Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
DONE in PHILADELPHIA

required seven years of travel and research,
and that when the book was ready for the
press IL had cost, on an average, more than
S21 n page. AS there were 400 pages in that
very excellent biography of the author Of the
Leatherstocking Tales, the reader who Is
quick at figures will note that It is not
always a profitable undertaking to write
book.
In the course Of a conversation had with
Miss Phillips she made several remarks
about Poe that surprised me. Probably the
most astonishing was that the Poe family
had declared to her that of all the biog-
raphies Of the author of THE Raven" to be
found on library shelves, not one really was
authentic. Evidently, we shall have to study
the subject all over again.
MISS PHILLIPS has made authenticity
lHl her standard in biographical writing,
and she assured me that not only will she
be able to correct many errors and false
Impressions about Poe that have become
familiar, but at least one-quarter of her
book will be absolutely new.
Already she has Travelled from Maine to
Virginia for materials. She has corresponded
with l do not know how many persons who
are believed to possess untouched manu-
script material, or pictures that are un-
known, but when asked her when she ex-
pected to issue the book she replied that
she would spend three years more on it.
I found she appreciated the immense i'm
portance of those FIVE years of Poe's life
which the poet spent in Philadelphia, and
she assured me that her present visit was
mere reconnoitering of the field; that she
expects to return and spend considerable
period here studying such data Is avail
able only in this city.
DURING the period in which Poe was a
- resident of this city, from 1889 to 1914,
virtually all the work that recalls his name
to fame was written Those wonderful tales,
such as THE Gold Bug" THE Murders in
the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Let
ter to name only a few, and his greatest
poetical work, THE Raven" were the prod
uct of Poe's pen while he poorly paid
editor of Philadelphia magazines.
For the last year of Burton's Gentlemen's
Magazine Poe really was it's sole editor, for
Burton was busy with his theatrical enter
prises. Poe not only edited the magazine
but he wrote the book reviews and article
or story for each number. When the mag
azine was combined with Grahams, Poe was
taken over with the property and
associate editor, reviewing books, writing
literary criticisms of popular authors, add
ing a tale now and then and writing an
occasional poem. In addition to this labor
he was occasionally asked to revise the
poetical contributions of talented ladies who
could pay for the revision, and the writings
of some of these ladies were found to have
deteriorated after Poes death.
One of the impressions about the poet
which seems difficult to eradicate is that Poe
was a drunkard. Miss Phillips assured me
that this impression very wrong
and was not borne out by the evidence.
Neither, she informed me, was it true that he
had died in fit of delirium from drink, as
has been often stated.
DOE made many friendships during his
1 residence here; and there undoubtedly is
a great deal of interesting material about
this period of his life that awaits the indus
trious seeker.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be
more than one residence of the poets
naming that may have any claim to the
attention of the investigator. This is the
small back building to the house at Seventh
and Brandywine streets. Some claims have
been made for building at 25th street and
Fairmount avenue, but without much evil
dence, 1t seems.
But there still may be seen at the corner
of Moravian and Dock streets the building
where Burton published his magazine while
Poe was his associate editor Then, too,
there were until year or two ago the former
homes of Burton himself. One of these was,
and may still be. on Ninth street below Vine,
and the other on Thirteenth street north of
Race.
John Sartain, who died about ten years
ago, when he was nearing the century mark,
mentions In his book of "reminiscences that
Poe lived for time at Sixteenth and Locust
streets. There is now, however nothing
left Of that frame house, for the neighbor-
hood has improved both in value and archi-
lecture since 1889.
DOE was also a frequent visitor to the
L home OF Henry b. Hirst. who lived in a
house that stood Sixth street below
Chestnut, but was effaCed in 1866. when the
PUBLIC LEDGER Building was erected on the
site. The old Fairmount Reservoir, where,
just a week before his end in Baltimore Poe
showing signs Of nervous strain and excite
ment and accompanied by Sartain, spent
part of a night, has been transformed. Sar-
tain went with the poet to quiet his fears OF
fanCied dangers.
There seems to be little of Poe's Philadel-
phia remaining, but what there is has not
attracted the attention it probably deserves,
for the city has cause to be proud Of having
had the poet for n citizen, even If it was for
only hve years of his brief life.
GRANVILLE.