Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-13
THE POE ASSOCIATION
THE ANNUAL MEETING AT THE
UNIVERSITY,
Nd ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Of the Bust Fund-Judge
Poef-Mr. Wertenbakers RccoIlec-
tfons-ChnrIottesvi Notes.

CHARLOTTESVILIE, VA. November
12.-(Special.)-At the annual meeting of
the Poe Memorial Association of the Uni
versity of Virginia, the following officers
were elected: President, DIR. Charles w
Kent, University OF Virginia; Vice-Presi-
dent, W. A. Clark, Jr., Butte. Mont; Sec
rotary, DR.. j. A. Harrison, University OF
Virginia; Treasurer, Il. II. Abbot, Belle
vue, Va. Executive Board-R. s. Drank,
Henderson, KY; Z. II. II. Old. Norfolk,
Va; Gordon Wilson. Richmond, Va;
Morris =. Tilley, Berkeley, Va; A. b.
Rhett, Charleston. S. c.. and L. p. Cham
berlayne. Petersburg, Va.
DR.. Kent announced that the association
had in hand fund sufficient to make the
first payment on the bust, which is about
half of the total needed.
Judge r. T. w. Duke, Of this city, ad-
dressed the association on "Poe's College
Days" Judge Duke acknowledged the
meagre character of the details Of Poe's
residence at the University, but said that
X was his good fortune TO have known
intimately the venerable and well-known
William WeTtenbaker. who was the last
appointee of Thomas jefferson. and for
many years University librarian. MI
Wertenbaker frequently talked to MT.
Duke about Edgar A. Poe, and regretted
that he had not known him better. Poe
had no intimates at the University, but
was a rather reserved, quiet man, and
given to long walks. 1t was a great
SANDER to say that Poe was dissipated at
| the University; he was never disciplined
while a student, or called before the
| faculty, except on one occasion, when ne
| appeared as a witness There was very
| little doubt that Poe was great card
| player though Mr.. Wertonbaker himself
| knew very little of this. except from
| hearsay 1t was an utterly announced
| SANDER that Poe was ever expelled from
| the University He left the University
at the close of the session not only in
| good standing, but a graduate in Latin
| and French. and with honorable mention
| I'm Italian. Mr.. Wertenbaker often related
| with great satisfaction the only long con-
| yersation he ever had with Poe, which
! was the night before he left college. me
| session then closed in December. MT.
Wertenbaker met Mr.. Poe at some social
gathering. and was invited by him to his
| room. On arriving there they found
| neither fire nor fuel, and Poe thereupon
| broke up his table and a couple OF chars
| and kindled the fire with the fragments
1
| them. BY the light of this fire and q
tallow candle they spent several hours
in a social game of cards, intersperseo
with friendly converse. Poe left the reX'
| day. Mr.. Wertenbakers recollection oil
| the conversation was that ii announced tc
| no more than friendly talk between tWC
students, who had not been particularly
intimate. Poe's genius at that time was
| unrecognized, and Mr.. Wertenbaker little
imagined that i'm these few hours he hac
talked with one of the worlds greatest
! geniuses.
The speaker said that this incident wa:
typical of Poes future life-all that hi:
brilliant genius brought him was a little
fire. a little food, and a few moments Of
relaxation from the cares Of one Ct thu
saddest lives in the history Of genius
More than forty years ago Dr. j. w
Mallett, OF the University OF Virginia
was a student at Goettengen. Germany
He is to-day attending in New York ;
banquet at which the guests are student
of the famous university In 1856 and
few Of earlier and a few of later year,
of that decade.
The Mayor to-day RENTED the 1udg
ment of thirty days I'm Jail. rendered yes
terday in the case Of Charles Edgerton
convicted of petit larceny, but required
him to pay the fines and costs, amounting
TO s2S He effected a settlement this morn
ing and was released.
The Mendelssohn Club held its MONTH,
meeting at Mr.. Harrison Robertsons las
evening and rendered the following pro
gramme: The Pilgrims Of the Nigh
CWestbrook), by Misses Goodwin and Mis-
Bibb; Regoletto GAszO, by Miss Mar
Watts Woods; A Summer Night, by MI
Drank; The Merry, Merry Lark (Nevin)
Mignon Guy de HardeloO, by Miss Beck
man: Du Bist VIE cine Blume Rubin
stem. by Miss Goodwin; Oh, Promise Me
by Mrs. Moore.