Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-03
HABITS OF GREAT STUDENTS.


voice. One day, while thus working at
his play of Mithridstes, in the Tuileries
Gardens, crowd of workmen gathered
around him attracted by his gestures
they took him for madman about to
throw himself into the basin. On his
return home from such walks he would
write down scene by scene, at first in
prose, and when he had written it out
he would exclaim-"My tragedy is
done p considering the dressing of the
acts up in verse as very small affair.
Magliabecchi, the learned librarian TO
the Duke of Tuscany, on the contrary,
never stirred about, but lived amidst
books. These wsro his bed, board and
washing He passed eight and forty
years in their midst, only twice in the
course Of his life ventured beyond the
walls of Florence; once to go two
leagues off, and the other three and
half leagues, by order of the Grand
Duke. He was an extremely frugal
man, living upon eggs, bread and water
in great moderation.
Luther, when studying, always had his
dog lying at his feet, a dog he had
brought from Wartburg, and of which he
was very fond. An ivory crucifix stood
at the table before him, and the walls of
his study were stuck around with carica-
lures of the Pope He worked at his
desk for days together without going out,
but when fatigued, and the ideas began
to stagnate, took his guitar with him into
the porch, and there executed some mu-
steal phantasy (for he was skillful mu-
sician), when the ideas would flow
upon him as fresh as flowers after a
summer rain. Music was his invariable
solace at such times. Indeed, Luther
did not hesitate to say that, after theol.
ogy, music was the first of arts. "Mu-
SIC" said he, "is the art Of the prophets,
it is the only other art which, like theol.
ogy, can calm the agitation of the soul
and put the devil to flight" Next to
music, if not before it, Luther loved
children and flowers. The great gnarled
man had heart as tender as woman's
Calvin studied in his bed. Every
morning. at five or six o'clock, he had
books, manuscripts and papers carried
to him there, and had he occasion to go
out, on his return he went to bed again
to continue his studies. In his latter
wears he dictated his writings to sccreta-
ries. He rarely corrected anything. The
sentences issued complete from his mouth,
If he felt the faculty of composition leay-
ing him he forthwith quilted his bed,
gave up writing and composing, and
went about his outdoor duties for days,
weeks and months together. But as soon
as he felt the inspiration fall upon him
again. he went back to his bed and his
secretary was sat to work forthwith.
Pascal wrote most Of bis thoughts on
little scraps of paper at his by-moments
Fenelon wrote his Telemachus in the
place of Versailles, at the court OF the
Grand Monarque, when discharging the
duties Of tutor to the Dauphin. That
book so thoroughly democratic should
have issued from such.a source, and DO
written by priest, may seem sur
prising.
De Quincy Grst promulgated his no.
tions of universal freedom Of person
and trade, and of throwing all tax on
the land-the germ, perhaps, OF tue
French Revolution-in the boudoir OF
Madame de Pompadour.
Bacon knelt down before composing
his great work, and prayed for light and
inspiration from Heaven. Pope never
could compose well without first de-
claiming for some time at the top Of his
voice, and thus rouslng his nervous sys:
tenn 10 its fullest activity.
The life of Leibnitz was one of read
ing, writing and meditation. That was
the secret Of bis prodigious knowledge,
After an attack of the gout, be confined
himself to diet Of bread and milk.
Often he slept in chair, and rarely
went TO bed till after midnight. Some
times he was months without quitting
his seat, where he slept by night and
wrote by day. He had an ulcer in his
right leg, which prevented his walking
about, even had he wished to do so.