The native American., 1839-11-09
MIS- G Il L l. A n Y
From Ca,ly'e's Life Of Schiller.
HARDSHIPS OF LITERARY MEN.

II to know wisdom were 10 practice it; II
fame brought true dignity and peace OF mind; or.
.happiness consisted in nouIishiiIg the intellect
with its appropriate food, and surrounding the
imagination with ideal beauty literary life
would be the most rnviable which the lot Of this
world affords. But the truth is far otherwise.
The man of letters has no immutabe, al-con-
:ouering volition, more than other men; to un-
d,rstanl and to perform are two very different
things with him as with every one. Ills fame
rarely exe,ts favorable influence on his dignity
Of character, and never On his peace Of mind:
its glitter is external, for the eyes of 9th IS;
within it is but the a|iment ct unrest, the oil
cast upon the ever-knaWing fire OF ambition,
qnicken;ng in fresh vehemcnce the blaze which
It stills for moment. Moreover, this Inan Of
letters is not wholly made Of spirit, bar 81 clay
and spirit mixed: his thinking faculties may be
|nob|y trained and exercised but he must have
affections as well as thoughts to make him hap
~, and food and rament must be given him or
he dies. Far from being the most env'abie, his
way Of life is, pehaps, among the many modes
Nv whici, an ardent mind endeavols TO express
its activity, the most thickly beset with suffer
lug and degradation. Look at the biography of
authors Except the Newgate Calender, it is
the most sckruina chapter in the history Of
man The calamties Of these people are ~ fer
tile tonic; and TOO often their faults and vices
have kent pace with their calanlities. Nor is it
difficult to see how this has happened. Talent
of any sol, is generally accomplished with Pc.
cular fineness of sensib!ty; Of genius this is
the most essential constituent; and life in any
shape has sorrows enough for hearts SO formed.
The empoyments Of literature sharpen this ma
tural tendency; the vexatons that accompany
them frequently exasperate it into morbid sore.
mi ri lie ~ IL
business of life its delights are too ethereal and
too transient to furnish that perennial flow of
satisfaction, coarse, but plenteous and substan-
,iaI, of which happiness in this world Of ours is
made. The most finished efforts Of the mind give
it little pleasure, frequently they give il pain, for
mems aims are far beyond their strength. And
the outward recompense Of these undertakings,
the distinctions they conier is Of still smaller
value: the desire for it is Unsuitable even when
successful aud when bafffed, it issues in ea-
lousy and envy, aud every pitiful and painful
feeling. So keen temperament with SO little
to restrain or satisfy, so much to distress or tempt
il. produces contradictions which few are ade-
onate TO reconcile. Hence the unhappiness of
literary men, hence their faults and folliss.
Thus literature is apt TO form dangerous and
disseminating occupation even tor the amateur.
But for him whose rank and worldly comforts
depend upon IL, VINO oots MOI i've 10 write, oat
writes 10 live lis difficulties and per!s are far
fully increased. Few spectacles are more aillIct-
lag than that Of such man, so gifted ard 50
fatcd 50 jostled and tossed to and fro in the rude
hustle Of life, The huifetings Of which EA is SO
little iited to endure Cherishihg Il may be the
loftitst thoughts, and cogged with the meanest
wants; Of pHre and holy purposes, yet ever dri-
ven from the straight path by the pressnic Of
or the impulse Of passion; ihifsting for
glory, and frequently in want of daily bread;
hoyering between the empyrean Of his fancy
and thu squalid destit OF reality; cranlped and
foiled in his nost strenuous exertions; dissa,is-
fed with his best performances, disgnstcd with
Ais fortune, this maa of letters too often spends
his weary days in conflicts with obscure misery
chagrined debased, or mad,lvned; the
victim at once Of tragedy and farce the last for
orn ou'po$tin tic war Of mind against matter.