represented III ths n1Oo Is tba
memoria lie genius Bahled and "a ldened genius tna
he was he pointed American Thought 10 the delneaaon
OF depths Of passion never 90 he directors of this
Museum, cOnsecrate the shrine where yohuer nAi'o
stands as the Poets Corner.
MIR. Sullivan then introduced Edwin Booth, who de-
livered the speech OF presentation IN Dehaii Vi '"0
Of New-York. He said:
II was NY privilege have leading hand IN the nrst
dramatic performance that was given Tor tno p pull aGso
because my countryiuen have vouchsafed TO Ine
prominent place in the dramatic professor rs,s OF This
proper that should pariit IN tne f NewYoTk
oc ion speaking in behalf Of the actors OF
Metropolitan Museum of Art This duty Is equally IN
honor and pleasure to perform; noti nPotesson
wnen declare that tho American stage Is pl4uu " ~
glad have been the means OF paying TINS auarIy
American literature The art OF the actor IS pecuay
sensitive the bond of fraternity WHEN ult1 a., az o
arts in one family but its kindred Is nearest ana ls on
iigaon is deepest to the art OF the poet Mtnout,
Shakespeare would lack it, chie resources Vi
dramatic poet lie wrote little in the dramatic form.
nothing that was ever acted Yet nc Was vy ',i,ht
in ms prose IA well i'll his verse And every IhOught
f actor is aware that the success OF thehtfcal arr
considerably 10 the Influence OF poetry ~ tne puo
mind influence which aitnhes II 10 ~ enot 20 1--WE
full, majestic otherwise Impressive w ne ac.eu tr
senlstiOu OF human life II always w0uu ne tbepe
the stage to honor true poet III t1 hnn az red
special reason for the tribute that mas Deeh
referred 10 his mother Elizabeth Arnold, a.
ga who although wei oorh, - no ~
! genius and beauty" This was at time wneh '9e
theatre less respected than II Is at present.
Bottle The Fail of the House OF Usher anu ne
Haunted Palace. actors IKE o'her reaue'S ~, in he
III .lnihcence OF his conceptions the weirdme7s W @
picture and the vitality o.. mis- dction has rvatd even
tbe wonderful originality and splendOr OF COlerdgo
! But they remember also with sentiment oI
personal pride that be was man OF theatrical n1a
While drploring faults, they exut III his noble lnle
| lectul powers and HIS eyergr"wng ren"wn; Aiutrca
may hal him as her most original autn"L an H.
viii always rejoice in hun as Que OF her chlareD ie
gypsy blood that runs IN her veins ran iso ~ M M o,yr
the exuberance OF his imagination she sees tho Po"'
| and the freedom of her own wild spirit
To the Metropolitan Museum OF Art, IN 'he name ths
! friends who assisted in their work. now
be peeserved under the rovercnt protection OF American
schOarShip permanent tribute 10 genius anu iStln
flight years this structure with all ts hao"eu reO'
OF the past shall have crumbled into dust
After "a selection from B.cthoven's Firth symphony
had been played by the orchestra, John Gilbert amid
loud applause the waving OF handkercheis
and every demonstration OF ehthusia'h'
gave the signal whiJh unveiled tho memorial
1t stands against the right wall near the north entrance
of the Museum. slab OF white marble rises straight
III. Uh A
i'm bronze inlAid. marble figure OF PoeSy STANDS
upon the pedestal and holds wreath of flowers around
the bronze bust In gilt letters the following inoerp-
ton IL written in the slab directly below the bust
| This Memorial expressing deep an personal sympa
thy between the Stage AMI the Literature OF Ansgoa
was placed here by tne Act2ss Oh En- Aim
Pc whose parents D'y wif. rOS Mere actors.
and whose renown should therefore be cherished win
.cuar ana pride BY the dramatic profession
He was bori, in Boston, the 10Th day OF January 1904
He died in Baltimore tie I'm day OF Octonr lot1 ,
wreiched death But in his fame he is immortal
scplus vents agitatur ingehs
Decduni turres. ferinntquo summos
FulguTa moEtes
Tnespeech of acceptance behalf OF the Museum was
made By General L. p. di Cesnoia II was short ana
formal address conveying tue pleasure which the direct
ors felt in accepting beautiful aui suggestive me-
mortal An anthem. the words OF which were written
| by G. f. Montgomery was sung The chorus contained
class of the New.YOrk College OF Music the cholrs oil
81 Thomass and All Souls Cnarches. and the Ncw'York
| Banks Glee Club.
/ Tho commemorative Grafton on "The Mission and the
Errors of G. ,ns as seen the Person atty and Works
of Edgar Allan Poe" was delivered by william Rounse-
| vile Alger. He said in Substance:
superor souls find nothing else In the universe so at
ractive superior soul ms taste - no exclusive
marx of the few bat belongs to the general public There
,rs oOI gpowjH H1p faer and That general
level Is swallowing up o., nc ~, n,,r
dys TO win and keep conspicuous place before the pub
lie than formerly but It is not true that genuine grrat
or less authoritative over them thah ia earlier
periods OF history Genus Iress't'oy M nronor
ton 10 the Uvidness with which II ~ seen SIX
~ cailnng the remembrance and study OF postery
First the genius or characters second the venus OF nc
fourth the genius Of sciences fth genius OF creative art
The sixth form which genlns assumes Is when inc SUP
jet OF IL betrays his mission by negeclhg 70 PIactSe
the virtues requisite for It's fnnlmen ana ehhDI as
warning spectacle the most melancholy failure and
wretchedness ever known among men rms ~ an eh-
perience whose lesson mankind needs ana from wich,
eSes IT nav be asked Why is selected FROM among
70 many purrr men have the honor OF monumental
tenseIy significant and interesting to humanity ana
his experience profoundly affecting pno instructive
The Mission Of genius is 10 med ate between the uni
verse the unknown and the universe OF the act.l,
bringing beauty and Impulse from the FORMER INTO
the latter for the blessing OF mankind. The error OK
genius is Instead Of using its great gift for the service OF
nmanity and the glory Of God peryert TO the end
F seif ynoyment or ostentatlon. Another error OF
genius is instead Of working herocaly Tor success 10
trust to inspiration. The final error is when the IN,
spiraon gives out seek 10 replace by an artificial
excitement This is the history OF thousand melan-
cnOy examples. ,--- .,....au,. .,ho
transacted their affairs from day 10 Gay,
have gone like so many shadows OF clouds But he enid
ofintuitiOna being and passion, had Imagination Weh
creates worlds wherever 1t goes aud nagnnes
lis ccOmpahying states OF consciousness 10 INDEFINITE
! dinIensions. and we make pgrimagrs 10 the places
! where lie tarTied, and muse on MS
memory meSSo with nnfat6omable wonier and sorrow
s nrryOus system filled with cairvOyant "reminiscences
OF persistent states lucid and tngng with the myter
ies of unkuOwn spheres, the fixed seat OF emotional
moods which bri ged the whole borderland between III
sanity and inspiration, he Wandered tntVugh Wv. III 10
nIL.A.. .a.lEI Lll