Text: Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Edmund Clarence Stedman, “Two Letters,” The University of Virginia Magazine (Charlottesville, VA), December 1899, pp. 181-182

[page 181:]

TWO LETTERS.

Charles W. Kent, Esq.

DEAR SIR: — I regret that absence from home has, made me tardy in acknowledging your kind invitation. When a boy of seventeen, in Harvard College, I read Poe's “Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque.”

It was just after the publication of the book and before it had attracted general attention; but I felt it at once to be the most remarkable production of the imaginative genius of this nation, save the works of Hawthorne alone; nor have I ever varied from that opinion. Later I heard Poe read his “Ligeia” before an audience in Boston, in a voice whose singular music I have never heard equalled. These two early impressions sustained my admiration and gratitude for Poe through all his stormy and sad career; and I again thank you for doing me the honor of an invitation to be present at the unvailing [[unveiling]] of his bust.

———

MY DEAR DR. KENT: — Just a line to say that since I wrote my letter to you, for the Poe ceremonies, on the 5th, your letter of Oct. 2nd, has been forwarded to me by my Secretary, from my home at Bronxville. [page 182:] Its kind expressions serve to increase my regret that I was disabled, and could not be with you on the 7th, — but much must be forgiven to a sick man whose 66th birthday was the 8th, as it chanced. I well remember learning of Poe's death as soon as the news could get north, after my 16th birthday. Had just become a freshman at Yale, but had read then the poems and the “Tales of the Arabesque, etc., and didn’t I preach Poe to all those fellows of the “class of ‘53?”

Yes, marry, and by the same token I imitated him, too, — but little thought to be his editor, half a century later.

Am glad to see from the Baltimore papers that the affair went off so effectively, and I hope soon to read your address in full somewhere. All the proceedings should appear in the next Critic.