The Washington herald., 1909-01-17

/ held his wandering destiny 70 work and
! achievement He was devoted to her.
Shortly after their marriage Poe took
the family TO Richmond. Va. where he
became the editor OF The southern Lit
eTary Messenger, which he made famous.
While in Philadelphia. in 1871. Virginia
ruptured a blood vessel while singing
and developed incipient consumption
Hereafter in the poets mad life hung a
thread ef fear Of Virginia's early death
With pcstic insight. he "sensed' her de-
cline. II maddened him. He cared for
her tenderiy.
II Virginia GLENN had lived 20 woman
hood grown stronger charactered with
maturity. the tragic story Of Edgar Allan
Poe might never have been written. After
her death in Fo9dham cottage. New York.
on January 50. 1877. P0e's debaucheries
despair at her loss himself in his Anna
bel Lee" each word 0f which is tear
drop for his beautiful dead wife
Knew the End Was Near
Graham saws Of this period just be-
fore Virginia's death: -POe's love for his
wife Was a sort Of raptuTOUs worship OF
the spirit Of beauty. Which he felt Was
fading before his eyes. 1 have seen him
lowering around her when she was IL
with all the fond fear and tender anxiety
of a mother FOR her first born-her
slightest cough causing in him a shudder.
a breast chill. that was visible rode
out one summer evening with them. and
the remembrance OF his watchful eyes,
eagerly bent upon the slightest change
Of hue IN that loved face, haunts me yet
as the meOTy OF a sad strain. II was this
hourly anticipation of her loss that made
him a sad and thoughtful man and lent
a moUrnful melody 10 his undying song.
The death OF Virginia marked the en-
trance OF another gentle woman friend
into Pce's life A Mrs Marie Snew- In q
noble, spiritual manner she aided him.
Her relations began with charity. but
ended with sincere love.
II was Mrs Shew who arranged the
last sad rites for the dead Virginia, who
placed her IN a borrowed tomb in Ford
ham, raised money for the future. and
practically supported the little faHily
until Poe recovered from the shock and
could once more work Mrs. Shew was a
doctors daughter. She knew the jaager
that never recovered its proper balance.
He chung pathetically 10 the dingy little
7
fOrted by those two women souls who
loved him. Maria GLENN and Mrs Shew.
Gradually they pulled The curtain Of mad
ness aside from his iife Mrs GLENN often
sitting up with him all night. soothing
his brow and caressing him IN his
troubled sleep when visions OF his dead
Virginia 50 charmed and haunted him.
Mrs 'Shew provided the necessary COM
( forts for his sick tastes and cheered by
the sunshine Of her presence.
Not Love, hut Affection.
That. presently. after the first pangs OF
virginias death were past. a deep afec-
ton sDrang up for Mrs. Shew IS every
where evinced. but that on Edgar's part.
at least, st was platonic affection. Is
everywhere patent. That Mrs. Shew loved
Edgar Poe dearly, loved him with depth
all unrequited. Is too sadly plain. Ones
own heart aches at the thought Of this
beautiful Lady Bourtiful loving so deeply
and teRderly this poet prince who. all
unconscious Of IT, must have wounded
her loving heart more than once by the
character of his regard for her He placed
her love on a plane with that Of Mrs
Stanard. the ideal love Of his boyhood.
and probably never dreamed that she
loved him with a wcman's passion
Il place you in my eSteem'-in ali
sOlemnity he wrote. beside the friend
Of my boyhoOd-the mother OF my school
mate-of whom I have told you. as the
truest. tendereSt Of this worlds most
wOmanly souls, an angel 10 NY forlorn
and darkened nature.
So after about a year their life WAYS
parted, he TO go 70 death in two short
years. she to live and defend with
pen dipped in the fire Of love In the
golden chain Of Poe women. Marie Louise
Shew shines out as does a precious Jewel.
for hers was a self-sacrifcing. a self
DENYING love and devine self-abnegati0n.
"Helen-my Helen-the Helen Of a thou
sand dreams
Love springs from love. and Poe had
been taught by the women who loved
him to seek the woman he should love: