The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-01-04
EDGAR ALLAN POE.
A Good Word for the Brilliant
Poet.

[ have just read perhaps for the one
hundredth time, "The Raven" and 1.-THE
Bells" There is sublimity, inexplicable
grandeur in these poems, and methinks
their inebriate author far outranks our
Longfellow, who is only recently de-
missed. In this connection, must pre-
face this short biography with the reason
why I am impelled to write concerning
this brilliant, but cratic genius. OF
late, many writers are commenting on
his life, and as it is involved in more
uncertainty than that of any other Am
erican poet of celebrity, and more in
deed than that OF any writer of equal
eminence in this country, l
think their sayings unjust ard
uncalled for in every respect.
In the December number of the atlantic
Monthly, a Mr.. G. e. Woodbury. attempts
errors connected with "Poe's Legendary
Years" For all time will that portion
of his life, extending from the Christmas
holidays of 1926 to the fall of 1885, when
the novelist Kennedy found him starry
ing in Baltimore, be wrapt in oblivion.
In 1926, Poe was justentering his eight
zenith year. Griswold, in his "Poets
and Poetry of America" says Poe had
contracted some debts of honor, which
his guardian, Mr. Allan refused to pay.
This so thoroughly incensed the young
man that he determined to quit his
native shores and assist the Greeks
who were then struggling for liberty.
l am. of course, forced to conjecture
that Poe was penniless and that he en-
gagged himself as sailor to some mer-
chairman, so that he could get to
Greece. Reports of this voyage are so
conflicting that l give the most
plausible. He missed his destination
and returned to the United States in
1927 and enlisted as private soldier in
the army of the United States. The rec
ords of the army give us this informa-
ton: Edgar E. Perry; age % years;
gray eyes; fair complexion; five feet
eight inches in height" By further re-
searches among the musty old papers of
the War Department, it is ascertained
that Poe alias Perry was attached to
III battery of the First Artillery, and
that he served at Fort independence,
Fort Moultrie and Fortress Monroe.
During his experience as an ar
tillerymen. he held the positions
of company clerk and commissary clerk,
and, by his good behavior, winning the
good will of the officers of the battery,
was made Sergeant Major During his
service he was a total abstainer, and it
was in 1929, he acquainted Mr.. Allan
with his whereabouts. 1t was through
the kindness of General Scott that he
was released from the army and OBJ
tanned a cadets warrant to West Point
Military Academy. Being duly en-
4ar 1nf Ha oovCa1 h.r,calf 20
be court-martialed, after brief sojourn
desired to quit military life, and live
by his pen. as he would receive moth
ing from his guardian, on the latter's
demise, on account of an heir being
born to Mr.. Allan.
In justice to poor Poe, do not I'M
derstand the reason for unearthing the
bitter side of his checkered career.
His English biographer says, Edgar
Poe was absent on his Hellenic journey
about eighteen months" Another
writer who knew him in London, adds
that whilst there Poe formed the
acquaintance of Leigh Hunt and
Theodore Hook, and, like them, eked
out meagre subsistence by his pen.
Poe himself in a narrative, dictated TO
Mrs. Maria l.. Shaw, of New York,
when he thought himself dying, said
that during his meanderings over
Europe he fought duel about lady
in France, and that he wrote a novel
based ON his own history. French
version of which was published and
accredited to Eugene Sue. Whether
| Poe was the hero some say he was or
not, is a mystery and will remain so, Is
my opinion.
Let us throw the mantle of charity
over him, though he was drunkard, at
times hard drinker, oft times migrate
fuIsand probably untruthful; his writ
ings survive him, and amply atone for
| his misdeeds. His life was a most
wretched one, and this generation,
which in the main deplore his untimely
death and its attendant circumstances,
are Justly proud of their possessions
the heritage of his creations. Let US
not sit in Judgment on him, but act as
humanitarians and pay tribute to his
genius. Ignored by all he held most dear,
starving, lily clad and exposed to many
a wintry blast, Poe wrote "The Raven"
and 1.-The Bells" verses unequaled,
brilliant beyond criticism, left for our
endowment His cold form was con-
signed r. its last resting place thirty-fve
wears ago. A more suitable epitaph
than " Nevermore" cannot be inscribed
on the stone at his head. l may close
these few lines with the prediction that
greater men may live; better men may
rise before the public gaze; but never
again will we witness that unexampled
and unparalleled combination of cold
intellectually and brilliant Imagination
which shone so Respondent in that sac
genius. We will never look upon his
like again.
January LIST, 1885.
Trough on Itch"