The Washington herald., 1908-03-08

! the proposed celebration on January ~.
/ 1903. Of the centenary Of his birth 4
movement has been started to induce the
holding OF appropriate exercises through
out America and Europe
At a meeting in Brooklyn on the ninety
ninth birthday Of Poe. the Poe Interna-
tional Centenary Society was formed A
suggestion was adopted that money be
raised for the erection Of a new hall Of
/ fame to be dedicated 10 Poe. Also the
society voted 10 make special efforts 10
I preserve P0e's old home at Fordham.
I More than anything else. the society
/ desires that on the centenary day the
recognition Of Poe's genius be accorded
with enthusiasm from one end Of the
country to the other. II is the opinion Of
this organization that Poe. although rated
higher to-day than ever before. has been
grossly neglected in this country. not
withstanding the fact that abroad he has
been read and praised more enthusiastic
ally than any other American poet or
story writer. according TO the Boston
Herald
Here are the resolutions. in full. which
were adopted al the meeting OF the Pee
International Centenary Society:
That view Of the fact that Poe
was afflisted by birth ana the later shap-
ing OF his career with the stage. the
army. journalism. and authorship. and
holds the palm as the most original 1T
erary genius America has produced. that
invitations be extended 10 prominent rep
resentatiYes OF the professions named 10
auspicate Joint celebration OF the cen
tenary Of the poets birth. January ls,
1903 in every state in the Union. and in
such European capitals as are known 10
acclaim Poe as the leading light of Amer
ican literature.
THAT special efforts Of the society be
directed toward the permanent preserva-
ton Of the Poe cottage at Fordham. by
| enshrining it an imperishable inclosure
Of stone. as has been effectively done in
the humble American home Of Garibaldi
in New Jersey
That a prize OF $3.50 for the best poem
/ memorialiZing Poe by nenprofessionaI
writer. preferably a college student. be
| offered, the competition to be judged by a
/ committee Of experts.
! THAT in view Of the fact that Poe's
name has been excluded from the so
\ called Hal OF Fame that a structure. 20
/ be known as the American ParthenOn
and dedicated especially to celebrating
the distinguished names OF art IN Htera-
I ture. painting. the stage. and kindred in
/ tellectuai work. be established as a per-
manent memorial 20 Poe. and the genius
sphere which his sad but fruitful career
so Well Illustrated
That the public. generally. be remind
! ed through the press and by such special
/ means as the executive committee may
I deem fitting. that the pedestal of the
/ Barthoidi Statue Of Liberty in New York
4 Harbor, the work Of "A foreigner. was
raised in a comparatively short time by
public subscription. and that far great
/ OF obligation exists in the case Of Poe.
/ the Catuilus OF American Literature
! That Joaquin Miller be named as pres
ident and Leslie NJ Su2w be invited
to act as treasurer OF the Poe Interua-
tiOnal Centenary Society. and that Will
lam Homstrott. OF $50 Bergen street
Brooklyn, be appointed secretary Of the
society.
THAT competitors for the $500 prize 10!
the memorial poem shall send their verses
to the secretary
/
Perhaps the Boston stage will feel an
unusual interest in this coming cente-
nary. for the reason that al the time o.
tho poets birth his father and mother
were members OF the company at the
Federal Street Theater. Mrs. Elizabeth
Poe was an actress OF great deal OF
charm and considerable talent. She was
or English origin. the daughter Of a Mrs
Arnold. who. at one time. had been q
player al COvent Garden. London
Elizabeth Arnold had captivated BCs-
I ton theatergOers by her daintiness and
grace in child's parts Her debut in ma
ture roles took place in Baltimore From
Y the rather meager evidence which has
come down from the early years Of the
nineteenth century. the fact seems TO be
/ established taat her meeting with Poe S
father prObab bly, occurred either in Balti-
more or Richmond.
! Pee ST. was the son OF a WeIl-knOWn
/ Revolutionary patriot Gen David Poe
I The family was well known along the
border lines Gen. Poe was so greatly
! angered by his sons infatuation for the
beautiful Miss Arnold that he cast him
of The son joined Miss Arnold's com
pany-
deed. Miss Arnold married another man,
another actor. Mr.. Hopkins. But on
: the death of the latter the widow turned
I 10 her former admirer for consolation,
and not only received his friendsip again,
/ but his love as we'll In the fall Of lS96
they became man and wife
Then they jOurneyed TO Boston and
made their first appearance together at
the Federal Street TheaJer. From news
paper criticisms which may still be found
in the Boston Public Library. il appears
/ that Mr.. Poe was not brilliant actor.
/ He was a man of considerable intellect
and WdS painStaking. but his dramatic
art showed lack Of early training Be
sides. ne was obliged constantly to suf-
/ fer comparison with his wife.
Mrs. Poe, or as the writer's preferred
TO name her. Miss Arnold was one OF
4 the best-known women on the American
stage. From her mother she had inher-
tied a superior knowledge Of the stage
as well as much beauty and charm: heI
environment had. from ;he time OF heI
birth. been the theater. And then. fol
another reason she was highly popular
her respectability was irreprOachable.
The Poes made their home with fam,
ily named Usher. friends Of Mrs. Poe
and her mother. since her first days il
the city. Three children were born e
the Poes during their residence in Bos.
ton-Winiam in 1907. Edgar IN 1909. and
ROsalie I'm 1910.
With the growth of the family came
( misfortunes. Mrs. Poe lost her girlish.
ness. thereby much OF her vogue. After
the birth Of her daughter she was giver
a benefit. but the receipts sufficed only
| partly TO relieve her financial situation
IN that year the Poes decided TO lOoh
! for engagements in the South, and with
much regret took leave OF Boston. Stil