The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-04-17
ARP sUsTAf ms REED.
The Eartow Ma b Writes Of Or.
Thomas 7oIley Chivers Again
letter from Mr.. y. p. Graves-Phn-
OsoDher Now Gen tain That Edgar
Allan Poe Wt0te ssThe Ra-
venv-Poet4 Discussed.

VoA"-Eoett Discussed
If my good frier d Wallace Reed had
not come forward as Poe's defender, /
should have refraI ned from further
mention OF DR.. I homas Holley Chiv-
ers, 1t seemed to me that enough had
Seen written by outside parties to pro-
woke a clearer ext ose from his kindred
or more intimate friends.
There is still q shadow over his rela-
tions to Edgar A. Poe. That they were
personal friends is proven, but as to
who preceded in that peculiar style
Of lyric poetry is not proven.
/ have am intd resting letter from a
cultured old gent lemano Of College Park,
Mr.. James p. G raves, father of John
Temple Graves, who says that while a
college boy on his return home to Wash
ington, Wilkes county, he visited DR..
Chivers and had a conversation with
him. He says:
'@This convera alton awakened in me
the liveliest I'M crest. He spoke of an
essay or critici SIN he had just written
for the Southern b Literary Messenger, of
Richmond, instituting a comparison of
the literary merits of the poets Byron
and Shelley. The impression made on
me was that it was a masterful produc-
ton. He spoke of his Lost Pleads and
other poems; said he had just received
q letter from Poe, and I think he read
it to me, and be mentioned correspond
ence with other distinguished men of
the north.
'The pictu1e given of him in the
Constitution Is most accurate His
complexion was dark, especially so un-
der the eyes.
'"The idea that DR.. Chivers inspired
The Raven Or in any way aided in its
production w as not in that day enter
tanned by any one so far rs 1 knew.
cdr. Chivers s style of talking was very
ornate, and he appeared familiar with
the arts and sciences and to be a very
erudite scholar. I used to wonder why
he was not more recognized by the
learned of both sexes, but suppose it
was because he was something of q
r~ecluse, and preferred to revel in his
own dreamy and poetical thoughts.
There was ND show of wealth about him,
nor did he seem to carr for any. Long
after that he removed to Decatur,
where he died and was buried. Mrs.
Chivers was a cultured and most es-
Unable lady. For further information
/ refer you to DR.. F. T. Willis, of Rich
: mond, Va, who was a half brother to
the late Samuel Barnett, of Washing
j ton, Ca, and also to Judge William
Reece and Rev. f. T. Simpson, Of Wash
i ington."
So it seems that if DR.. Chivers die
e not himself bring charges Of plagiar'
ism against Poe, but remained his FRIEND
Q and correspondent, the bill should b'
o ''nol pros ed." More especially is thi.
q so since MI. Graves, himself then {
e young m an Of classical culture and {
s contempt rary, never heard of such
e charge, ind Poe's ~biographer in Apple
ton makes mention of a life Of Poe We
to be published that was written by
DIR. Chivers.
When [ last wrote on this subject i
n was my impression that DR.. Chivers was
Mr.. Poe's senior not only in years, bu'
+ in, poetic work, and as they were
bosom friends in New York, hat POI
drew hi inspiration from the doctor
hut more mature reflection satisfies ms
that Wallace Reed is right.
My wife says he is. She has but littl'
4 patience with people who seek to rol
n the dead, or who destroy the idols o
v her youth. Ever since she used to re
y cite 'TWilliam TELL" the hero of th
: lakes, us her Friday evening speech a
II school she has been mad with the mai
If who first discovered that there was n
such hero, or if there was he v sho
II an apple from off his boys head.
Poe was certainly a gifted genius
,e for his prose is SIS marvellous as hi
Poetry. Both are artistic, ingenious
a. dreamy and of the borders of fair,
,e land. But they live in the admiration
lie more than in the heart For poems tina
i. charm our human nature and hinge
a. in the soul of memory 1 would rathe
is read Goldsmith, Gray, Cowper, Cole
Of ridge, Burns and Tom Hood than an
lie other IS. Byron's are grand and stated
Of in their beauty, but do not melt dow
ID within us and make us better, kinde
lie and more loving.
Tn most beautiful lyric poem eve
ii written is, I think, Coleridge's ''Gen'
s, We've" When / was a young man
is read it with supreme delight and
e, has not yet lost it's charm. My syn
m patty for love and lovers is still ally
Id and glowing and my soul is thrille
id with ecstasy when l read how he wo
Of his F'bright and beauteous BRIDE" Tht
lie poem and Goldsmith's Hermit" 1 con
a mitted to memory more than half
70 cen fury ago and / dearly love to reca
e. them.
gs For solemn, serious meditation OF Il
vanity of earthly things there is
all poem equal to Gray's "Elegy."
in For home and heart Burns leadg G
Ig- in tenderness.
For exquisite pathos that appeals
ng on r charity and our pity there is not
We in g in the English language SO affectil
ne as Hoods "Song of the Shirt"
SO On this side of the water we ha
70 some few poets whose works have sto'
1! and will continue to stand the test
OF time. Marco Bozzaris is sublimi
II sAeaI4 T0 fbo,,0hf oud ~axAputinn as