The Washington herald., 1909-01-17
CENTENARY OF AMERICAS LITERARY GENUS-EDGAR POI

in French by DR.. Alcee Fortier, Of New
Orleans, Oh Pce's influence on French
literature, and an address IN English BY
Prof. George Edward. recently OF Munich
Germany, on Poe's influence upon German
/ literature.
A contemplated souvenir OF the occa-
sion IS q beautifully printed Fest-Schrift
/ This viii contain nine letters hitherto
! unpublished IN full and an Introduction
/ prepared by Prof Harrison. number
/ OF distinguished men and women have
been invited 70 the exercises, and the
event win be notable IN the history OF
/ American letters. II is said that a monu-
ment TO Poe VIII be placed IN the library
at West Point Academy, where Poe was
once e student.
Fame Is at Last His.
And 50 extoIled by sage and bard. Poe
VII have his day at last. His wonderful
genius, so lily appreciated at the time
Of his death. is recognized at last. His
fame brightens every day. He is &C
mOwledged as the father Of the modern
short story. the creator OF the bizarre,
and terrible in imaginative literature.
[ Hundreds OF Poe lovers have formed q
Poe cult and fame is his Among The
dilettantes Of literature, imitation Of Pos
is a favOrite pastime
The manuscripts Mrs GLENN haWked
about newspaper shops. glad 10 sell for
two or three dollars, bring thousands Of
dollars at auction The grave OF Poe Is
the shrine and mecca Of literary pilgrims.
From the four corners OF the globe they
come. following the leadership Of Tenny-
son who said. the only thing he wanted
10 see in America was the grave Of Edgar
Allan Poe. One learned British peer
travelled to America TO stand at Poe's
grave in Westminster churchyard, Balti-
more The fame OF Poe is founded upon
rock The singular beauty Of his crea-
tiOns Withstand analysis and competition.
He Is the American man OF letters. its
poet Like Shakespeare, the English
voice, he IS as timely in one century as
another. The destiny Of misfortune, how
ever, has followed his memory. Traduced
and repealed in life, rabble OF hack
men and critics have tried 10 blacken the
white lily Of remembrance after his
death
Birthplace Is Disputed.
Even the birthplace Of Poe Is disputed.
he is the prey OF sharks. who devour
him; OF Judas IscariOts. who would be
tray him for thirty pieces Of silver; OF
BosweIls and Simple Simons. all unfit and
unready for their self-appointed tasks.
But, IN this Tnire OF biographers, the
work of the man shines out, giving them
effeCtUal answer. That Is true. That, the
work. is unsurpassed and the hsndicraft
OF master The seeing eye looks on It
and calls 1t good.
The malaevolent spirit OF destiny. which
keeps watch and ward over the ways OF
human genius. was the tUtelary angel
Of Edgar Allan Poe from the cradle 70
the grave. Everywhere he turned there
was the iron decree which. while separ-
ating him from the mass. rendered him
miserably unhappy Never was the man
more blessed % with biographers. who
were in the majority OF cases self-ap-
pointed, than Edgar Allan Poe. And each
with hardly an exception has been guilty
Of minor or major misstatements- From
Grlswold % Harrison. they either make
the odd statement that the place Of birth
OF lineage Is immaJeTial 10 the poet make
up. OF say with hidden air Of apology.
that POe's grandfather was a Virginia
Wheel-wright.
Now. with our friend Bobby Burns. It
does not matter over much about the
rank and even less about the guinea
stamp. "A mans man for a that But
no one VIII deny least OF al In these days
OF Daughters OF the American Revolution
and feveriSh search into tlS grave and
secrets OF our fOrefathers. the virtue OF
having ancestors who from the common
ground OF the people performed some act
that elevated them 10 a post above their
fellows. for that is how the primitive
titles and names were esrned-by sheer
merit
The name Poe, which Is an American