The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-06

Fordham cottage where the dear Viz
uries all through her illness-to havs
kept her possibly from the illness. Ad-
verse fate, as well as death. loves q
shining mark: or ''as certain also of
your own poets have said
Fate Is liable to frown.
And the best of US so down:
And in Just little while
But 1t is only many years after his
death, and after Virgtnia's death. that
fate is smiling upon poor Poe.
The editor of this Virginia edition, Mr.
James A. Harrison. has done his work
with the ardor associated with personal
sympathy. and the strong love of alb
stract Justice which generations have
ascribed to the Virginia gentleman. He
is professor In the University of Vir-
R1nia, the university at which Poe for
ton. and is therefore a natural custo-
dian of the Poe tradition. Regarding
Foe he has let no opportunity pass to
set out the falsity of the old tales and
He has searched even most remote
quarters, and with infinite pains
brought data from family papers OF
California. Maine, Georgia, Massachu-
magazine and newspaper files Under
standing this background we shall the
more readily appreciate the chivalrous
defense, the spirit, and the burning
rhetoric of his Biography Of Poe, which
is Vol. of this edition.
Volumes II to vi contain the ghostly
and enticing tales of Poe of which we
all have vivid memory. And with what
through their writing that Poe has won
from those who love to dub, however
unjustly, the title of the first decad-
emit" Textual notes have been added by
MI. r. a Stewart a 70 ~
Mr.. Hamilton Mabie of Poe's place in
American literature. 1t is in these tales
especially that one appreciates the con-
ventent form of this edition-the books
just large enough to slip easily into a
mans pocket or q woman's handbag.
From volumes VIII to XVI we have
criticisms and reviews. essays and the
starry prose poem Eureka. Most of
these Poe contributed to periodicals cur
rent in his day. Here again the inde-
fatigable zeal of Professor Harrison is
manifest, for he presents to the reader
very considerable amount of matter,
the substance of nearly two Volumes
think, which has never before been iden-
titled as Poe's- A part of this matter
was gained curiously enough through
Poe's marginal confessions in pencil In
volumes he gave Mrs. Sarah Helen
Whitman.
In reading Poe's literary estimates
one is struck by their values, their
prophetic discrimination how time
(Which is after all the great valuer the
great appraiser) has accredited his APP
probation or condemnation. 1t is evil
dence of his true literary feeling. Lowell
he hailed as the most promising writer
OF his day. To Longfeflow he takes the
very exception that time is now taking,
and with whose work up to Poe's death,
time viii stu continue to take. In that
day, as in the present the press teemed
with books of SO little merit that they
| lasted but till their night of no adyer-
tisement. But most of interest in these
criticisms is the exhibition of Poe's
| theory of poetry, the theory which he
strove to embody in his musical, haunt
| To review this life and work of Poe
| with any measure of adequateness one
should have leisurely time, and space
far beyond these many pages. Merely
| this running account of the authors
substance, and it's presentation in this
| Virginia Edition is now permitted, with
a glance at the pathetic figure of the
man.
But no reference to- Poe should be
made without some mention of the great
stout heart and protective soul who
| shielded and guarded him in some of
his bitterest experiences, who with her
| own hands kept his house spotless and
home-lilke. whose faith in his genius
never swerved when she peddled his
| productions from house to house and
| met unvarying refusals-I mean Mrs
| GLENN, his mother-in-law. 1t was she
| who made possible the artist Poe. Wit
neSses say she was unattractive in ap-
| pearance, mannish; possibly she was
| strident from hard manual work. But
| listen to the way she seemed to Poes
my mother-my own mother, who died
early,
Was but the mother of myself but you
Are mother to the one loved so dearly.
| And thus are dearer than the mother
| I knew
| BY that infinity with which my wife
l q 6aop 10 Sfe,e ,,11-
And how did Poe appear to Mrs.
GLENN? In the anguish of the news of
his death she wrote her best friend:
annie, my Eddy is dead. Annie! pray
for me. your desolate friend. My senses
| will leave me. Never, Oh,
never, will I see those dear lovely eyes.
I feel desolate, SO wretched friendless
| and alone" What q picture! COM
panion piece to Poe and his military
cloak following Virginia's coffin that
snowy January day.
| KATE STEPHENS