The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-09-12
EDGAR ALLAN POE.
Revival of Interest In the Great Poet
and His Marvellous Works.,
fAtapta Constitution. /

With the recent publication OF a
new and complete edition Of the works
of Edgar Allan Poe, there seems to be
a disposition on the part of critics 10
vindicate his memory.
In his lifetime Poe made many en-
emies among the literary men Of New
England. He ridiculed them unmer-
cifully, charged some Of them with
plagiarism, and picked out the faults
in their work. A host Of enraaed
writer's barked at his heels, and when
ever it was possible to injure this bril-
liant but unpopular genius there were
always any number of his angry COM
petito1s eager to do it:
In England and france Poe's su-
periority was at once recognized, and
some Of the bes. literature that comes
from those countries to-day is modelled
upon his prose and verse. The mar
velous criminal analysis exhibited in
his detective stories and the coMhina-
ton Of imagination with scientific
knowledge displayed in such stories as
"a Descent into the Mailstrom." and
"Hans Pfall" have undoubtedly in
spired such writers as Gaborian, Conan
Doyle and Jules Verne. His short
tales and literary reviews stand alone
in our literature, while no poet has
ever been able to grasp the secret
which enabled him to make his verse
such wonderful medley and music.
Inferior writer's, despairing Of ever
equaling Poe's matches work, re-
venged themselves by assaiiing his
character. Fora generation they seem
to have concentrated their attention
upon the schemes which they had de-
vised for the destruction of this master
spirit of the literary world. Failing
to 6nd flaw il his perfect work, they
scrutinized his private life, and rushed
into print with the charge that he was
an idle voluptuary and drunkard.
The student of his writings will
naturally wonder how an idle, disso-
lutte sot could turn out so many vol
umes of reviews, stories and poems, all
requiring the utmost concentration OF
the highest faculties. But they won
der no longer, because they have ceased
to believe his lying traducers. If Poe
drank be merely followed the cls,on
of gentlemen al his day. and the
quantity and quality of his work show
tha, he could not have wasted much
time in his cups. The next charge Of
his enemies is that he was irregular in
financial matters. We believe that
this is true to certain extent. The
man who prodHqsd the finest iitera-
,ure Of the century on salary of $40
a month, out Of which he had to sup.
port himself, sick wife and mother
in law, could not very we'll be regular
at all times in his finances. l. is very
easy to believe this charge.
One thing has always worried the
poets enemies, and that is the devo-
ton Of his mother-in-l law to him. 1t
is no, reasonable to suppose that she
would haye loved him SO if he had
neglected her daughter and given HIM
self up to dehauchery: Slowly but
steadily the tide is turning, aud now
people who talked against Poe ATE re-
tracing or modifying their statements.
The latter biographers present the
man in better, brighter light, and
the revived interest in him promises
to completely vindicate him. The
verdict Of the present generation is
that the poet is not guilty Of the more
serious charges against hiq, and That
he was vesy largely the victim OF a
malicious persecution.