The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08

stoned the prophets. and where the theyy
BUT for the poets round about Jerusalem
their very names were not. Jerusalem IL
but a small place. comparatively. yet Us
she more than an the Orient because sha
cherished and revered the poets. This Is
history; this is equity; this is poetic
justice"
STORY OF POEs LIFE.
The semi-centennial of the death u
Edgar Allan Poe which Is observed to-
day possesses melancholy interest
for all who admire the genius and
pity the misfortuncs of the author of
THE Raven" Born bon poverty.
reared IN luxury. and thrown uroH
the world without dollar. Poe lived and
died a mystery Nine lives have been
written about this celebrated poet. SET of
no subject has 10 been s' difficult tO op-
tain real facts OF both hs lte and death
The circumstances attending the death
Of this unfortunate genius lcft DIS mem
DRY under more or less of cloud. but
thas has been softeued and dispelled hy
one of his later biographers. Eugene B.
Didier. \ tardy recognition was accord
cd the memory OF Edgar Allan Poe on
November L.. $50 when. through ihc 'f-
forts of the school teachers of Baltimore
a monument was publicly dedicated jpn
that city i'm honor of the poet His body
had previously rested I'm Westminster
churchyard for twenty-six years without
a stone tO show that 10 was the grave oi
the most unique genius America has pro-
duced.
NOT 4 DRUNHARD.
Notwithstanding the generally accept
ed mass of evidence To- the contrary. -d-
gar Allan Poe was neither drunkard
nor a tippler. IL is true that DEE drank
10 some extent. as was the hablual GUS
tom of the Zines. but these indulgences
were only occasional lie seldom drank
strong liquors and that was said to Boo
true of him 90 the end-hut what be IN
variablv became intoxicated lie hih
lesion ON one side OF the brain. and tle
slightest tonic was sufficient % cause Do m
20 act strangely. The Immortal niamy
OF fastening upon him the shame or
drunkenness be.ongs partly to one Of his
blographers. For ten years Poe was
writer Of untiring industry and in th1l
time he produced a prodigious amount ot
work. large in quantity and excellent ln
quality. At that time. however, hiera-
ture was not 20 paying profession. and
Poe had a constant struggle with poverty
re labored under constant discourage
.1ents. nl-health and domestic sorrow.
rrd IL IS not surprising that these ad-
v.rsitles caused him t0 occasionally seek
io stimulation of drink
whatever practical difficulties st was
his lot 10 encounter Poe lived In tranquil
hanniness with his wife and mo her-in-IsW
during the life of the former. one Of his
biographers. George r. Woodberry, de-
scribes their life ina Philadelphia as "
model o. fidelity and domestic happiness.
Mrs. Clomm The mOther-iu-iaW, NIs-
orous woman OF about 90 years, was the
head Of the household. She received and
expended Poe's wages and kept things iu
order At that time Mrs. Poe was sulI
under twenty-one years Of age. ana Is
described as possessing feminine beauty
and charm of an unusual order. Poe was
very fond and proud of her. ard She Don
turn id0lized him. He was always haunt
I'd by suggestions Of evil 10 come ana
used 10 i0cularly tell his wife that be did
not ike TO go out IN the dark for be be
lieved evil demons bad power then. In his
home alone be found happiness. affection
and q refuge from contact with the world.
A STORY OF pATHOs.
The story of Poes adverslues ard
struggles with poverty are pathetic In tha
extreme. He left Philadelphia FOR New
York with only $40 in h Is pocket. IN com
panv with his beloved wife, while HE
mother-in-law remained behind 10 settle
I'D affairs. His first letter 10 her Is a pa
thetic statement OF the slenderness OF his
resources. He says: Il ate the nrst
hearty breakfast J have eaten since lett
our little home. she is delishted. and wa
are bo'h in excellent spirits. She has
coughed hardly any and has hid no night
sweats. We have now got $3.50 left To
morrow an going 10 try ard borrow s.
50 that may have a fortnight 70 90 upon
You can't imagine how much We both
miss you. Sissy had a hearty cry last
night because you end Catherine weren't
here We are resolved 10 get two rooms
the first moment we can. II looks as Il
IL were going 10 clear up now"
After the death of his wife Poe was
frequent visitor at the home OF Mrs.
Shew. an elderly lady and writer of
considerable note who was much inter-
ested in Poe's literary projectS During
one Of his visi's Mrs. Shew persuaded
him 20 drink some tea In conservatory.
whose open windows admitted the
sound OF church bells. and gave him some
paper, which he declined. saying; I 40
dislike the noise Of bells tonight / can
not write. ] have no subject am ex-
hausted." Mrs .shew then wrote, This
Bells. by Z. A. Poe" and added. The
Pells. the little silver bells" on thu
Toet's finishing the stanza thus suggested.
she again wrote. THE heavy iron BELLS
and this idea also Poe e'aborted. and
then. copying ofr the two stanzas head
ed H. by Mrs. II. L. Shew." Few
poems have ever been written that con-
tanned a llveller Jingle Than The Pells."
yet at the time they were composed Poe
was almost heartbroken over the recent
death OF his wife: he was penniless, and
the future seemed 20 hold out nothing for
him Many stories are told OF his con-
dition when Tho Raven was written.
some biographers asserting that .poe was
at the time on the verge OF delirium.
"Annabel Lee" his Other most famous
poem, was. II is said inspired by hts love
for a woman whom he had known In his
boyhood.