The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-13
ENGLISHMAN AT
GRAVE OF Poe
Finds Nearby Church Is
Nearly Sinking Into
Earth

At the back of the market place in
Baltimore, Md, by the side of a church
that seems visibly to be sinking into
the earth, lies the grave of Edgar Al
Ian Poe. Upon the tombstone are GER
tain tributes, but they are French.
There is no tribute from, his own coun-
try, America, writes Rex Hunter, in
the Bookman, London.
1t was a gray, drizzling day when I
visited the grave. / had gone shopping
with my hostess at the market, and she
said that we would visit the grave on
the way back to the house. Fresh from
the atmosphere Of meat, fish and flow
ers, we came to the old church--Wes-
minister Presbyterian church, at the
corner of of Green and Lafayette
streets. Just inside the iron railing,
few feet from the curb, lies the present
grave. But none of the passers-by stop
ped to look at it. To be precise, no one
stopped until they saw us examining it,
and then they looked at us in sort of
wonder.
found the negro sexton at a side en-
trance, talking to white idler. When
mentioned that my hostess and l
had wished to see the grave more closely
he broke away from his companion
readily enough for he associates the
grave with baksheeh, tips. All he
knows is that for some inexplicable
reason a few people come to visit this
particular grave, and that if he is at
tentive they usually leave certain coins
in his palm.
Come right troo-right troo," he
calculated. And we followed at his
heels through the crumbling church,
came by the side of the pulpit, through
a small room hung with childish pic
tures-"Dis yer's the chillun's little
kindergarten" explained our guide
and out into the graveyard on the left
hand side of the church.
Original Burial Place
Out of the wet grass rose a tomb
stone bearing this legend: "Quoth the
Raven, Nevermore. Original burial
place of Edgar Allan Poe from October
8, 1S49, until November II, 1875. Mrs.
Maria GLENN, his mother-in-law, lies
upon his left, and Virginia Poe, his
wife, upon his left, under the noun
ment erected to him in this cemetery"
Below the quotation is a crudely carved
figure of raven. On the left of this
stone was another which set forth that
it marked the burial place of David Poe
senior, patriot ana gfAnQtdLher OF Ed
gar Allan Poe, born in Londonderry,
ireland, in 1743. Died in Baltimore,
October II, 1916.
When 1 had copied the inscriptions
the negro sexton proceeded to lead the
way to the grave in which, Poe now lies.
We passed under the church through q
sort of cellar containing the heating ap-
paratus. Hot water pipes ran over
and between vaults, marked with various
names. On one vault, inscribed with
the name of Brown. preceived in the
gloom a large wreath with the
French colors and large gilt crown.
The sexton informed us that the late
Brown had been the richest man of his
time in Baltimore, and I reflected that
he must have been held in high esteem,
since his fellow citizens had conferred
a wreath and crown upon his vault.
We came out into wet grass again on
the right hand side. of the church. Here
were more vaults. Finally we came to
the present grave of Poe.
Brought By A French Count
Standing in the gray drizzle, our