Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-09
MISCELLANY.


Racine composed his verses while
walking about, reciting them in q loud
voice. One day, while thus working at
his play of Mithridates, in the Tuiler-
les Gardens, a crowd of wOrkmen gath
cred around him, attracted by his ges-
lures; they took him for a mailman
about to throw himself into the basin.
On his return 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 doneP' considering the dressing of
the acts up In verse as a very small af-
fair.
Magliabecchi, the learned Librarian
to the Duke of Tuscany, on the contra
ny, never stirred abroad, but lived
amidst books. These were his bed,
board, and washing. He passed eight
and forty hours in their midst, only
twice In Ehe course of his life venturing
beyond the walls of Florence; once to
go two leagues of, and the other, three
and a-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 on the table before him, and the
walls of his study were stuck round
with caricatures of the Pope. He
worked at his desk fOr days together
without going ont; but when fatigue &
and the ideas began to stagnate, he took
his guitar with him into the porch, and
there executed some musical phantasy
flor he was a skillful musician), when
the ideas would flow upon him as fresh
as flowers after a summers shower.
Music was his invaTiable sOlace at such
times. Indeed, Luther did not hest
tate to say that, after theology, music
was the first of arts. ''Music, said he,
SIS the art of the prophets; 1t Is the on
ly other art which, like theology, can
calm the agitation of the soul, and put
the devil to flight" Next to music, If
not be fore it, Luther loved children
and flowers. The great gnaTled man
had heart as tender as a woman's.
Calvin studied in his bed. Every
morning, at five or six o'clock, he had
his books, manuscripts and papers car
ried to him there, and had he occasion
to 60 ont, on his return he went to bed
again to continue his studies. In his
later years he dictated his writing to
secretaries. He rarely corrected any
thing. The sentences issued complete
from his mouth. IL he felt the faculty
of composing leaving him, he forthwith
quilted his bed, gave up writing and
composing, and went about his outdoor
duties for days, weeks, and months to-
gether. But as soon as he felt the in
spiration fall npOn him again, he went
back to his bed, and his secretary was
set to work forthwith.
Pascal wrote most of his thoughts on
little scraps of paper; at his by mo-
ments, Fenelon wrote his Telemachus
In the palace of versailles, at the court
of the Grand MOnarque, when dis
charging the duties of tutor to the
Dauphin. That book SO thoroughly
democratic should have been issued
farm such a source, and be written by
apriest, may seem surprising.
De Quincy first promulgated his no.
tons of universal freedom of person
and trade, and of throwing all tax upon
the land-the germ, perhaps, of the
French REVOLUTIONARY the boudOlr 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
declaiming for some time at the top OF
his voice, and thus Fousing his nervous
system to the fullest activity.
The life of Leibnitz was one of read
ing, writing. and meditation. This was
the secret of his prodigious knowledge.
After an attack of the govt, he confined
himself to a 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.