Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-02

latter part of the year 1S45 appeared
The Raven a poem which, more than
any other one thing, increased his fame
both here and abroad. He also pub
lished a volume of poems dedicated to
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whom he
long admired. In 1886 the Broadway
Journal, most of which he had himself
written, collapsed, and Poe retired with
his invalid wife to a little cottage at
.FOrdham, where she died in the year
lS47
Poe never was quite himself after
wards, though year Or two later he
proposed marriage to a Mrs. Whitman,
a poetess Of local celebrity. She hest
tated. and finally declined. Poe deliv-
,ered some lectures. wrote some, and at
tempted to found a magazine. and in
,1S49 died in hospital in Baltimore.
HE was 40 years and 8 months old.
such is the outline of Poe's life--a
life crowded with small vicissitudes.
marked 10y exceptional literary distinc-
tion, due entirely to his own genius and
Overshadowed by constant reverses and
lnisfOrtunes. mainly due to his own
faults of temper and character. He
drifted from one friend or supporter to
another, never attaching himself long,
was accorded him the basis for demand
ing more and angry if more were not
given.
Ills friendships We're all Onesided:
he took. but gave nothing in return
lie was hckle. even against his own in
terests. TO an unusual degree he wae
hefr1ended and assisted by women He
accepted their minstratiOns, but did
nothing to deserve or reward them, I'M
less the exquisite poems which he based
upon some of them are to be considered
their reward. Poe was the victim of
the disprOportiOn between his nature
and his intellect; his nature was pas
sionate. but narrow and of little depth:
ms character was selfish.
When he was at his writing desk h
was in his proper place and sphere
1T was as natural, and. indeed as inev-
liable. for him to construct Stories as
ito think. Poe could not be a humors.
because of his lack of human sympa-
thies, and for the same reason he could
not paint character. There are no
live people in his tales, they are the
mechanical hinges on which the events
turn Foes style is illustrative of his
quantities 1t is precise and telling
smooth and polished, but it is not or
eanc nor melodious.
AN this and more may be said in
criticism of Poe. but after all he is an
irresistibly entertaining writer. He
may be read with pleasure again and
again. Had Poe possessed small
bright intellect. proportional to his ma
tue he would have been q happy and
successful man. but unkryyn. Had he
possessed nature in comparison with
dis intellect, he would have been one
0f the greatest of the human race
"Being what he was, his career was
a conflict and suicide, yet he achieved
things that can never be forgotten, and
his genius has had neither precedent
nor successor"
For the purpose of showing the esti-
NATION in which works of Poe are held
at the present day, Mrs. Cutting read
the Following telegram relating to the
sale OF old volumes.
New York. Nov. 23-POe's ""ramer-
lane" Boston, 1927, the poets first book
and one OF the three copies now in ex-
datence, brought the record price of
N-o'o last night at the sale of the first
part of the library of the late Thos.
d. Mckee. The second book of the poet.
;"Al Aaraaf." Tamerlane and Minor
poems. Baltimore 1929. was sold for
S'1oo and his third book, 1.-THE Poems"
or 1881. fetched 1865. the COPY of ."rhe
Raven." bound with his Tales (Which
Poe gave to Sarah Helen Whitman,
selling for $61O.