The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-24

o'clock in the afternoon he worked steadily and method
ieally too
paper hot August afternoon while wrapping and
addressing Journals ! was with the heat and
tainted dead away. Poe writing his desk When
recovered consciousness stretched out on the long
table which had been work and Poe bending over
me bathing my wrists and temples In cold water. He
minseted to me until was able to stand up, and then
he sent home in a carriage.
This fact Of kindness coupled his uniform gentle
greetings when he entered the Office OF morning together
with frequent personal inquiries and
made me love and trust my editor
The old gentlemans indignation grow. unbounded when
he brings himself speak the hostile biosrapher, and
literary deactors and defames of his living idol dead
master. They ghouls he declares 1T is only
knew Edgar Poe for eighteen months and that when the
Journal failed, never him again, But during those
word that much abused He was honest generous hind
and true. 1t is true also tina, he delicate and
sensitive with that throhhed with pain a, the
slightest contact and II may be that IN the misforsures
OF after these qualities drove him surccase
sought IT. But through il all he could have been
anything hut gentle tender ovable man. thousand times
to be pitied, but never to be condemned"
Mr.. Crane admits that once, during the never to be-
forgotten eighteen months, he Poe drunk at the
result OF keen disappointment he says, and gives this
narration of the circumstance;
Poe had given lecture in Society library In New York
The Poets and Poetry of America The lecture had
proved great success finally induced to
repeat it, The night for the second lecture was
very bad It stormed ncessansy with mingled and
hail and seet In there scarcely dozen
nouneed that under the circumstances the lecture could
be given and those in the audience receive IT.
money back at the door, of those present
Poe had given complimentary ticket the lecture and
badly disappointed, could upon his face tina,
true, but he easily upset by little things The
morning he the office leaning the Of
friend. intoxicated with wine"
The full weight Of the old senemsns wrath descend,
when his attention is called to the fugitive stories that
long time and entirely dispeled
of Poes selling his masterpiece The Raven" for $40
purchase food and medicine for bis girwife who dyns
Of consumption.
About FIVE years ago he says Fl read such story in
City paper 1t told in CHASTITY detail how Poe,
wife lay dying the floor with his her
ing and how coatles he rushed publisher bitter
cold winters day to sell the manuscript of the imuorta
poem for $40 to his wife from It
miserable lie. and the editor the story OF th
stopped his paper Here the venerable defender Of
mans memory snorted with mingled satisfaction and anger
Poe The Raven while editor of the Brosdwa,
Journal" the old man on, and that was the mos
prosperous portion Of admittedly poverty stricken life
While he was not making great deal Of money he was
least. earning comfortable and assured living.
Il don't know whether he sold the poem for $40 o.
whether he sold at all My distinct impression is tina
he did not biographers to the contrary Notwithstanding
And I'll tell you why think
1T cold day IN winter, when everybody in th
work, that Poe into the ofce accompanied by The
great named Murdoch They Poes desk
MI Poe summoned the entire force including myself abou
him There were less than dozen OF rs, and was th
When we were all together Poe drew the manuscript
of The Raven from his pocket and handed it Murdoch
He had called to hear the eioeuonis read his ne
written poem Murdoch read and what with the combined
of masters eutranced It is the cherished
memory OF life that heard the immortal poem read h.
whose voice like chime of silver bells, and
think the only living today who say that
heard The Raven read before II published In tn
issue of the Literary Journal The Raven appearc
in the place of honor That what makes think tn
poem sold all"
Here Mr.. Cranes theory is somewhat a. variance wit
the unanimous statesment Of Poes hographers hostile
friendly who agree that the poem was first printed
Evening Mirror in advance Of publication in the American
Review, If the Broadway Journal published The Raven
all-and here Mr. Cranes word should be doubted
must have done by the OF arrangement
the Evening Mirror had.-Omaha WorId-Heraid