For the first time since 1949 they mystery toaster who leaves a bottle of Cognac and roses on the grave site of Edgar Allan Poe in a Baltimore cemetery has failed to show. for those who have no idea what I am talking about there is a a single mystery individual who for more than half a century has shown up between the hours of midnight and 5:30 am on January 19th and leaves these gifts at the author's grave in a birthday tribute. This year the mystery guest was a no-show for some reason.Over the years the Poe Toaster has developed quite a following and the 19th of January has become a sort of pilgrimage day for serious Poe enthusiasts to visit the site. Apparently many were waiting overnight for the toaster to come and present his gifts. Perhaps the simple gesture that was born and carried out for decades in solitude has become to much of a spectacle for the enigmatic toaster who has never been identified or sought any attention for his simple act of dedication.
I hope this tradition isn't dead along with so many other things but I fear that it is. I would like to think that life still has some things that remain a mystery. Perhaps the Poe Toaster wherever he is as sad as I am today because others ruined his gift. Poe might agree.
"I have no faith in human erfectability. I think that human exertion will have
no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not
more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. " - Edgar Allan Poe
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13 comments:
well if he's been doing it 1/2 a century the guy could be dead. Maybe he and Poe are having a drink together...
In a related note, The Baltimore Ravens were eliminated from the playoffs by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday by a score of 20 to 3.
I tweeted about this just this morning. I find it intriquing. I have been a fan of Poe's work since college and actually did a few papers on him.
I also love a good mystery.
It was probably some old person that kicked it in the last year. If the toaster IS dead, I wish someone would say who it was and why he did it (if anyone knows).
The toaster left a note 10 or so years ago saying that the tradition was being passed through his family....
That is so sad! If he's dead, maybe the publicity will bring another toaster out to pick up where he/she left off.
Its great that the little things like this gets noticed.. they probably did it just to have a connection but since they've been getting notice.. hopefully they didn't regress..
"In our endeavors to recall to memory something long forgotten, we often find ourselves upon the very verge of remembrance, without being able, in the end, to remember." Cheers Mr.Poe
I think he is downtroden by the public invading his private moment... I hope he will switch to a new day to continue the tradition. Perhapls the anniversary of Poe's death.... I am sure that the original Toaster's son/daughter have carried on the tradition.
I hope it continues too. That's really interesting!
I can imagine that the thought of so much publicity deterred the toaster from showing up this year. How sad.
That makes me very sad to see that he or she didn't come this year. I hope it's a fluke. Didn't he/she not show up another year when an attempt was made to photograph his/her face?
Never heard of this, but I'd guess the person is dead.
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