The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-19
- poE.ANn. HIS CRITICS.

nation.
 POE-sAND HIS CRITICS.
 When we were comfortably launched
 into our conversation on the subject and related what had read from the
 pen of said Brownwell, the Poe spe-
 clalist blandly inquired:
 And who is Brownwell?" As I had failed to convey a copy of
 "Who's Who" on this visit, I was un-
 able to enlighten her.
 Yes remarked this learned wom-
 an. q saw that. article-but did not
 read it. There is also an article in the Atlantic Monthly about Poe but as
 am little restless about the profes- sional critic. I skipped that too. You
 remember some one has said that we are all the keenest critics concerning the things we know the least about
 And one curious thing about the critics
 of Poe Is that to the very last one who
 writes about him they insist upon dwelling upon his faults. The slightest 1 peccadillo of Poes has been dilated
 upon more than the gravest faults of other famous men," "Yes, that is quite true" I observed | sThere is Byron, for instance, who was certainly not the man he should have l been. And Shelley's morals were of the worst sort, and yet when we read or mention these geniuses, we are allowed ] to forget this side of them That is true; yet Poe was no worse o,,H of his indulgences are always accentua- ted" was the reply. Take Griswold for example he was Poes enemy out | and out and started all this sort of l thing which has been kept steadily to I the fore-probably because of his crit
 icism of New Englanders, which he l exploited on all occasions l And do you regard Poe as the great 1 est genius America has produced?" asked.
 | "Unquestionably. Poe was more dis 1 tinctly genius, than any other Ameri- I can. He may not have produced as much as others he may have lacked l greatness in many ways. But he was more of a genius than any other; just
 as the small diamond sheds the great 1 est brilliance-yet in size It Is de- l fcient" was the response. r WONDERFUL AS SHORT STORY ! WRITER. | "Tell me, which do you regard him
 as greatest-in the capacity of poet or | critic or short story writer?"
 "oh as short story writer undoubt- edly."
 And how do you regard him as com
 pared to the short story writers of the present day?"
 well, with whom can you com
 pare him?" was the quick answer.
 ..........sss.sssss.ssss 1 St. Vincent's hospital for appendicitis. | Miss Linley Graham will entertain her l Bridge club this afternoon. | pr. Edmondson has returned from | visit to friends in New Orleans l MT stephen Smith has returned after
 a visit of several days in Livingston.
 Mrs. H. c. LeSourd will be the guest l for several weeks Ol iiSi PesiSNN' - and Mrs George Morrow
 Among the out-of-town guests for the
 Fellheimer- -Markstein wedding, which IS | to he an event of Wednesday evening, are I MT. and Mrs. Saks of Newark N' J'' MT and Mrs S. M. Marx Miss lrma Marx and MT. Ralph Marx or Greehs- horo Mrs. Carrie Lazarus of Montgom- cry and Mrs E. s. Blank of Cleveland | Ohio.
 Miss Merle Hassell is expected shortly | to visit Miss Lucy Hall. Nt;ss May Belle Roden left yesterday morning for New York city To Joih a I marty of friends with whom she VIII l sail soon for Bermuda. | Mrs. Frank Butt has returned to AL 1 lanta.
 Miss Emma May Griffin of Athens is the orest of Misses Myrtle and Grace Mc- l c.uire at their home in Richmond fiace' The pupils of the Birmingham Conser-
 vatory of Music will give recital al -.I- | cable hall Thursday evening at o CLOCK
 to which the public is invited without
 cards '
 Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray is | in New York. l Sponsors for tonght's game between the
 Athletic club and Augusta will be- TOT l Birmingham, Miss Eva Conner, sponsor;
 Miss Leonora Bailey and Miss Luciie Gaston. maids. For Augusta, Miss Mary | Ruth McLester, sponsor Miss Edith Bow ron and Miss Mary Ware, maids. After the game there will be dancing and rev
 treatments will be served. Indications
 point to one of the largest crowds of the 1 season.
 | Mrs. William B. Leedy Jr., will en- certain at tea on the afternoon of Feb
 ruary Il, from 8 to o'clock in honor of Miss Ethel Clifford.