The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-07
Richmond Poets
By MARY WASHINGTON.

First on this list, In point of time. as
we'll as Of celebrity. we may name Edgar
Poe, whose fame gatheres an added lustre
with each revolving year. True, he was
not born in Richmond, but as he was
adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allen, OF
that city, he Is closely identified with the
place, and loved 1t better than any other
on earth His chilMiood was spent there.
the only period OF his life free from care,
and there. as editor of the Southern
Literary Messenger. he did much Of his
best literary work. There he spent the
happiest part Of his married life. The
ea the 18th Ps'af My @ y the
Amos Converse, editor Of 1.-The South
ern Religious Telegraph" n Presbyterian
weekly. He also met his first sweet
heart. Miss Sarah Elmira Royster, in
was a widow (NIrs. Sheton), and he
widower. his admiration for her seemed
to return. It was to a Richmond lady
(Mrs; Jane stith Craig stanard) that his
ed. He thought the name. Jane was
ugly. and substituted the classical name
Of Helen" in It's place. This lady was
the mother OF Monroe Stanard, one OF
Of the Hon. Robert Stanard. lawyer OF
great ability, and for many years United
States attorney for the district or VIZ
gnia. Poe formed a ROMANTIC mtg az .ca
plunged into deep distress. and would 60
night after night to weep over d ner sr With
At one time Richmond was t'a ssao, M te5
houses and localities closely assoclateo
with the poet. Tho theatre in which ms
mother played stood on the north side
of Broad street, between ,Twelfth and
College streets, and was nu Urn GOWN WI,
death preceded this tragedy. occurring on
December s. 1911. Her husband, David
Poe, died late in the spring Of 1871, IN
and %as bErled n w Gde OF wt
her three little children. william. Edgar
and Resale. came to Richmond to take
her place In GREEN'S Theatrical COM
HAT city on September. but her connec--
lion With It was brief. She contracted
pneumonia from living in a damp cellar;
under the store Of mill ! named ,n,',e!
located now. as there were no directories
in Richmond in those days. hut It is
known that It was on the south side p! !, or
Main street. In the Bird Hand" DIS
Creek now flows. going under the street.
hut then through It, Her grave Is in the
buying ground of old st. Johns church,
by the eastern WALL but there Is no marx
The above statements are based on the
authority of Mrs, Won Weiss (nee Tally,
who seems to possess more intimate
and accurate Knowledge of Poe's parents
else. During Mrs Poe's last Illness, the
Richmond -a,qlirer Of November 20, 1871,
made a strong appeal, addressed to THE
little children. This appeal produced It's
results s The children were not. left home
less. william was sent to his grand
father in Baltimore, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Allan took Edgar, and Mrs; Jane MclSen.,
lie Rosnlie Tho general outcome OF
Poets ire is too we'll known to need re-
capitulation here Suffice 1t ITO say that
as poet he fills q high and peculiar
niche in the worlds great hall Of fame,
his poems having n unique charm for
their weird beauty Of thought and en-
quislte melody. of language.
Poe naturally suggests a Richmond
i1though considerably younger) and his
friend, Susan Archer Talley, now Mrs.
Won Weiss. She was born in Hanover