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THE POET'S GRAVE AND THE POET'S MOTHER
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[LET BOTH BE REMEMBERED.]
THE mention which we recently made of the wish to pay tribute to the memory of EDGAR POE, (expressed by a chance correspondent of our own, whose touching Letter we published in the same article) has served to awaken some of the sympathy, for the poet's bright genius and sad story, which we knew lay dormant among the more tenderhearted and imaginative of our readers. One writes thus suggestively: —
Brattleboro’, Vermont, October 8, 1864.
* * * Edgar Poe, through the weird fantasy of his writings, and the scarcelyless weird mystery of his sad life, has made many friends, who cling to his memory as tenderly as the one in Waterloo, New-York, whose letter you publish in the Home Journal of this date.
Why may not those friends — many of whom are, doubtless, readers of your charming paper-have an opportunity to join with your correspondent in furnishing the means for erecting a monument over the grave of the dead poet which shall, in some sort, fittingly express the reverence in their hearts for his genius, which has so long acted, as it were, for utterance?
Suppose yourself should kindly offer to receive contributions for this purpose; is there any doubt but that the simplest suggestion would meet with a hearty response? Judging from my own feelings, I respond at once.
I know that such attempts very often cause much trouble and labor; but, it seems to me, that this might be brought about with very little of either, and I could not help introducing the subject, at any rate.
Begging your pardon for an unasked intrusion, I am sir, very truly yours,
J. H. E.
Another subscriber writes: —
Dansville, New-York, October 10.
* * * Let me thank you for your article in this week's Home Journal concerning Edgar A. Poe. The tears came to my eyes when I read it, for it casts a beautiful light over a history that has been long covered with shadows. I never think of him without recalling your beautiful poem, “The shadows lay along Broadway,” etc., etc.
* * * The New-York Albion says, in this week's number:
“We are glad to learn — as we do from the Home Journal — that an effort is to be made to find the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, at Baltimore, and erect thereupon a monument to the memory of America”s first distinctive poet.”
And, (to come still nearer home with our proof of sympathy,) a missive from our own office, (on one of our dark days of headache and silence,) thus superscribes our bundle of letters and papers: —
* * “PHILLIPS would take the liberty of suggesting, as a means of ministering to the ever-honored, (but still alive and still suffering,) Mrs. CLEMM, that Mr. Willis consent, in the Home Journal, to receive contributions for the faithful mother of the poet — giving her address also, so that those who prefer it, might send remittances to her direct.” * * *
And now, to both these generous and sympathetic propositions, we give our simple and brief assent — declaring that we are ready to receive, for either of these two objects of generosity, remittances from our friends and subscribers. We urge the remembrance, of both the grave and the living mother. We will faithfully perform our trust for both objects, to the best of our ability.
A Letter which we have this day received, from Mrs. Clemm, informs us that her present address (where she is suffering and in great need) is: — “Mrs. Maria Clemm, Church Home, Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland.” Letters may be directed to her, either there, or to the care of N. P. Willis, Home Journal office, New-York.
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Notes:
None.
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[S:0 - HJ, 1864] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - A Poe Bookshelf - The Poet's Grave and the Poet's Mother (N. P. Willis, 1864)