Poe as type

 edited excerpt from recent poe biography:

Cousin John and my mother have often attempted to describe Poe's appearance to me. They both said he was one of the most graceful persons they ever saw, never assuming by accident an attitude or making a gesture that did not seem to harmonize with his lithe slender but perfectly proportioned figure. Cousin John said he always appeared to be taller than he really was, he was so erect and carried himself so well, and he said he was a much stronger man physically than his appearances indicated. His hair was very black and slightly wavy and of the silken sheen and fineness. His forehead very high and broad and very white. There was nothing very remarkable about any of his other features except his beautiful expressive eyes. They were of a brownish gray color, sometimes called agate and sometimes a dark hazel. Very large and expressive and never just alike two minutes together sometimes they seemed black and sometimes brown. As they burned and glowed with the brilliancy of his changing thoughts, they were just as beautiful with a soft, dreamy, faraway expression, as if they were seeing visions never seen by man before. They both agreed more beautiful eyes they had never seen. There was a delicacy and refinement in the entire make up of his mobile and changeable countenance. His hands and feet were small and well shaped. With just a half or third of a chance he gave you the impression always of being extremely well groomed and dressed. When you came to examine his garments closely however, you were often surprised to find them well worn and threadbare. He wore them with such an easy perfect grace, and carried himself so well and proudly you rarely thought of his clothes at all in admiring his physique. Cousin John used to say Edgar was always unmistakably a gentleman in his appearance, when sober.