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hisunmortifiedsenseofindependence.”
AndthiswasthetributepaidbytheAmericanpublictothemaster
whohadgiventoitsuchtalesofconjuringcharm,ofwitcheryand
mysteryas“TheFalloftheHouseofUsher”and“Ligeia”;such
fascinatinghoaxesas“TheUnparalleledAdventureofHansPfaall,”
“MSS.FoundinaBottle,”“ADescentIntoaMaelstrom”and“The
Balloon-Hoax”;suchtalesofconscienceas“WilliamWilson,”“The
BlackCat”and“TheTell-taleHeart,”whereintheretributions
ofremorseareportrayedwithanawfulfidelity;suchtalesofnatural
beautyas“TheIslandoftheFay”and“TheDomainofArnheim”;such
marvellousstudiesinratiocinationasthe“Gold-bug,”“TheMurders
intheRueMorgue,”“ThePurloinedLetter”and“TheMystery
ofMarieRoget,”thelatter,arecitaloffact,demonstratingtheauthor’s
wonderfulcapabilityofcorrectlyanalyzingthemysteriesofthehuman
mind;suchtalesofillusionandbanteras“ThePrematureBurial”and
“TheSystemofDr.TarrandProfessorFether”;suchbits
ofextravaganzaas“TheDevilintheBelfry”and“TheAngelofthe
Odd”;suchtalesofadventureas“TheNarrativeofArthurGordon
Pym”;suchpapersofkeencriticismandreviewaswonforPoethe
enthusiasticadmirationofCharlesDickens,althoughtheymadehim
manyenemiesamongtheover-puffedminorAmericanwriters
somercilesslyexposedbyhim;suchpoemsofbeautyandmelody
as“TheBells,”“TheHauntedPalace,”“Tamerlane,”“TheCityinthe
Sea”and“TheRaven.”Whatdelightforthejadedsensesofthereader
isthisenchanteddomainofwonder-pieces!Whatanatmosphere
ofbeauty,music,color!Whatresourcesofimagination,construction,
analysisandabsoluteart!OnemightalmostsympathizewithSarah
HelenWhitman,who,confessingtoahalffaithintheoldsuperstition
ofthesignificanceofanagrams,found,inthetransposedletters
ofEdgarPoe’sname,thewords“aGod-peer.”Hismind,shesays,was
indeeda“HauntedPalace,”echoingtothefootfallsofangelsand
demons.
“Noman,”Poehimselfwrote,“hasrecorded,nomanhasdared
torecord,thewondersofhisinnerlife.”
Inthesetwentiethcenturydays—oflavishrecognition—artistic,
popularandmaterial—ofgenius,whatrewardsmightnotaPoeclaim!
Edgar’sfather,asonofGeneralDavidPoe,theAmerican
revolutionarypatriotandfriendofLafayette,hadmarriedMrs.
