Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-10
by the young poet in an

leave-taking by the young poet In an
English ode.
MIR. ANDREW JoHNsToN's RECoL-
LECT1ONS
N younger member OF tn, school, Mr..
Andrew Johnston, describes the trials
OF Poe in these schooi-days more dis
tinctly:
Poe was much more advanced
scholar than any OF us: but there was no
other class FOR him.-that beiux the high
est--and he had nothing do do, or
but little. 90 keep his headship Of the
class. l dare say he liked II we'll. for
he was fond Of desultory reading. and
even then wrote verses very clever for
boy OF his years. and sometimes satirical
We all recognized and admired his great
and varied talents and were proud of
him as the most distinguished schoolboy
OF the town. Al that time Poe was
slight In person and figure. but well
made. active sinewy. and graceful. In
athletic exercises he was foremost: espe-
Cially. he was the best. the most daring.
and most enduring swimmer that | ever
saw In the water. When about lG years
old he performed his well-known feat
az swimming from Richmond to Warwick,
a distance OF five or six miles. He was
accompanied by two boats, and II took
him several hours 30 accomplish the task,
the tide changing during the time. In
dress he was neat. but not foppish. His
disposition was am!able. and his manners
pleasant and courteous
Colonel John Preston, also n younger
schoOl-fcllow. adds, that Notwithstanding
Poe was not the master spirit or favorite
among the boys. partly because he was
self-willed, capricious inclined to be Inn
horizons md though i'm
pulses. not steadily kind. or even anna
BILE. and partly because his mates re-
mCmbered that he was born Of the play
ers and dependent on Mr.. Allans
bounty. In these "reminiscences his ar
dent temperament. which in anger was
furious. and the habitual reserve Of his
nature, together with his ambitious talent
and its intellectual and poetic bent. are
most prominent. lie stood somewhat
aloof from all. fond OF admiration, but
Jealous OF his place: II he loved any II was
Sully. a nephew Of the artist. and also
with a touch OF the sensiblites of genius.
No one seemed TO be intimate with him.
lmpetuous. self-wiled defiant, proud Of
his powers. and fond Of their successful
display he does not appear to have been
unamiable or morose, though he was re-
sentful and probably lonely
a ROMANTIC EPISODE
"A single romantic episode OF the time,
which however. should not b allowed TO
cast too heavy a shadow upon his home,
where he received probably more affec-
tionate care than he was aware of. is re-
lated by Mrs. Whitman. to whom he
told Il:
while at the Academy, in Richmond.
he one day accompanied a schoolmate TO
his home, where he saw for the first
time Mrs II s.. the mother Of
his young friend. This lady. on entering
the room. took his hand and spoke
some gentle and gracious words OF wei
cCme, which 50 penetrated the sensitive
heart of the orphan boy as to deprive
him Of the power Of speech. and for a
time almost OF consciousness itself. lie
returned home in a dream, with but one
thought. one hope in life-to hear again
the sweet and gracious words that had
made the desOlate world so beautiful
TO him and filled his lonely heart with
the oppression of a new JOY. This lady
afterwards became the cOnfidant OF all
his bOyish sorTows. and hers was the
one redeeminG influence that saved and
guided him in the earlier days Of his
turbulent and passionate youth. After
the visitation of strange and peculiar
sorrows. she died. and for months after
her decease It was his habit 10 visit
OF his boysh idolatry lay entombed. The
thought of her-sieeDing there in her
lOrelineSs-hlled his heart with pro-
found. incommunicable sorrow. When
the nights were very dreary and cold.
wren the autumnal rains fell. and the
winds walled mournfully over the graves,
~ fingered longest and came away most
regretfully.
THE LENORE LEGENDS.
"T'his is the earliest OF the Ienore
legends The lady. Mrs. Jane Stith
Stanard. died April IS. 1874, at the age
Of 81 years. 1t was, perhaps. in this
experience OF death. when the boy was
IS years Of age that the spirit of brood
ing over the grave first fell upon him.
The peculiar melancholy of Poe in pres
ence Of the death OF woman cannot be
traced further 10 an original motive;
and it Is reasonable to believe that
something embalmed in this ro-
mantle memory occurred in his heart
and life and vitality awakened his
ina gination.
This event belongs in the last year
Of his school life lie studied another
year under excellent tutors. and on Feb
ruary II. 1896 he matriculated at the Uni
Versty Of Virginia, entering the schools
OF ancient and modern languages. lie
remained until December 18th, when the
session closed, and he obtained distinc-
ton in his final examinations in Latin
and French. He had also attended classes
in Greek. Spanish, and Italian. and
scholarship was well spoken Of by his
teachers. In his relations with the uni
versity authorities he had a clear record.
His private life was that of a student
with careless reputation. He Joined
with others In the amusements natural 10
the time. lie was more inclined TO
gambling than drinking. but exhibited In
both diversions peculiar recklessness.
indicative Of an eXcitable temperament
rather than Of pleasure in his cups or
the cards. Poe's passion for strong drink
says one of his fellow-students. was as
marked and as peculiar as that for cards.
| 1t was not the taste of the beverage that
| Influenced him. without sip or smack
| OF the mouth he would seize a full glass
without sugar or water. and send ii home
at a single gulp. This frequently used
him up; but II not. he rarely returned
\ to the charge He is said TO have
| lost caste with the more aristocraitc Of
| his mates by his card-playing. one stu
| dent remembered hearing him express
| regret for his extravaganza and waste OF
| money during the session lust as he
was about TO leave for Richmond. lie was
known 10 all, however. for other tastes.
! lie had decorated his room, No. Is West
| Range, WIN 4diee CHdi Cvdl Shc'SH'9,
! copied from an illustrated edition or
| Byron, and here he would relate TO his
! companions some tale or declaim some
! poem OF his invention. He remained
| solitary and reserved, and found pleasure
| In tramping amid the wild scenes of the
| neighborng country. His spirit had de-
clared itself, both in character and talent;
and when Mr.. Allan came down TO in
Quire into AFFAIR." towards the close OF
the session. he found the youth Of II with
Il mind and resolution of his own, and
with qualities so blended in him that his
right guardianship might have taxed a
far wiser hand and a more delicate and
tender touch. Mr.. Allan fatty refused 10
honor the youths gambling debts, amount
ing 10 s. so. and on his return TO Rich
mond placed him in the counting-room,
doubtless meaning that he should follow
| u cnrnnnnrnLal carnnr II Voc nnrhaua