The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1888-02-25
THE FIRST AND LAST LOVE OF
EDGAR POE.

GrcuitSu WIN tIie l)OSScSSlOU- Ol
the divine spark of genius seems
to be separated toa great extent
FROM human sympathy as night
be expected in the case Of :
superior being, On the other
hand, they are ocjects of pro,
found personal curiosity. Just
such person was Edgar A. Poe.
Nobody seemed to have loved Poe,
but few msn in this day have
been objects 0 such intense per-
sonal inteles Everything that
pertains to him is deyoured with
eager curiosity.
On last Sunday, at Richmond,
Va, was laid away 10 her final
rest woman who once figured
prominently in the life of the
poet, being pe,haps the earliest
object of his love. Mrs. Sarah
Elmira Shelton, an old lady of
70, no longer possessing any Of
the personal charms that had COM
manoed the admiration of that
strange child of genius, was per-
haps the only person who could
speak authori:atively upon the
history OF the last few months of
his life spent in the city of Rich
moud. Although, so intimate
was her connection with him, his
life and inmost thoughts at that
tune must have been as an open
book to her, when death had onco
pu. an irreyocable seal upon his
lips her own closed too upon those
pag, of his existence, and but
seldom were her references to the
tlark-eyed, passionate man who,
in youthful days, had dedicated
effusive lyrics to herself, and at a
much later period once more be.
came a suiior for her hand, and
died, it Is presumed, her betro' h.
ed. She was his Fl st and lasl
love.
The Richmond Wing, speaking
OF the death of this lady, says.
In 1925, when Poe was repar-
ing to enter the University OF
Virginia, he experienced his in
novation into the field of love.
Studies wsle for the time beng
neglected and the ardent neophyIe
poured forth his souls yearniags
IN poctical effu,ions that, fvrtu,
nately or ot!ierwIs", seldom reach
cd the one whose charms had
awakcned them.
His dcvoions at the time were
concentrated upon Miss Saral
Elmira Roystcr, the daughter OF
neighbor Of Mr.. Allen, then
living IN Richmond, who hat
adopted the boy when left al
orphsn in lSe9. The letters tia
never came failed to awaken !
responsive love in the bosom d
the girl, and The romance culIni
mated in her early marriage to ;
merchant, and the outbrrst o
some Byronicsl verse on the par
oithe duped suilor.
Pos's adventures at college, il
The United States army at Wes
Point and his subsequent errati
literary career, are SO well know
in this CRY, where lis writing
still remain popular, as to rende
repetition unnecessary.
His later connection with Mrs
Shelton may not be so wei
known.
He was married To his cousil
Virginia CIcmm, on May 1G, 1886
in this city, where he was thor
engaged as editor of the Souther
Literary Messenger. Al littll
less than a year later, having re
signed, he removed to Philadel
phia, where he soon assum ed thi
editorship of Burton's Gentle
mans Magazine. After leayin,
that Journal, and spending yea
at the head of Graham ) Magazine
ne removed to New York, where
on Jan. 80. 1917, his wife died.
The second passion Of his iii
was Inspired by Sarah Heller
Whitman. a poetess of Providence
Ills first efforts towards induciH.
her to consent to become his wifi
utterly failed, and early in 1874
he came to Richmond. Here b
once more met Miss Royster, noy
the widow Shelton.
In the 'sIsife of Poe in Ia
American Men of Letter Series,
It Is said: "She was well lsupplie
with worldly goods and well dis
Posed towarus himself He wa
about to propose to hel. when Il
received letter from Mrs. Whit
man, and once more his ickl
fancy turned IN that direction.
Leaving Richmond soon after
ne called upon Mrs. Whitman q
II