Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-08
ny GiIberta sinclair white.

'J SuDerta sinclair Whttlc.
Thc Raven Society,"" an honor as
ISOLATION of the University OF Vir-
GINA. mcmorialIzing Edgar Allan
ioe's student life there. is sclf-pcr-
= petuating. the vacancies occurring
annually among It's forty members
be:ES supplied by the society itself
with selection from fellow students
who have done good work in their
classes. The duty OF the society
the care OF the room occupied by Poe
and the Poe mementoes preserved
there-tends to awaken and foster
nm interest in him. and one of It's
members, Samuel Pcndleton Cowar-
din Jr., Of Richmond. discovering
that the grave of hts mother was not
marked, and that even it's location
was unknown. devoted Christmas
holiday To examining into the matter
through Mrs. Susan Archer Weiss.
VINO knew Poe. and also "A statement
to j. III. Witty. n Poe specialist
made by Danville lady who also
remembered him. her burial place
near the eastern wall OF old st.
johns Church yard" was Identified
ana fccilng that man could not
ne more highly honorcd than by hon
orinE his mother. the Raven Society"
cmptied it's treasury OF It's little
hoard OF s76 as the nucleus of a fund
ior erecting monument over her
grave. This sum was added to by
entertainments given under It's aus
pices. II was further Increased by
few donations. the largest Of which
was 800 from r. y. e. Painter. OF
Baltimore. while 500 from the Ac-
tors Equity Association OF New York
available when called for) makes n
sum total of about $3.50
interrupted by World wnr.
With heightened interest and activ-
tiles well under way. the work OF
the society was rudely interrup,ed
by the great world war. In which
Mr. Cowardin and other members
took part, and further suspended by
the financial depression following Il.
IL lis now planned to renew them
with the hope Of placing such me-
mortal over tho grave OF the mother
of Americas greatest poet as shall
be worthy Of him. or. falling in this.
to identify tho spot by simpler
stone.
But apart from her distinction A..
tho mother Of n world poet Elizabeth
Arnold Poe's dramatic gifts and
achievements give her personal
claim Ia recognition. Born in Eng
land In 1881. she came To this coun-
try with her mother (also an actress).
In 1896, and. although only 0 years
old. took part In "a theatrical per-
Torrance in Portland when her cx-
treme beauty. her charm and marked
talent and promise delighted the au-
diencc and won enthusiastic praise
from the local press.
During her career she impcrsonated
thirty characters. playing In Port
land, Boston. New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore. Washington. Alexandria,
iItichmond. Petersburg Norfolk and
Charleston. and was everywhere
lhuded, the Boston Gazette saying:
she has maintained course OF
characters more numerous and ardu-
Gus than can be paralleled on our
boards in any one season. and has
often been obliged to take the part OF
three OF these during tn. same even
ing"
POc's Father Wns Lawyer.
In 1902 Miss Arnold married c. y.
Hopkins, an actor who had joined
their company two years before. Mr..
Hopkins died in 1905. leaving no
children. and in 1906 she became the
wife OF David Poe. n Baltimore law
yer. the son OF distinguished Revo-
lutionary officer. Abandoning his pro-
fession. Mr.. Poe adopted hers, but,
despite the prestige Of high birth and
attractive personality, he never at
tanned any distinction in It.
In 1909 the birth year Of Poc) n
rare conjunction OF planets appeared
in the dramatic Armament when the
mother OF this embryo genius played
in Federal Street Thcater, Boston.
with John Howard Payne. immor-
talizcd as the author OF Home.
Sweet Home" taking the part of
Palmyra to his Zaphna. Sigismunda
TO his Tancrcd, and Juliet to his
Romeo. Everywhere her entrance
upon the stage was greeted with
murmurs OF How beautiful" How
fascinating" What grace What
expression"
But "fine words" as the adage tells
us. butter no parsnips." Mrs. Poe
lived at time when dramatic talents,
even the most brilliant, were miser-
ably compensated in America, and
throughout she was bitterly moor.
Three children, too. came in close sue
cession into the family circle, making
new demands upon its small resources
and the timo and strength OF the
brave young mother. Mr.. Poe, ais,
disaster following fast and faster
developed consumption, his health
Ealing so rapidly that after n per-
torrance in Norfolk in the late sum
mer OF 1911. his wife could not leave
him to fill an engagement at Broad
Street Theater, Richmond. He died
not long afterward when. yielding to
appeals from Mr.. Placide. the com
pany's manager, she joined him there.
Supported by stimulants she appeared
in several performances. but crushed
by sorrow, her own health hopelessly
broken. the glory had Departed"
Died December 8, 1911,
Her Oldest son. William, had been
taken in charge by Baltimore relas
tives. but with her mother, Edgar and
baby ROaalla Mrs Doe nnnnnIal