The Detroit times., 1914-04-08
In Autograph Letter He Elk.
plains Some Disputed Facts
About Great Poem
VERSES BY NATHAN HALE
BRING 1865 AT BIG SALE
Letter Written by John Paul
Jones Sells for $55O-Maj0r
Andres for $3.50

HNSW AONhs AVSu SLuSoi Aa-
Ian Poe's defense of THE Raven" as
a poem, In the form OF an autograph
letter in three full quarto pages.
written Dec. 15. 1S46. to G. w. Eve
lett. Of Phillips. Me-. was sold for
800 ut the suction Of Americans
collected by John Boyd Thatcher OF
Albany. in the Anderson galleries.
Madison-ave. and Fortieth-st. George
ID. Smith bought that and other
curious autographs.
"For the purposes Of poetry II 10
quite sufficient that q thing Is pos
sible," Poe wrote, "or at least that
the improbability be not extensively
glazing. II To- true that In several
ways. az you say. the lamp might
have thrown the birds shadow ON
the floor. Ny conception was that
of the bracket candelabrum affixed
against the walls. high up above the
door and bust. rs 10 Oftsn seen In the
English palaces and even In some Of
the better houses In New York.
your objection to the tinkling Of
the footballs Ii far more pointed. and
In the course Of composition occurred
80 forcibly to myself that hesitated
to use the term. / finally used It, be-
cause I saw that II had. in It's first
conception. been suggested to my
mind by the sense Of the SUPER
natural with which 1t was, at the
moment. filled. No human or physi-
cal foot could tinkle ON q soft car
pet---therefore the tinkling Of feet
would wildly convey the supernat-
|ural impression. Your appreciation
|of The Sleeper delights me. In the
higher qualities Of poetry 1t Is better
than The Ravin.' but there Is not
one man In q million who could be
brought to agree with me In this
opinion. The Ravep,' Of course. IL
far the better - . work of art--but
In the true basis Of all art The
Sleeper n the superior. I wrote the
latter when quite boy"
Mr.. Smith bought for $3.50 letter
from John Paul Jones to Gouver.
neur Morris, on the occasion Of the
launching Of the America. July z.
1872. Dodd = Livingston bought .
letter from Gen. Joseph Warren. who
was killed at Bunker Hill. written
April "a. 1875. directing David Blu
lard to enlist q company, for $125.
ia two-page letter from Martha
Washington TO q Miss Bassett. dated
Aug. 2. 1874, concerning friendly
matters, brought @136.
h. r. Bonayenture bought for 1920
Ian autograph letter from John
Adams, March 3. 1909, reminiscent
|of his part In political affairs and
written on receipt by him Of Trum-
bulls History OF the United States"
lin manuscript A letter by Lincoln.
written Oct. Is, 1850, to Il. Mont
geometry Bond. on the state of the
country, brought $50; one BY Zach
airy Taylor from Monterey In the
Mexican war. brought $3.50, and .
two-page letter ~ Washington to
his granddaughter BY marriage. Mrs-
Eliza Parke GUSTS Law, written
March 80, 1895. brought $265.
Other prices were $3.50 for let
ter written by Major John Andre to
Lord Auckland, descriptive OF war
conditions In one Of the Revolution
|ary campaigns: $40 for letter
written By Benedict Arnold. March
|2s, 177e. to Col. Clinton. then come
|manding ct Point Levi. opposite Que
bee; 9l3E for Z letter from Robert
Fulton. May %. 1914 ON his hopes
from the application u steam pro-
pulsion TO boats. to BENJAMIN West,
under whom Fulton had studied oil
painting: 1855 for verses composed
BY Nathan Hale and In his hand
writing, In September, 775 when
his regiment was or6erod TO Cam
bridge, and 9117.6O for . letter BY
BENJAMIN Franklin 70 1rs. Bedford.
April 3. 1773. .
There were 400 Items In the sale
and they brought @S,0o7.60.