Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-07-10

5&s PARTRIDGE'S DESIGN FOR A POE STATUE.
Is the principal room in the house. One
side is occupied by wide fireplace, on
whose hearthstonc the poet must have sat
in his armchair many times In just the ut
titude represented by the statue. On either
side Of the big chimney are tiny oupboards
which do not look at all like modern addi-
lions. On the left Of the chimney is a
door opening on a short flight Of stairs
lending down to the kitchen. The only
other room on the first floor Is the small
chamber in which Mrs. Poe died.
A short climb up a narrow flight OF
stairs takes you to the room which Is of
moro sentimental interest than all the
others-the room in which Poe wrote
"The Raven" There, between the two
narrow windows is the fireplace where
leach separate dying ember wrought Its
ghost upon the floor" There is no 'spallid
bust OF Pallas'' above the chamber door,
and it is doubtful If there ever was one,
for Poets household effects did not include
many such Injuries as costly bric-a-bra
There were probably cheap four posted
bed, q plain pine desk, few shelves OF
books and chair or two. ''The Raven"
room will probably be restored to as near
It's original condition as possible before it
Is thrown open to the public.
The recent agitation for the preserva-
tion OF the cottage was begun little over
year ago by the New York Shakespeare
society, although at various times within
the last few years movements have been
begun with the object of making the house
sort Of literary shrine. DR.. Appleton
Morgan, the president Of the society, dis
covered that the cottage had fallen into
the hands Of real estate speculator who
had not the faintest trace Of sentiment In
his make up. When the man found out
who wanted to buy the place he put an
exorbitant price on the property. This
would have been paid, however, had not
Dr.. Morgan learned that the title prohib-
tied the removal of the house. He also
found that the widening of the historic
old Kings Bridge road, beside which the
cottage stands, would involve the destruo-
tion Of the building II 1t were not moved.
Under these circumstances the society
rented the cottage at an extravagant figure
in order to keep some hold on 1t and Ap-
pealed to the state legislature to save 1t.
The New York park commissioners at first
refused to have anything o do with tbs
cottage, claiming that the preservation ct
such relics was not In their line and would
establish bad precedent, but finally the
COMMITTEES on small parks became interest
ed and suggested that the cottage might
BIZ established In small park. A bill to
this effect passed both houses OF the legis-
lature, but when, under the system by
which New York city Is governed, 1t came
before the mayor for his approval, DIRECTORS
appeared on the scene. s
Some Of these were members Of the
Guild Of American Authors, strangely
enough. They said that they wished to sec
the cottage preserved, but they wanted it
done In another way. Then came to the
front an organization called the Poe Me-
mortal association, which also objected.
These protests have not yet had any effeott
and it Is probable that Poe's cottage viii
eventually rest III Poe park.
fSss ALFRED r. RowLET.
Cared Not . D..
That miller by the river Dee
Who feared for nobody-no. not he. y
In fact, rs Tar as we can diskiver,
Cared not even the name Of his river.