As always on this day in Baltimore, people gathered for a glimpse of the Poe Toaster. For the second year in a row he did not come. It looks as though a tradition has died and while I'm usually not one to support traditions as a whole, the end of this one makes me sad.
For those who may not know, heathens in other words, since 1949 (at least) in the wee hours every January 19th a man would appear in Westminster Hall and Burying Ground dressed in black wearing a wide brimmed hat and scarf and leave three roses and an open bottle of cognac on Poe's grave. This year four different fakes (Faux Toasters) came but they were clearly not the real deal. I have to think that since his last appearance was on the 200th anniversary of Poe's birth that was the predetermined stopping point for the tradition and that it is truly dead. It's hard to explain why this is a sad thing. Maybe because there's a little less mystery in the world now and that is always a bad thing.
Whatever the reason, we'll never forget you Edgar. Happy birthday you wonderfully twisted man.
1 comment:
The likely death of the tradition leaves me feeling mixed.
On the one hand, I never got to witness this wonderfully mysterious thing. It was one of my life goals, but I kept putting it off until the crowds were smaller. It never really felt like something appropriate to large crowds. Now, my chance is probably lost. Ah well, my own fault for wasting the opportunity.
On the other hand, the magic, mystery, and wonder of it all are so wonderfully tantalizing... and now that it has probably come to an end... it'll likely remain so. The magic is an enduring one now.
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