Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-06
POE AS A SCH0OLB0Y
he WAS A NATURAL POET, BUT NOT
so VERY STuDIOUS.
An Interview In Which His Teacher FRO
fessor CiarEe, Gives Interesting RENT.
niscsnccs Of His School Days.

Mr.. ]. p. Clarke. OF Washington, who
has a number OF friends among the
furniture dealers of Richmond. spent seve-
raj days here last week. While In con-
yersation with representative OF the
Dispatch, who met him at Murphy's Hotel.
Mr. Clarke took from his pocket news
paper clipping. which proved to be OF de-
cided interest. II was an interview copied
from the Baltimore Bulletin in u st.
Louis paper OF December 30. 1879 in which
Mr.. Clarkes father, Professor ]. II.
Clarke, who died in 1885, at the advanced
age OF s6 years, gave some interesting
"reminiscences OF Edgar Allen Poe, who
was his pupil at one time. Professor
Clarke left a family of one son and eight
daughters, nearly all OF whom reside In
Baltimore.
THE POET AS A PUPIL.
Mr. Clarke permitted the Dispatch to
reproduce the Bulletins interview, which
IL given below, and will be read with
keen interest here in Richmond. where the
poet-genlus spent his boyhood days.
one of the Bulletins staff a day or
two ago had the good fortune 10 have
nm interview with the venerable Joseph
II. Clarke, now 50 years old, who was
the early preceptor of the poet Edgar
Allen Poe. In Eugene J.. DIdiec's me-
moirs of Edgar Allen Poe, the following
occurs: ''On Mr.. and Mrs. Aliens return
from their two years visit to England
Mr.. Allen placed Poe in the academy OF
Professor Joseph II. Clarke. of Trinity
College Dublin. who kept an English and
classical school at Richmond from 1916
TO 1926"
Mr.. Clarke greeted the Bulletin repre-
sentative cordially, but IL was PLAIN 10
see that the aged man. though physi-
cally as hearty as many man thirty
years his junior. had grown mentally fee
BILE under the weight of many years.
When the old gentleman was seated, the
reporter explained that he waited any
"reminiscences of Poe that he could give.
a BORN POET.
Edgar. Edgar" said the oil man.
rising with a PARKWAY look. as memories
OF old times fitted through his mind.
"Why, he was a born poet. one day
Mr.. Allan came to me and said: ME.
Clarke, | have heard much about your
school. and as Edgar shows a decided
aptness for classics. | have determined
to place him under your care THIS was
about 1920 or '2l. and Edgar entered my
school lie became one Of the most dis
tnguished of ny scholars. lie and Nat.
Howard were in the same class. Nat.
was as good. If not better, than Edgar
I'm the classics but Nat. couldn't write
poetry like Edgar could. Edgar was a
poet I'm every sense Of the word. one
y.r h ion a
and Edgar both wrote me a compliment
tary letter Mats was written IN Latin,
after Horace, but Edgar's was written
In poetry. | came to Baltimore that sum-
mer. and | showed those letters 10 Rev.
Mr.. Damphoux, of 81. Mary's College,
and what do you think he said? MI.
Clarke. these compositions would 30
honor and credit 10 the best elucated
professor in my college on. yes, Edgar
was a poet. and be wasn't more than
u or II when he wrote that otter 70
me-"
RETURNED THE LETTERS.
"Dld you keep It? Have you 1t now?'
the reporter asked. eagerly.
NO. no" the old gentleman al 'wered'
sadly. II returned it 10 Edgar. one day
after had come to Baltimore from Rich
mond. Edgar came To visit me. toIn
him about the letters, and Edgar rose
and said. with such n strange. yearnlnS
look in his eyes: You couldn't 10 Rat
Howard and me "a greater favor man ID
return us those Letters. | think Nat
would Ike to have his. and / am sure
would give worlds for mine | save them
to him" -.
"yrh.n Won have no rnemento Of l'oe?'
The old man sadly answered, 40, sir;
that's one thing ] always regretted, not
having kent some Of Edgar's notes or
poems. But then, you know, ! cou'dnt
tell at that time that Edgar would ever
be Il great man"
PRETTY HAIR AND EYES.
Wasn't Poe very handsome roy
Professor?'
well he had very pretty eyes and hair
and rather an effeminate face. but
don,t think ne WAS beautiful boy. He
had a very sweet disposition. He VAS al
WAYS cheerful. br.mful of mlrth, ana
very great favorite with his schoolmates.
I never had occasion Ia say harsn
word 10 Kim while he was at my school,
much less To make him do pehahc,'
Did he study very hard
"No. he was not remarkable Tor fls
application. He was naturally very s"ld'',
and he always knew his lessons. lie hdH
a great deal Of pride. ,;,.-..
"Dld YOU ever see Mary Poe, l.dSar
little sister,
Yes: she was adopted by Mr.. Nc kenzii
when Mr.. Allan took Edgar
WAS she prettyY'
"Well. really. | can't remember very
well but l think she was very sweet
and interesting child
"You saw Poe after you left Richmond
Of course
eyes; when he came to Baltimore, and
stopped at the tavern, he would never
forget to come and see me-
POE LOVED HIS TEACHER
"Do Won believe that your pupil vas an
habitual drunkard?'
THAT | can't tell. l think he was fond
Of wine. and know that always opened
q bottle for him when he came To see
me but then 1t was the custom OF the
age YOU know. to drink wine at that
time. Then. when Edgar became editor
Of Grahanl's Magazine, he sent II TO me
regularly gratis. 49,,
WAS he afteCtOnate 10 you, professor.
eyes. indeed; | think the boy ard man
loved ne dearly, and | am sure l loved
him"
when was the last time you saw him.
"When he was laid away TO rest. in
1919. | went to his funeral. large num-
her of persons were present, and | re-
member the minister who OBLIGATED dwelt
long on the great mans virtues. Yes,
he concluded. Edgar, az boy. was
dear. pen-hearted cheerful. and good
hoy. and az man he was loving and
affecaonate friend TO me-"
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