The Washington herald., 1909-01-17
STORIES OF THE WOMEN WHO LOVED POE
Continued from Page One.

With nothing but his minstrel harp as a
fortune maker, where was the Good
Samaritan TO guide him; where the
mother heart that would lead him through
this gloom Of want?
No door appeared open at first. The
Outcast Of the Allan home, the court
martiaied cadet. the brOken-hearted lover
with his muted love song was adrift at
last Where was refuge for this priest
Of letters in a world that has crucifled
its Jesus. its Luther. its SavonarOla on
the bitter crosses Of indifference
he would not 60 % the proud Balti-
more POes, the relatives who would not
acknowledge his gentle mother because
Of her profession
But among that naughty coterie Of pa
( teraal kinsfolk was a poor cousin" IN
fortunately alone in the world. who had
cOTresponded with Edgar Poe. This was
Mrs. Maria GLENN. step-aUnt Of Poe and
from hencefOrth his guardian mother.
a gentle, minisIering spirit whose labOrs
for Poe's comfort were many and con-
stant, and only ceased with his death
HRwked HIS Stories and Poems.
Among the women in the life OF Poe.
Maria Clemm's unselfish devotion is q
white light Of noble woman's love. She.
undoubtedly. saved his genius for the
world by protecting him. She even sold
for miserable pittances his immortal
poems. which she hawked from newsps-
per shop 20 newspaper shop, Elad 10 get
buyers for a dollar OF two for the precious
scraps Of paper that are now worth
their weight in sold.
In MIS- CIemm's door IN Eastern ave
nue., Baltimore. Edgar knocked. A glad
welcome was given him and rear attic
room was made ready for him. OF their
little ali. he had his share. and Mrs.
GLENN supported the little family. her
two daughters Maria and Virginia
GLENN. and Edgar. with needlework. y.
P Willis has written Of Mrs. GLENN s
devotion 10 Edgar and hiss fortunes as
follows She vas his miuisteri1g angel.
living with him, caring for him. guarding
him from exposure. and when ne was car
ried away bv temptation. amid grief and
the loneliness Of feelings Unreplied 10,
and awoke from his seIf-abandonment
prostrated IN destitutiOn and suffering.
begging Tor him Stiu. II woman's devO-
ton, born with first love. and fed with
human passion, hallow its object as Il is
allowed 10 do what does not a devotion
Ike this-pure. distinterested. and holy
as the watch Of an invisible spirit. say
for him who inspired it,
Meets His Cousin Virginia
In 1929. Poe was busy in his Balt-
more attic What 10 him we're its bare
boards. tEe cheeriessaess. while outside
was the blue sky. the song OF birds. and
within were those palaces OF fancy he
created Virginia GLENN, a fragile,
beautiful child Of twelve. fitted IN and
out.
In 1888. the Saturday Visitor, a Balti-
more paper, offered 500 prizes for prose
and poetry contributions Poe sent in
his Tales Of the Folio Club and Mss.
Found in a Bottle His Water Poem
won the first prize.
Home he rushed 70 Virginia and Mud
die Clem' and gave them the prize
money. With II they moved into better
quarters on Wilkes street. This first
real literary success caused Baltimore
society to try 70 Honize him. but TO lit
tie avail Pos cared nothing for society
and, besides. love had again awakened
in his heart. this time for Virginia
GLENN, his cousin, who was fast bud
ding into early wonlanhood. It Is said
her exquisite voice first wen his heart.
Edgar dearly loved his gentle child
cousin. and wished 20 marry her. Her
relatives thought her too young, but
Maria GLENN was willing and Poe won
his child-bride on September D. 1894. in
old ST PauFs Church. Baltimore. The
ceremony was performed b. Rev John
Johns. afteTward Bishop OF Virginia One
hesitates in saying that Virginia Clemm
was the real love Of Edgar Allan Poe
the other half Of his own soul. But she
was the one drop Of unalloyed sweetness
n his bitter life cup.
Remove TO Richmond.
She was too young and be too en-
crossed in his art for deep. passionate
love, but Virginia was the good angel Of
his early manhood, the lode star that