The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17

r. Der of the Allan household IL
~ Richmond in 1911. when ht
was only two years old. 1t IL
not at all probably that previous
10 that age anything without himself
had either retarded or promoted the
budding OF his character. During the
next fourteen years, with the cNcep-
ation OF the fruitful sojourn at stoke
Ncwington. IN England. his time was
passed In Richmond, and thus il hap
spcned that II was in this interesting
town that the most powerful inilu-
cnces brought to bear upon his native
disposition AT the most susceptible
stage of its growth had their springs.
From 1911 to 1915 Mr.. Allan and his
wife resided over store in Fourteenth
I Street. then, now. chiefly CONNER
cial quarter. This thorouEhfarc slnpcd
quito steeply down towards the river;
and while that part Of the city was
not then perhaps so closely built up as
1t is now-morc particularly along the
bank Of the streail-Stll IL could have
had but few beauties or attractions
Tho store was no doubt as plain Il
structure us stores in that division of
Richmond Vet are. and tho apart
mcnts over Il. occupied by the Allans
and little Edgar however comfortable,
could hardly have been imposing. 1t
Is manifest that Mr.. Allan was not a
worry prosperous merchant at this
time. The somewhat mean situation
snd the unalluring aspect of his home
were not to he laid at the door of
Scotch thrift for his wife IS known
TO have had strong social tastes and
ambitions. Edgar remained in this
very simple establishment until he was
about six years old
In 1915 the Allans, accompanied by
the future poet. sailed for England,
and there in London he passed some
five years altogether The travellers
returned TO Richmond In 1920 Mr..
lLAllan now acquired residence in
Fifth Street. not far from the present
ST. James's Church. This mcighbor
hood was. from a social point OF view,
superior TO the one with which the
family had formerly been associated In
Fourtecnth street. While neither so
inviting nor so imposing as Shockoc
It'll in its architectural indications OF
wealth and refinement, its ncarness TO
that fashionable quarter caused ii to
share. in some measure at least in that
quarters social distinction. Although
Mr.. Allan appears TO have been III
easier circumstances. It was only for
a time. for in 1S22 he made an assign
mcnt, under the terms of which, how
ever. ne l'ltlNtu UbSSttSlpH VI MS
property. The Scotchman had not yet
in accommodating "a fortune.
but there Is no reason to think that
his family did not enjoy all the benc-
fits of comfortable and attractive
home
AIInn InherIts Estate.
In 1928 Mr.. Calf died. and Mr.. Allan.
rs one OF his two heirs, came into
possession of very large estate. lie
seems In a short time to have moved
into residence on Fourteenth Street,
which had probably been his unclc's,
ard here he remained until March,
1926. This new home. where the fam
lily soiourned for two years, brought
Edgar back TO the quiet and rather
unsiyhtly nciS hborhood, where his first
years in Richmond had been spent
The second house on Fourteenth
Street OF which he had been an In
mate as n boy, was certainly superior
10 the first, for ii was not a comhina-
ton OF store and living apartments.
but a complete residence in itself from
basement to garnet, neither beautiful
nor imposing, IL is true. but substan-
Sial and comfortable.
From the time OF their marriage Mr..
and Mrs Allan had resided on the out
skirts of the most fashionable quarter
OIL fkICUUlDuu, ndlUtlN, Nlotho' mn
1T Is probable that there was no hand
some mansion In that exclusive dis
1rict for sale when, the period OF
mourning for Mr. Gait having come to
en- end. they were ready to seek
residence and a section of the city
more consonant with the pretensions OF
their lately acquired wealth. The
house finally selected, while no, so
spacious as It was afterwards made.
was one of the handsumcst at the
western end Of. Main Street. There
Edgar spent the six months just pre-
cedinE his naturalization at the Uni
Sersity OF Virginia 1t was home
that, from every point of view. sur
passed any one of the three he had
previously known. Here was assigned
him on the most attractive part of the
upper floor a room of his own. stocked
with every article that would please
the fancy o. a cultivated boy. or as
sure his perfect comfort and con
venience-books, pictures, lounges and
writing desks. There he rested, slept.
read. scribbled, and received his
friends. When the nutumnal fail of
leaves opened mp the view towards the
Houth he could see through the large
windows, spreading landscape, en-
hracing near at hand the broad river
tuInhlinE over tina DouldcrS and granite
tedges between the numerous little Is
lands: further on, the roofs of Man
chester pecping UP through the tops