Evening star., 1925-09-13
Poe Made Long Effort to Get i. S. Job Here

MY Dear Thomas: Through an
accident I have only just now received
yours of the 21st. Believe me, never
dreamed of doubling your friendship
or of reproaching you for your silence
] knew you had good reasons for II,
and in this matter I feel that you
have acted for me more iudiciouslH
by far than l should have done for
myself You have shown yourself
from the first hour of our acquaint-
ance that rara avis in terris-'a true
friend Nor am l the man to be un-
mindful of your kindness,
What you say respecting q situa-
ton in the customhouse here gives
me new life. Nothing could more
precisely meet my views. Could OBJ
tain such an appointment, / would be
enabled thoroughly to carry out all
my ambitious projects. 1t would re-
lieve me of all care as regards a mere
subsistence. and thus allow me time
for thought, which in fact Is action
l repeat that l would ask for nothing
farther or better than a situation such
as you mention. If the salary will
barely enable me TO live. l shall be
content. Will you say as much for
me to Mr.. Tyler and express to him
my sincere gratitude for the interest
he takes in my welfare?'
However. young Tyler did not sue
ceed in obtaining the customhouse
post for Poe. The much disappointed
poet did not entirely lose hope, and he
now turned to the next expedient.
that of going to Washington to appeal
in person for a position. Lack Of
funds prevented this for some months.
but in March, 1S43. he did go to the
Capital City, as the Illuminating cor
respondence Will show. and particu-
larly the first letter written by Poe
himself from Washington, on March
13. 1s43, TO a certain Mr.. Clarke Of
Philadelphia. Here is the text of the
letter:
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
March 10, 1s43.
MY Dear Sir: / write merely TO in
form you of my well-doing, for, so far,
l have done nothing.
My friend Thomas, upon whom l
depended. is sick. ! suppose he will
be we'll in a few days. In the mean
time I shall have to do the best can.
Il have not seen the President yet.
MY expenses were more than /
thought they would be, although /
have economized in every respect, and
| this delay (Thomas being sick1 puts
me out sadly. However, all is going
right. / have got the subscriptions
| of all the departments. President. etc.
/ believe that | am making a sensa!
ton which viii tend TO the benefit of
| the magazine.
Day after tomorrow / am TO lec+
ture. Robert Tyler is to give me an
article, also Upshur. Send me $40 by
mail Is soon as you get this. I an1
grieved to ask YOU for money in this
way. but you will find your account In
it twice over. Very truly yours,
EDGAR A. POE"
* ~ 4
| THREE days later Poe is onoe more
in Philadelphia. after what seems
to have been a joviai time in the Capt.
| tai. when his archenemy. rum. had
overcome him again. For in a letter
to Thomas and Mr.. Dow he tells tifa
| inside story of his Washington triFs,
with a hint of reveIries and gayeties
| that make one realize that the threa
! friends had PLAYED high jinks durins
the visit of the poet TO the Capital
| This letter, dated Philadelphia, March
! 16, 1898. reads a follows.
| my Dear Thomas and Dow: ar-
rived here in perfect safety and sober
! about half past four last evening
| nothing occurring on the road of any
consequence. shaved and break
tasted I'm Baltimore and lunched on
the Susquehanna. and by the time /
! got to Philadelphia felt quite decent.
| MIS- IIcilHl was expecting me AI InS
car office. went immediately home,
| took a warm bath and supper, and
then went to ClarRe's. T never saw a
man in my life more surprised to see
| another
He thought by Dow's epistle that
/ must not only be dead but buried.
and would sooner have thought OF see
ing his great-great grandmother. He
received me. therefore, very cordially
4 o. nd n 1rf aP hn ,n%f fnS y frYA
him what had been agreed upon: that
I was a little sick and that Dow.
! knowing I had been in tfrnes past
given to spreeing upon an extensive
scale, had become unduiy alarmed,
etc. etc; that when / found he had
written I thought it best to come
home. He said my trip had improved
me and that he had never seen me
| looking SO well-and / don't believe
/ l ever did.
This morning took medicine. and.
! as 1t is a snowy day, will avail myself
Continued On Fifth Pasa1