Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-03
Com NJ uuitatG0 .


The Philosophy of CcHaPoSisSoR'
At recent gathering OF the LiferoH Of
Pomeroy, at which the writer was present,
the truth Of tho proverb, "a poet is born,
not made,'' was discussed at some length.
The ne,ative cited the well-kuown state
ment of Mr.. Edgar a. Poe, in regard to
the composition of his masterpiece, Ihe
Raven. The affirmative seemed 10 regard
Mr.. Poe's statement as n fabrication, or at
least as the record of an isolated case. 1t
is in view of these facts, that the writer
proposes to present to the readers OF 1he
Ielegroph, the manner in which he com
poses. His experience agrees entirely
with Mr.. Poe's statements, and he feels 1t
due alike to the distinguished dead, and
to the cause of truth, to let his corrobera-
tive evidence be heard.
For greater convenience, the writer VIII
assume the first person singular, and will
proceed at once to his example and state
ments. Like Mr.. Poe, never have any
difficulty iE retracing the steps 10y which
L have produced any composition. Neither
have that false vanity, OF affected modesty
which would prevent me from publicly le-
tracing them. L shall therefore cite my
poem of "The Night Bird as the sub
iect for such analysis.
i Having resolved to write short poem,
nv first consideration was, necessarily,
effect. What subject should select aud
how should l treat it, III order to make my
poem most effective Here | had no
difficulty, for alike my own experience,
and the example of The poetic fathers told
me that my subject should be Love, while
I well knew that that manner is most
effective, which, by startling contrasts and
. grotesqueness of form, gains possession
! of the mind of the reader as the subject
does of his heart. Accordingly resolved
. upon marked originality OF versihcnton,
t and I flatter myself that in this at least
e eminenty succeeded, since not even
Il remote approach to it has ever been made
The second consideration was, wha
# should be the character OF the person
Il loving for the embodiment of the sub
d ie,t of a poem, in distinct parsonage, ha
II ALWAYS been regarded by me rs an essentia
', condition. Now, Love is the essenIa
;, constituent of woman's nature. ! there
1t fore decided that the person loving shonl'
l. he n maiden, and, in order to represent tn
" subject more fuy, that she should b
~ beautiful.
- The next consideration was, under wha
% circumstances should L introduce thl
ID loving and beautiful maiden? Here
st was in doubt, but at length, knowing tn;
y solitude is the natural refuge of Love-
n resolved to place her alone in her room
ur and as the majestic soemnity of quiz
id landscapes is the appropriate ou'w"'
" representative of solitude, resolved
II. IA Mace her at her window, from which 81
to could look out upon such scene. HaVir
he proceeded thus far, had no hesitancy
hit determining her occupation, which Shou
n, he that of singing a mornful song. As
'U forcible contrast. resolved to mingle h
sweet voice with the harsh notes OF
he Nioht- Bird, and from this first took u
We name of my poem.
X It was then that L composed the midd
d. of the poem-the first part OF the seco
nd verse -
led Loyeiv as IA tIindoo,
ct sat II maiden singing, unheard'
yd She E", Tta her %@i T@irS rS'0''''
of Like dirge
hid merge
md With the song of the night-bird."
nee Thus in few lines was embodied
ore whole plan of the poem as thus tar &C
-, ceived That the effect might be co
rail plete, the maiden is simply introduced
A first as singing in her room alone-leavl
; the reader to answer FOR himself the ma
m Ine raj question, why is she so situated ? "A
me- ne, it is not until he has been held in s
ing pense, and gradually led along thror
leel four lines, that the reason is fully sta
III the poem:
un- Alas!
s of 1ho lass s:,o.r
tied And 10, e-iorn."
dl The next consideration was, the circl
stances attendant upon the loved one'
ms the same process of reasoning which
re- termined the surroundings OF the malt
Yard also determined these. | therefore
rick solved to introduce a Young man '
en- - ; surroundings similar to those OF
b,cb maiden, varying the form OF express
the but retaining the peculiarly OF versi
x in ton. then wrote the following vc
mo- and because man was created before
my man, placed it before the lines given al
ught in the order Oh arrangement
nj / tina L chnn1cel 90 At q Window IN