Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-30
THE EVENING NEWS.
SUPPLEMENT
Authors.

An author has been compared to aspara-
gus, on the suspicion that all that is about
him is in the head. We venture to pro-
test against such definition on the plea
that much of his value is also to be
ascribed to his heart. 1t is indeed the lat
ter quality which gives to the realm of
authorship its highest dignity and value.
Authors, again, have been styled lamps,
exhausting themselves 10 give light to
Others to bees, industriously collecting
honey from the flowers, which they treas
ure UP in the hive of books, to sweeten
and solace life. Author-craftl an lml-
tative as we'll as creative art; an original
thinker is one who portrays the work OF
the great author of the universe-the COM
piler, one who ingcniously adapts or re-
aranges the thoughts and illustrations
of others; both in their degree may be
said to possess creative power. Pseudo
authors are COMMENSURATE belong not
to the true and honorable craft, and
should be dealt with according to the laws
of felony.
Who would not willingly make pill
grimage to catch a glimpse of an author
i'll his literary laboratory-his workshop:
For example, of Richardson, in his back
shop, writing " PAMELA" or Cowper and
his tame hares of Byron and Newstcad;
of Burns, in his humble cottage home
of Voltaire, in his retreat of Ferney by
the shores Of Lake Lcman; of Sir Walter
Scott, in his study of Abbotsford; of DIR.
johnson, in his retreat at Bolt Court OF
hi n,,l tln d. &c Oh, -.
of Pope, and his house at Twickcnham
of Swift, and his living at Laracor. We
are never tired of reading such things,
identified as they are with genius and con-
secrated by their association with the
names of great men.
Everybody remembers Goldsmith's
plum colored coat; George Fox's "leath-
ern hull !" Millions garb of coarse gray;
Maglidbecchi's great brown vest down to
his knees, his broad brimmed hat and
black mantle, and his cravat full of snuff
droppings; Pope'S velvet cap, the wig
and sword and Button with his hair i'll
curl papers while sitting at his desk;
SCOTS Limp; Byron's club foot; Pope's
little crooked figure, like note of inter-
rogation Johnson's rotundity and rheum;
Charles Lambs spindle shanks in CATERS
and all manner of peculiarities of distin-
guished men.
Yoltaire was fond of magnificent at
tire, and usually dressed in an absurd
manner. Didcrot once travelled from st.
Petersburg to Paris in a morning gown
and nightcap, and i'll this guise promo
naded the streets and public places of the
towns on his route. lie was often taken
for mailman. While composing his
words he used to walk around at rapid
pace, making huge strides, and sometimes
throwing his wig in the air when he struck
out happy idea. One day friend found
him in tears. Good heavens" he cX-
claimed. "what is the matter " 81 AM
weeping" answered Didcrot, Eat story
that have just composed !"
Wadsworth was deemed mailman by
some of the villagers, by others n crimi-
nal, disguised as IN idler. They affirmed
that he had been often seen to wander
about at night, and look "rathcr strangely
at the moon," and that sometimes he
would roam over the hills like part
ridge"
GRAY was n polite monh, the most
learned man of his day. His clegy is the
most melodious poem in the language.
He was a man OF extreme taciturnity. 1t
is said he sometimes was known to pass
a whole day III company without uttering
a word.