Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-07
THE POE MEMORIAL.

To-day, the fftieth anniversary of the
death of Edgar Allan Poe. will be marked
at the University Of Virginia by the I'M
yelling, with interesting ceremonies, Of
bust Of the poet. Ii is most fitting that
Poe's Alma Mater should thus honor him
II is most fitting that Virginia should
thus honor him. as her son, through one of
her leading institutions Of learning 1t is
most appropriate that she should reflect
In a permanent memorial the recognition
OF his genius accorded by the whole
world OF letters. Although Poe was born
IN Boston, his birth there was an acci-
dent. His ancestry were southern; his
talents terminated under southern influ-
ences and amid southern environments,
and we know that he found personal graf
ihcation in the boast that he was
"Virginian."
Poe's life was storm-tossed almost from
the cradle TO the grave. and his personal
character has been buffeted as has that
of few men. How many of the sings and
arrows that have been hurled at him are
due TO the fact that calumny. like death.
loves a shining mark, is not for us 10
say. Nor Is IL for us to say how many
OF his admitted shortcomings, how many
OF his frailties not uncommon to others
Of his sombre cast of mind and sensitive
organism were due 70 unsaushed amb-
ton and conviction that he was not
appreciated We have. however some
times thought that the key TO the conflict
between Poe's better and his worse ma
ture. and the triumph of the latter in so
far as II did triumph, was in his lines
81 stand amid the roar
OF a surf tormented shore,
And j hold within my hand
Grains Of the golden sand;
How few. yet how they creep
Through my fingers TO the deep,
While l weep-while | weep
Oh. God can L not grasp
Them with tighter clasp?
Oh. God can ] not save
One from the pitless wave?
il ali that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?'
The Raven" has been frequently
nature. yet who could have written "a
Dream Within a Dream" that did not
know the bitterness Of his own soul?
However. let ms drop a veil between the
personal character of Poe and Poe the
genius. The mortal man has eXemplfed,
as We all must eXemplify-
"Out-out are the lights-out all,
And over each quivering form
Tho curtain. a funeral pail
Mt !. fla.sF d ..fsa effarsrf
And the angels. all pallid and wan,
Uprising unveiling, affirm
That the play Is the tragedy Man
And its hero the conqueror worm"
No matter how far Poe's career as a
uan may be open 10 question-and the
Lsst word touching that has not been
spoken-there is no question as 10 his
transcendental genius. There is no doubt
as to the immortality Of his work. Taken
either in the domain OF poetry or prose
and his marvellous and fervid intellect
breaks brighter through the latter
there is no question that II We except
Sidney Ianier no American name shines
half as lustrously in the literary frma-
ment.
Alfred Tennyson is quoted as saying.
not long before his death. that any wish
he might have 10 visit this country
would be prompted by a desire 10 stand
with barred head by the grave Of Poe at
Baltimore. To-day Virginia. leaving all
contentious regarding Poe, the man. to
DO fought out behind the veil Of charity.
will honor herself by bowling before the
memorial TO his genius at the University.
Let her forget all else. and think only
OF his melody. which will be eternally
echoed from Tyre within the sky" of
fame