The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31
Edgar Allan Poe and the SECOND Mrs. ALLAN

soen. no frankly attributed his breach
with his fosterfather chiefly to his
own "follics." and whilo no declared
that the second marriage had also
had much to do with their permanent
estranScmcnt. he cast no reflections
SO far as any OF his surviving writ
in5s show on Mrs. Allan'y conduct or
on her motives That all her relatives
ala not sympathizc with her harsh
view OF his character Is manifested
BY the warm friendship which Mrs.
Julia Mayo Cabcll. her cousin, in
variably exhibited for him. She was
perhaps the most prominent figure In
the society of Richmond In her prime,
ana not Il woman TO countenance any
man who had been justly stigmatized
as the Allan coteric had Sought to
stiBmatlze Poe. General Scott, VINO had
married Mrs. Allan's aunt. and who
was n native Of Virginia, and Il con-
slant visitor In Richmond. when asked
on one occasion to assist the unhappy
poet, then sunk In AFFECT perjury re-
spondcd with hearty sympathy to the
appeal: II wish could make 4 $500"
he said in his bluff way: II believe
Poo TO he much bclicd. lie has noble
and generous traits. which belonged
TO the old and better school"
Motives Not Mercenary.
warmth with which Poe was received
in Richmond on his last visit TO that
city, although the second Mrs. Allan
was still alive. and still spokc OF him
as bitterly as she wrote Of him thirty
years afterwards. Whatever else may
be said OF the causes of his cstrangc-
mcnt from her husband, he is at least
entitled to the honor of not having
been influenced by mercenary and
calculating motives. All his pecunlary
interests from the time his foster
father Inherited a large fortune de-
mandcd that he should govern his
conduct absolutely by the wishes OF
the cxactinG and irascible man who
was his self-appointed guardian.
Many young person in the like
situation, understanding on what side
the bread was buttered. would have
been scrupuloua to give no ofrensc.
Poe's pride, the most deeply rooted of
all his qualities, did not permit this
II was perhaps foolish, impctuous and
obstinate in the beginning, regardless
of his worldly welfare. but his final
visit TO Richmond In response to a
report that Mr.. Allan had spoken OF
him kindly on n sick bed. cvinccd his
eager Willingness to sink all recol-
lcCtions of their differences In the
past. II the fault of the original cs-
arrangement was his, the fault of the
failure to he rcconcilcd was his foster
fathers
When Poc learned that he had been
left pcnnilcss. with no provision even
for the continuation of his annuity,
the spirit which he displayed was one
thoroughly crcditable to his manli-
ness. Il have been thrown entirely on
my own resources" he wrote to vii.
liam Poe. his cousin. Brought up to
no profession, and educated in tho eX-
pcctation of an immense fortune, the
blow has been heavy one. and L
had nearly succunbed TO it's influence
and yielded TO despair. But by the
eNertion of much resolution, am
now beginning to look upon the matter
i'll q less serious light, and although
struggling stu with many cmbarrass-
ments. am enabled to keep up my
spirits"
When this letter was written Poe
had become the editor Of the Mcssen-
ser. and Oils prospects had frightened
very much; but during the interval
between the date of his appointment TO
that position and the date of Mr..
Allans' death he had been compelled
to endure such hardships from pow
crty that Mr. Kennedy could say. with
little exaggeration, that he had found
him in state OF starvation" All
his striving to earn livelihood had
had gone so far as TO apply for the
school. a calling which would have
barely afforded him enough income
10 keep the wolf from the door.