The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-12
SCULPTOR BARTLETT
SAILS WITH DESIGNS
COMING TO RICHMOND TO ERECT
TABLET ON ELIZABETH ).
POE's GRAVE. =.
HAS LEFT FIR AN c E
WILL BE HERE IN FEW WEEKS
TO CONSULT WITH RAVEN
sOCIETY-NEw FOE LETT
TER FOUND.

Paul w. Bartlett. whose sculptural
fame Is known throughout the United
States and Europe. has left Paris with
designs for a tablet to be erected in
st. Johns churchyard. of this city. in
honor Of the memory OF Mrs. Eliza
beth Arnold Poe, mother of Edgar
Allan Poe
This tablet is to be erected at the
head Of Mrs. Poe's grave. which has
recently been discovered in the church
yard providing the necessary amount
OF money can be secured. The grave
was found last spring. It was un-
marked and practically deserted.
When the lonely grave was found,
the Raven society of the University of
Virginia started a movement for the
erection of q monument or tablet. to
the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Poe
from whom. it is said. Edgar Allan
Poe, one of the most eminent poets
of his day, inherited hts artistic gen
ius.
Honor Ills Mother.
Although Poe was born In Boston
he left that city when he was only
two years old and came to Richmond.
where he spent practically all of the
remainder OF his life. The last days
of his life were spent In Baltimore.
Owing to the fact that Baltimore has
done so much towards honoring the
memory Of this distinguished author
with monuments. and that Richmond
has done so little for him, members
of the Raven club are making efforts
to pay him this tribute by placing
grave.
1t is not the idea OF the club to
place an elaborate monument at the
grave. but to erect some simple tab
let. S. r. Cowardin. Jr.. who lis head
ing the movement IN this city. recently
held conference with Mr.. Bartlett
the sculptor. at his studio In Wash
ington. and the latter thinks we'll of
the movement.
cure this tablet. and members of the
Raven club are depending on the peo-
pie of Richmond TO lend their aid to
the movement. Mr.. Cowardin has sue
ceeded in securing t400 OF this amount
and he hopes to have the necessary
sum by the time Mr.. Bartlett arrives.
In this connection discovery Of a
letter written by Joseph II. Clark. and
dealing with the early life OF the poet
is of interest The letter was found
by Major S. Johnson Poe In going
through the papers OF his father. the
late John P. Poe. It was written by
Joseph II. Clark. teacher OF a gram
mar school In Richmond. to Nelson
Poe. grandfather OF Major Poe, and
nrst cousin of the poet. It is as fol-
lows:
The Letter.
Edgar Poe, of Richmond. having
lost his parents when q child. was
adopted by Mr.. John Allan. OF Rich
mond. as his son. At FIVE years old
he was sent by Mrs. A. to England
and placed under the care OF his mai
den sister. AT eight years old Mr.. A.
recalled him to Richmond and placed
him In Mr.. ]. Fl. Clark's grammar
school In the year 1918. where he con-
tinued till he was prepared to go
to the University of Virginia.
Edgar was an uncommon bright
youth. At twelve years old he was
master Of Horace and Livy and was
reading in the thirteenth book OF
Homer's Tliad.' He had a great liking
for English and Latin poetry. He
would for an evenings exercise turn
twenty five lines OF Latin verse into
English poetry without any labor.
while tending Mr. Clark's institu-
ton he composed a poem OF fugitive
pieces and was very urgent with Mt
Allan to have them published, but Mr.
A., after consulting with Mr.. G. upon
the propriety. declined gratifying the
young aspirant.
JOSEPH H. CLARK"