Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-19
Eddar Allen Poe.

gar Allen Poe was born in Boston. He
| was the son of an actor, and into his
life from it's earliest days was crowded
hardship, disappointment. trouble and
as through his works, there is vast
| amount of mystery and beyond doubt
the prominence given to the dissipa-
tions and excuses of his short and
cratic career have clouded, in this
| country at least, his literary reputa-
| ton. Abroad they have judged him
more on the merit of what his pen pro-
| duced and gradually that is becoming
the standard in his native land.
AS a poet, writer of short stories
and a critic, he will always hold one
of the highest places in American lit
erature. AS master of lyrical poetry
and of the short story it is not too
much to say that he stands in a class
by himself. He had a wonderfully SEN
sitive ear for verbal notation, a touch
| SO delicate that it seemed almost magi-
cal, and an imagination at once somber
and beautiful He was an artist by
temperament and he cared for beauty
for it's own sake. He defined poetry
as the rhythmical creation of beauty"
and laid down the law that "a long
poem does not exist" His lyrics throw
spell over his readers in which the
beguling of the ear as in the awaken
ing of the imagination.
His short stories deal mainly with
abnormal aspects of life and phases Of
existence and most of his landscapes,
characters and incidents are in the
realm of fancy. OF the three forms
of his literary activity, his criticism,
while of high Importance at the time,
is now of the least value His weird
prose tales have taken a high place in
the literature of the world by reason
Of their originality of motive and their
the most distinctive expression of his
unique genius.
Many things were crowded into his
brief life He attended the University
of Virginia for a short time and also
West Point, from which he was dis
missed in disgrace. For two years he
served as q private soldier in the reg
ular army He was editor of the South
ern Literary Messenger and when in
the mood was a tireless worker, pro-
ducing stories, poems and criticisms
with ease and in profusion. At times
he fought with desperate courage
against the melancholy in his tempera-
1nent and the strong drink which was
a poison to him. The death of his be-
loved wife in 1S47, after long Illness
left him shattered man and he went
from one excess to another until in
September, lS49, he was found uncon-
sclous in a Baltimore drinking place
and taken to a saloon where he died
a few days later.
In many places in this country and
abroad the centennial of the birth Of
this rare genius whose life was such a
tragic story will be appropriately cele-
brated today. Most of the colleges will
hold special exercises, especially at the
University of Virginia, while abroad
as we'll as in this country honors will
be paid to his memory by educational
institutions and literary organizations
No doubt the celebration of his CEN
tennial, as is usual in such cases, will
revive the interest in his works and
'The Fall of the House of Usher,'' '"rhe
Cold Bug" 1.-THE Narrative of Arthur
Gordon Pym,'' 1.-The Manuscript Found
in Bottle and "Ligeia," will be
read by many who have hitherto known
them only by name. The poems which
have made him immortal are few in
number and as familiar as any in our
language: THE Raven" "Annabel
Lee "The Haunted Palace" 'Tenore,"
''ThG City in the Sea-" ITO Helen"
ISRAELI" and a few others.