The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-05-09
THE wliisrEiuNo GALLRRY.

i +
You have noted the aftlltersry features
Of the week. A statue Of Edgar Allan
Poe unveiled in New York; in London a
bust Of Samuel Taylor Coleridge; "the
Rayenn and .sThe Ancient Mariner A
memorable coincidence, and almost en-
tirely American, though the eifigies stand
three thousand miles apart. American
actors present the Poe, On American
clergyman bequcated the Coleridge and
the American Minister at London deliy-
cred The grafton. Coleridge, who was
aacouainted with grief who was pressed
for The means OF subsistence, helpless IN
Ills opium habit, who frightened children
with grave impromptu metaphysical lee.
lures. who felt and thought and gave the
world abundant thoughtful pleasure with
his pen. A resting place and u bust In
Westminster Abbey-this seems right
enough.
/ have been thinking about the Poe
affair. i have been thinking what ! would
saw II a child were to ask me IL Poe was q
great and good man that his countrymen
have raised two monuments to his
melnory-ifi In any way his life benefited
mankind. and If he made the world better
for liyingin.it. Mr.. Lowell had 10 make
s6me APOLOGIES for Colegridge; Mr.. Edwin,
Rooth and Rev. DR.. Alger, OF Boston, had
to make more for Poe. The very ute OIL
the clergyman's grafton was an apology
ssfhe Mission and the Error OF Genius, as
Seen In the Personality and Work o.
Eigar Allan Poe.n III rather 80 without
monument than furnish q text for such
q theme. So then it appears that this
monument has bees erected 70 Poe, notso
much to commemorate the writer Of
ingenious and melodious verse, but as, to
Perverted Genius q danger signal. Car.
lyle says sit Is mans success and depth OF
vision that makes him o poet II Foe
had sincerity his unpfej uaicea IN climates
and his literary remains belle him. a
man who dallies with sentimental
women, who cells the same manuscript
three times, who takes pay for a favorable
criticism aud does not give the criticism
Il lie sincere man Poe could not rise
above himself and he. honest and true.
Denth Of yision9 He lnd q weird, fan.
tastic sight. ThiBis not depth Of vision.
A skilled .yersiiler he was. Excellent
authority has spoken OF some OF his verses
\ Hiythmical rubbish, Carlyle says Of
die ysrse.maker sit Is only when the,
heart OF him Is fapt into passion Of
melody. and the very tones oil him, accord.
ine 70 loleridge' remark, become musical
by'the greatness, depth and music OF hb
tiionphts. that we can give him right to
rhyme and Sing; that We coll him him a
neet. and listen to him as the heroic OF
speakers, whose speecll . song.1 The
Save n talking % The Poet as Hero.n His
,.o,intrymen have made q hero OF Poe.
Canthis be the verdict Of deliberate Judge
ment? Isn't 1t rather canoniEing the Pre-,
cocity Of the spoiled child And Is this q
good theme for an eulogy in marble OF
bronze? The monuments OF this world
are not always equitably awarded.
-
Recently, l found myself in q social
gathering OF colorcd people, TO me a very
impressive and gratifying scene: There
were some light. tints, butthe dark faces
prevailed, and some Of them were very,
dark. one face was very striking, II 1
may be pertnittel 70 say 90 without
wotinding anybody feelings, II was q face
" beauty. Very tine features Of per;
fack rest,iaFity;, Weii.shapea head; eyes
thst beamed with intellect probably
I;thont cnltiyation); deep, rich russet
AIN much IKE that OF the Ztilus who
tra s. with Barnnm- those splendid
sSsslmens soi physical humanity. The
bsif Nm tight aud woody. think the
African blood was unmtxe 60 IN tne young
woman. This was 9 gatnetu l. 9. Wen
dressed, welEbehayed people, Theywere