the works of edgar allan poe-1-第6章
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Residing as he did in the country； we never met Mr。 Poe in hours of
leisure； but he frequently called on us afterward at our place of
business； and we met him often in the street…invariably the same sad
mannered； winning and refined gentleman ； such as we had always known
him。 It was by rumor only； tip to the day of his death； that we knew
of any other development of manner or character。 We heard； from one
who knew him well （what should be stated in all mention of his
lamentable irregularities）； that； with a single glass of wine； his
whole nature was reversed； the demon became uppermost； and； though
none of the usual signs of intoxication were visible； his will was
palpably insane。 Possessing his reasoning faculties in excited
activity； at such times； and seeking his acquaintances with his
wonted look and memory； he easily seemed personating only another
phase of his natural character； and was accused； accordingly； of
insulting arrogance and bad…heartedness。 In this reversed character；
we repeat； it was never our chance to see him。 We know it from
hearsay； and we mention it in connection with this sad infirmity of
physical constitution； which puts it upon very nearly the ground of a
temporary and almost irresponsible insanity。
The arrogance； vanity； and depravity of heart； of which Mr。 Poe was
generally accused； seem to us referable altogether to this reversed
phase of his character。 Under that degree of intoxication which only
acted upon him by demonizing his sense of truth and right； he
doubtless said and did much that was wholly irreconcilable with his
better nature； but； when himself； and as we knew him only； his
modesty and unaffected humility； as to his own deservings； were a
constant charm to his character。 His letters； of which the constant
application for autographs has taken from us； we are sorry to
confess； the greater portion； exhibited this quality very strongly。
In one of the carelessly written notes of which we chance still to
retain possession； for instance； he speaks of 〃The Raven〃that
extraordinary poem which electrified the world of imaginative
readers； and has become the type of a school of poetry of its
own…and； in evident earnest； attributes its success to the few words
of commendation with which we had prefaced it in this paper。 …It will
throw light on his sane character to give a literal copy of the note：
〃FORDHAM； April 20； 1849
〃My DEAR WILLISThe poem which I inclose； and which I am so vain as
to hope you will like； in some respects； has been just published in a
paper for which sheer necessity compels me to write； now and then。 It
pays well as times go…but unquestionably it ought to pay ten prices；
for whatever I send it I feel I am consigning to the tomb of the
Capulets。 The verses accompanying this； may I beg you to take out of
the tomb； and bring them to light in the 'Home journal？' If you can
oblige me so far as to copy them； I do not think it will be necessary
to say 'From the ； that would be too bad； and； perhaps； 'From a
late paper；' would do。
〃I have not forgotten how a 'good word in season' from you made 'The
Raven；' and made 'Ulalume' （which by…the…way； people have done me the
honor of attributing to you）； therefore； I would ask you （if I dared）
to say something of these lines if they please you。
〃Truly yours ever；
〃EDGAR A。 POE。〃
In double proof of his earnest disposition to do the best for
himself； and of the trustful and grateful nature which has been
denied him； we give another of the only three of his notes which we
chance to retain ：
〃FORDHAM； January 22； 1848。
〃My DEAR MR。 WILLiS…I am about to make an effort at re…establishing
myself in the literary world； and _feel _that I may depend upon your
aid。
〃My general aim is to start a Magazine； to be called 'The Stylus；'
but it would be useless to me； even when established； if not entirely
out of the control of a publisher。 I mean； therefore； to get up a
journal which shall be _my own_ at all points。 With this end in view；
I must get a list of at least five hundred subscribers to begin with；
nearly two hundred I have already。 I propose； however； to go South
and West； among my personal and literary friendsold college and
West Point acquaintances …and see what I can do。 In order to get the
means of taking the first step； I propose to lecture at the Society
Library； on Thursday； the 3d of February； and； that there may be no
cause of _squabbling_； my subject shall _not be literary _at all。 I
have chosen a broad text： 'The Universe。'
〃Having thus given you _the facts _of the case； I leave all the rest
to the suggestions of your own tact and generosity。 Gratefully； _most
gratefully；
_〃Your friend always；
〃EDGAR A。 POE。''
Brief and chance…taken as these letters are； we think they
sufficiently prove the existence of the very qualities denied to Mr。
Poe…humility； willingness to persevere； belief in another's
friendship； and capability of cordial and grateful friendship！ Such
he assuredly was when sane。 Such only he has invariably seemed to us；
in all we have happened personally to know of him； through a
friendship of five or six years。 And so much easier is it to believe
what we have seen and known； than what we hear of only； that we
remember him but with admiration and respect； these descriptions of
him； when morally insane； seeming to us like portraits； painted in
sickness； of a man we have only known in health。
But there is another； more touching； and far more forcible evidence
that there was _goodness _in Edgar A。 Poe。 To reveal it we are
obliged to venture upon the lifting of the veil which sacredly covers
grief and refinement in poverty； but we think it may be excused； if
so we can brighten the memory of the poet； even were there not a more
needed and immediate service which it may render to the nearest link
broken by his death。
Our first knowledge of Mr。 Poe's removal to this city was by a call
which we received from a lady who introduced herself to us as the
mother of his wife。 She was in search of employment for him； and she
excused her errand by mentioning that he was ill； that her daughter
was a confirmed invalid； and that their circumstances were such as
compelled her taking it upon herself。 The countenance of this lady；
made beautiful and saintly with an evidently complete giving up of
her life to privation and sorrowful tenderness； her gentle and
mournful voice urging its plea； her long…forgotten but habitually and
unconsciously refined manners； and her appealing and yet appreciative
mention of the claims and abilities of her son； disclosed at once the
presence of one of those angels upon earth that women in adversity
can be。 It was a hard fate that she was watching over。 Mr。 Poe wrote
with fastidious difficulty； and in a style too much above the popular
level to be well paid。 He was always in pecuniary difficulty； and；
with his sick wife； frequently in want of the merest necessaries of
life。 Winter after winter； for years； the most touching sight to us；
in this whole city； has been that tireless minister to genius； thinly
and insufficiently clad； going from office to office with a poem； or
an article on some literary subject； to sell； sometimes simply
pleading in a broken voice that he was ill； and begging for him；
mentioning nothing but that 〃he was ill；〃 whatever might be the
reason for his writing nothing； and never； amid all her tears and
recitals of distress； suffering one syllable to escape her lips that
could convey a doubt of him； or a complaint； or a lessening of pride
in his genius and good intentions。 Her daughter died a year and a
half since； but she did not desert him。 She continued his ministering
angelliving with him； caring for him； guarding him against
exposure； and when he was carried away by temptation； amid grief and
the loneliness of feelings unreplied to； and awoke from his se
