Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-22
Dire LIGHT THROWN
ON ROMANCE OF POE
|graphy of Mrs. Sarah Helen
Whitman Is an interest
ing Volume.


Whitman Is an interest
ing Volume.
Try Told of Dragging OF Poet, Who
Is Declared to Have Proved Him
self Incapable OF Living Up to
Standard Imposed.
|e's Helen" BY Caroline Ticknor.
Hrs. Sarah Helen Whitman's Dfog-
ply by Miss Caroline Ticknor under
title of Foes Helen" ia IL charm
sly written volume. calculated to
crest the general reader. and, as
II, throws some hints TO unpublished
hit upon poc's romance with a char
|er Miss ricknor depicts with "nys-
ious and elusive qualities"
had hoped to lind In this new
pgrHphy something to alter the ex-
Ing record of the Mrs. Whitman
sode In I'oe's career. |. however,
nothing to change the former view,
much that is tantalizing to "a
Ident of Poe. and more to convince
that in this particular romance
o battlcd nightly with the "mys-
ious and elusive" elements. / have
rcady had occasion to express dis
tisfaction with the reproduction of
Poe letters written to Mrs Whit
IN, published in 1909. and question
eir absolute correctness. having de
,ted deviations In fac-simile pre-
Dusiy given out by Mrs. whitman.
fac-simile of another one Of the
ters now published in Miss Ticknor's
ok gives further proof of additional
viationS from the criminals in the
30 publication of the letters. But
e worst remains to be told.
aiiss Ticknor In her preface claims
reproduce from these same Poe orig :
al letters-"from time to time. quot ed
more or less fragmentary form by
PES biographies" adding that they
e now for the frs, time fitted Into
cir proper place in the romance to
main in the permanent niche which
ey have won among the world S
hssic love letters" But. unfortu-
tely, she gives them In Il vastly diff
renee form from that ever printed
Tore. AS compared with the 1909, al
Ecd authentic and accurately copied
hnuSCript. i'll which most scrupuln,if
re was taken TO abstain from
lifting. adding, or condersing in any;
ape or FORM" the first letter of Poe
Mrs. Whitman in the new biography
iHes out several sections, has nine
rbal changes. and twenty other
.viations Of one sort or another.
he balance Of the letters show cor
spending changes, while the mar
age contract between Poe and Mrs.
hi,man differs materially. In Foes
|cond letter. where lie mentions spe-
ideally that Mrs. Whi,man's frs,
mes Of poetry were received In Rich
)out September 10. and Mrs. Whit
an added the notation. 1T was
triier. Miss Ticknor has failed To
AXE this important notation. which
nrs directly on live pages OF hel
'mnents on tina, incident.
OLE LETTERS SENT
10 }. WOOD DAVIDSON
| was aware when the 1909 volume
the Poe Whitman" letters was pub
shed that some OF these letters were
issing, but waited for additional
roof in the matter. Now the new biog
Apply shows that Mrs. Whitman sent
oe letters TO j. Wood Davidson. /
old letter from MIR. Davidson. in
hich he states that Foe letters sent to
i'm by Mrs. Whitman were destroyed
seems difficult matter TO form IA
.idiciai opinion OF these Poe Whitman
tters with some missing and mono of
rs Whitman's to Poe in evidence. IT
also pcrpleNins TO have portions OF
ne Poe letter blottcd out by Mrs.
whitman. as we'll as great uncertainty
8 10 the absolute correctness OF the
Iubiished copies OF the letters
In the beginning of her biography.
iss Ticknor asserts that Poe in this
fomancc failed miserably, proving
imself incapable of living up to the
fandard imposed and forcing her Mrs.
Ehitman) To sever the tie between
hem" And yet, further on, she de-
lets Mrs. Whitman with magnetic
uality cxerted by certain French
Iomen, with a succession of adorers.
nd her hand sought In marriage even
/, her latest years by men who had
|ong given to her their devoted allie
lance.
This is followed by the story of PA
|odie." whom Poe believed TO the end
10 have been devoted friend. Miss
ficknor says: HE seems to have PLAYED
Pie part of everybody's friend; a role
Which always savors somewhat Of in
|inccrity. Pabodie figured as his
Poe's) intimate during his whole asso-
|iation with Providence, took him to
is homo. obtained his confidence. and
|ecame his inseparable companion.
Pabodie was an ardent admirer of Mrs.
Whitman, and his attachment to Poe
|eems to have dated from the moment
hat he perceived that Poe was laying
iege to her Affections
Did EVERYTHING
To BREAK OFF MATCH
He believed most implicitly, as did
he rest of Mrs. Whitman's friends, that
here could be no happiness for her in
uch IL match. and he acknowledged
subsequently, that he did everything
within his power to break 1t Off :.
The evidence all goes to point out that
le did what he could to destroy Poe's
hances and to hasten the termination
II the engagement. 1t is = known
Who tempted Poe to drink before he
'aid visit to Mrs. Whitman, but 1t
S certainly true that Pabodie did not
lesitate to accompany him to her house
when Poe was not himself"
! have heard this part of the story
old about Pabodie recited less mildly
" well-informed authorities of Prov
dence. And when Poe was led a vic
i'm to his doom by Pabodfe. what was
cen? Mrs. Whitman has told il her
elf. and her biographer repeats 1t: His
iancee lying on sofa semiconscious
rom the effects Of ether Poe. Il is
alleged, was semiconscious from the
fleets Of the purer alcohol, while Mrs
whitman was in Il like condition from
he effects OF alcohol, distilled with
ulphuric acid.
Miss Ticknor has taken the view
hht ioe i"lic" nlserahly i'm uncon-