The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-23
BY pHlLIp ALEXANDER BRUCE.

By PHILIP ALEXANDER BRUCE.
The voIuminous testimony as to the
general character of Edgar Allan Poe's
personal appearance from his youth
until his death varies but little II at all.
In details Mr.. 7. 6. Tucker. his fellow
student at tho University OF Virginia,
remembered him as short in stature
and very compact in shape. This gen
tleman was recalling Impressions which
had been made half n century before.
AS he ascribed to Poe the air and ac-
ton OF a native born Frenchman," a
etatemen. repuEnant to all the other
evidence. we are inclined to doubt his
assertion that tic poet was bow
legged" a physical trait not known 10
have been observed even by his numer-
Gus enemies Ills hgure. as remem.
bered by Mary" the young lady OF
Baltimore. with whom he had love
passages two years later. was very
slender and delicate. while his gen.
eral bearing was erect and military.
II should he borne in mind that after
graduating from the university he had
tsel subject TO very strict regulations
both as Il private soldier III the Fed
eral army and as p cadet in the Acad
envy n West Point This discipline
had left behind AZ least a more DELHI
crate carriaGc.
MIR l.. \. Wilmer, who saw him con-
stantly IN 1882 speaks Of his frail and
almost efeminate body, and ten years
later he struck Howard Paul. then
toy' in daily contact with him. as being
still slight. delicate and small -boned."
In this interval OF decade his figure
had evidently undergone no pcrccp-
tible change.
Exactly Proportioncd.
Bishop Fitzgerald writing Of him
as he was during his last visit TO
Richmond. employs almost precisely
Tho words which MIR Tucker had used
u. l., Lax, |, in
his youth: his figure WAS compact and
we'll set aud lie retained the pecu-
iiarity commented Oh in 1SS2-'he was
still 'as straight as an arrow" An
other person who met him about this
time after noting his Medium height
about five feet six inches-dcclares
that. in spite of his rather low stature
he gave the impression of commanding
size because his figure was so exactly
proportional. That figure, as recalled
by the famous phlologist, Professor
Basil l.. Gildersleeve, n few weeks he
fore the poets fatal departure 70. Bal
timore was especially remarkable for
Its slenderness. Another writer re-
members his quick step. but easy and
graceful carriage in walking.
What was the character OF the sew
eral features CT his face? The most
conspicuous was the forehead. which
was So protuberant a. the temples that
Il seemed Il be out OF proportion to
the slender body. This popularity had
been noted By MIR. Latrobe as soon as
Poe entered his room to thank him
for his share in awarding the poet the
prize for the best tale offered in the
Baltimore contest. Tho ovcrhanginE
brow, which appeared TO Mrs Whit
mars romantic fancy as translucent
In its pallor" reminded many observ-
ers inVoluntarily of the classic tenn
plies of the great Napoleon. Its extra
r,r a ir,s.r accumulated
the curling and waving mass OF dark
chestnut hair which fell over the upper
lines OF its white surface.
While sojourning In Baltimore, aft
ter his dismissal from the Military
Academy at West Point. Foe permitted
his hair to grow long; but he was al
ways scrupulous in keeping in brush
ed back behind his ears III the some
what poetical style still affected by
college students. That he still refrain
ed from cutting il short even in later
life would seen TO he demonstrated by
Mis-. Whitmaris romantic line referring
to 1t:
THE dark ;,air boating DER like
plume"
In texture il was to the touch as
finc as silk Poe himself speaks of its
web-like softness and tenuity.
The poets nose was long and straight.
One witness who studied this feature
of his face In lss3. dwells on its SYM
lnetrical lines. It's decided Cirecian cast.
The chin was finely nodded, but
evinced, in its want OF prominence. an
absence of moral energy. Dr. Glider
sleeve. as we'll rs others who recall his
appearance at diferent periods of his
life, was struck by the weakness re-
fccted in the shape OF this feature.
Different Impressions.
The mouth. on the other hand was