Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-28
WOMAN WHO REJECTED POE
Romance Behind n Portrait Recently
Given TO Brown Unit
Verstty.

In accordance with the wish expressed
by Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman, who was
the fiancee OF Edgar Allan Poe, her por-
trait, which was painted by John N. Ar
mold of Boston. tiirty-seven years ago, is
to be presented to Brown university. And
this is not strictly correct. for she had
designed that it should 40 either to the
Providence Atheneum or the Rhode Island
Historical society. by some mistake the
choice of another portrait painted by c.
Giovanni Thompson. was made by Mrs.
Whitman's executors. Thus II is that for
nearly four decades the grand portrait OF
one OF Rhode Islands most gifted writer's
has hung in Mr.. Arnold's studio.
The romance which entwined the lives
Of these two great poets, Edgar Allan Poe
and Mrs. Whitman. has been tenderly
! cherished by Mrs. whitman's friends who
knew how great had been her dlsappoint-
ment and how resolutely she adhered to
her judgment that circumstances surround
ing Poe's habits made it expedient to break
their engagement.
Speaking Of his acquaintance and friend
ship for Mrs. Whitman. Mr.. Arnold said:
81 became acquainted with Mrs. Whitman
in 1868, the year before l painted her por-
trait She came to my studio and said she
tHlIt Al1l 4 HilDlllu paint lltl
She wanted an original sketch and one diff
fering from that which Thompson had
painted. From the hour of that first in
terview until she died, we were great
friends. As our acquaintance grew more
confidential, Mrs. Whitman told me a good
deal of Poe. She said that they were very
much in love with one another, but he was
addicted to drink which made her cautious
as to completing their alliance. She said
that she had lmplored and then made Poe
leave off drinking. This was accomplished
by ~exacting a promise OF abstemiousness.
For a while | believed and so did Mrs.
Whitman that Poe was keeping his word.
This illusion was dispelled when one night
he came to her home in this city under
the influence OF liquor.
Mrs. whitman was deeply shocked by
Poe's disregard Of the promise he had
given her and summary broke the engage
ment. Poe was very much affected by her
decision. He went Immediately to New
York, where he wrote to her and asked
her to reconsider her decision and permit
him to see her.
MRS. Whitman in recalling this moment
Gus incident in her life said to me one
evening that Poe pleaded hard and that
for a while she did waver. but feeling that
It was impossible she could not give her
consent for the renewal of their engage
ment."
Deeply as she loved him, she said. she
could not give her happiness into the keep
ing of a man who had so little will power.
Poe was not a drinking man in the sense
of a debauche. A single glass of wine
would. upset him.
Mrs. Whitman always retained her af-
lection for Poe and she always defended
him. This is evidenced by her book en-
titled Edgar Allan Poe and His Critics.
She always spoke of him in the highest
terms and was always sorry that a weak
ness Of his should have prevented their
marriage.
about two weeks before she died I
called on her. She had been living with
her sister, Miss Alma Powers. whose home
was on Benevolent street. but when the
sister died she went to live with her close
friend. Miss Daily, and remained with her
two years. At that time she spoke of this
portrait and OF it's final disposition. She
spoke even then Of her high affection for
Poe.
while Mrs. whitman possessed all poett-
cal feeling she had a practical side and
saw the impossibility Of living happily with
Poe. She was not a popular poetess as the
term is now used and understood. She
wrote under deep inspiration and such men
as Emerson, George william Curtis. Horace
Greeley and Margaret Fuller, who were
among her dearest friends. understood what
poetry is and had a great appreciation OF
her ability and genius.
I'm a few days I shall remove the por-
trait front the wall of my old studio and
hans It at Brown university. The picture,
like the living image. will then have dis
appeared from my studio, but the fragrance
of the memory Of Sarah Helen Whitman
will remain with nc" boston Herald.