The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-12
GOSSIP FROM GOTHAM.

The mad poet Poe used to commune
daily with bust of Pallas that a
friend presented to him, and It may
be that the spirit Of the Goddess. of
Wisdom and War spoke advice from
the imitation chiseled crystalline lime
stone which made him freakish. No
one ever understood Poe, because no
one ever penetrated his esotericism.
A man who could sit up all night con-
versing with bit of plaster of paris
(the bust was not marble except by
courtesy must have been an unread
able genius. Had Poe been in his right
mind he never would have brought
raven into his den, but what the bird
of evil omen really was-a common,
old, everyday American crow. AS a
literary adviser the bust of Pallas was
a success; thereon hangs Poe's fame.
The whole congregation Of daugh-
terS of the United States knows Mrs.
Althea Randolph Bedle, the lovely
widow Of Gov. Joseph d. Bedle, Of New
Jersey, who died in 1894. She Is one Of
the twenty vice presidents general Of
the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton. The governor left a lot of
money, and it devolved upon Mrs. Bedle
to manage the estate as well as lead
society in Jersey. Not being thor
oughly versed in business matters, this
charming woman summoned the shade
of the governor to her assistance, in
ducing 1t to take possession of mar
bic bust of his eXcellency which stood
upon a pedestal in her bedroom. 1t was
her daily habit for years to converse
with 1t on the subject of her earthly
affairs and to seek it's advice before
embarking in any commercial enter
prise. 1t is said that her ventures al
ways proved successful when she lis
tened to the departed.
If a servant wanted Mrs. Bedle after
breakfast, say, between 10 and IL, and
raped on the door of madams ROOM
a gentle voice would steal through the
keyhole: You cannot come in just now
l am talking with the governor" How
many years this affectionate relation
with the dead lasted I know not. Per-
haps Mrs. Bedle continues to ask ad-
vice of the marble, though in this
clammy age we hardly expect widow
to keep a piece of limestone warm
with the spirit of her departed hus-
band for a period of ten years. Mrs.
Bedle has been known for twenty five
years as the best dressed woman in
New Jersey, and during his life her
husband, famous jurist and governor,
was perhaps the worst dressed man.
He cared no more for clothes than Lin
coin or William H. Seward.
You all have heard of him. His
name is as familiar as that of Gas"
Addicks, and he was until two years
ago bachelor and very well-to- do.
He remains well-to-do, but Is a ben
edict. Age, sixty Married a hand
some blonde bride of twenty-five Of
the name of Emma, who regarded him
as a great CATCH One of his we'd
ding presents to Emma was an oil
painter, cost $4,000. 1t was hung in
the drawing room. After a brief period
of felicity Emma contracted one of
the ordinary feminine vices-she would
spend the greater part Of the day out,
either shopping, driving or calling, and
was seldom home in time for dinner.
The lonely old man would take the
portrait down from the wall, place 1t on
his knees, gaze at it fondly and cry:
'sEmmai EnlmaI Oh, Emmai When
are you coming home? You know how
long to see you'll" One day the young
wife tip-toed in and listened to his
pleading. you poor old fool" she
murmured. Hang that picture up be-
fore you punch holes through it."
Architects and builders Of fats are
showing decided disposition to fit up
these dwellings with everything pos
sible in the way of furniture. Side
boards, wardrobes, window and corner
ottoman seats, mirrors and bookcases
are being provided with the primary
view of economiZing space and the sec
ondary idea of enabling tenants to move