OF OLD NEW YORK
 

EDGAR ALLAN POE IN NEW YORK

By Dr. Appleton Morgan, President Shakespeare Society

(These interesting chapters, which have attained great popularity
since their first appearance in the Manual, were begun in
November, 1920).

Since these papers have been arranging themselves for the
pages of Valentine's Manual, there have been two auction sales
of Poe memorabilia, and a remarkable publication of matters
previously undisclosed as to Poe's activities in New York City,
thus justifying what appears to promise itself a concluding
paper. But Poe matters evidently have a fashion of turning up
at unexpected moments and in unforeseen quarters, and one
cannot promise.—A. M.

The invitation to become a resident of New York City
which reached Poe in Richmond was in shape of letters
from such prominent gentlemen as Professor Anthon of
Columbia College, the Reverend Dr. Hawkes and Pro¬
fessor Henry. Dr. Hawkes's letter said in part: "I
wish you to fall in with your broad-axe amidst this mis¬
erable literary trash that surrounds us. I believe you
have the will, and I know you have the ability." It was
this invitation that Poe submitted to his friend John P.
Kennedy (Horse-Shoe Robinson), as we have already
narrated, who advised its acceptance at once. It was
only Poe's ordinary hazard of fortune or sarcasm of des¬
tiny that, upon his arrival in New York City, the weak
vision of a "New York Quarterly Review" had vanished
into as thin air as did Prosperous cloud-capped towers.
Whether Messrs. Hawkes, Anthon and Henry ever felt
any obligation to Poe in the premises, no record apprises
us. Indeed, in all the circumstantial record of Poe in
New York City we find no mention of any recognition of

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