Text: Anonymous, “A Memorial to Poe,” Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), vol. CXXI, no. 14, June 1, 1897, p. 4, col. 3

[page 4, column 3, continued:]

A MEMORIAL TO POE.

At a recent meeting of the Book Club of the University of Virginia mention was made by Prof. James A. Harrison of a proposal of the English departments and the students of the university to place in an alcove of the Rotunda Library of the university a bronze bust of Edgar Allan Poe, grouping around it on the shelves of the alcove a collection of the poems and literary productions of Southern men and women — Lanier, Page, Harris, Allen, Cooke, Sims [[Simms]], Thompson, Timrod, Randall, Key, Hayne, Mrs. Preston, Craddock, Stuart, Davis and others. Already an encouraging sum of money has been subscribed to carry out this most commendable plan. A large public interest is appealed to by such a proposal, and publicity is its sole condition of success. The bust will cost $750. It will be dedicated October 7, 1899, the fiftieth anniversary of Poe's death. A “Poe window,” in stained glass, with memorial scenes from his poems and tales, will be added if the funds suffice. In any case, the portion of the library set apart for the purpose will contain a collection of all the available editions of Poe's works, with commentaries, translations, autographs, rare prints, connected with Poe. A beginning has been made, and this summer there will be a working laboratory of materials for students of Southern literature. As the collection grows in volume and completeness it will be appropriately adorned with the proposed bust of “Poe as the central figure and central inspiration.” New York is expected to take an interest in the undertaking, and Baltimore, Poe's home, may well feel concern in its success. We have erected a monument to the poet who, half a century ago, made the city's name familiar in all parts of the world, and we cannot but wish success to efforts of his admirers elsewhere to give suitable recognition to his remarkable talents.

Poe was student at the University of Virginia. “He was here,” says Professor Harrison, “in 1826 as its most illustrious alumnus, who distinguished himself while here in Latin and French, and as a boy of seventeen, in the Italian class, made a translation in verse from Tasso so remarkable as to call forth the enthusiastic praise of Professor Blaetterman, our first professor of modern languages.” This portion of Poe's career was but slightingly treated by the envious literary hack, whose malevolent life of Poe is all that preserves the wretched biographer's memory from oblivion. Poe's connection with the university is, in fact, one of the most interesting facts in its early history, and it is somewhat remarkable that nothing has hitherto been done by it to commemorate his genius. It rests upon the South to recognize and assert the claims of its great men to the world's consideration; it is not to be expected that other sections and other countries will perform this duty for her. It is to be hoped that the inception of the Poe memorial at the University of Virginia marks the beginning of a new departure in this regard on the part of the educational centres of Dixie.