Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-02-13
How Shall I Learn to Write?

Some Of the most celebrated and most
admired writing in the world has b,en
bestowed on the dullest and most nm
promising subjects Washington Irvinp's
description Of the barnyard of country
inn on rainy day is case exactly in
point.
There is n great deal Of writing, very
charming, very acceptable, and mucb
in demand, which consists simrlv in
painting by means Of words the SIM
Pile and homely scenes of every day
life
The most commonplace object, well
represented in q painting, often COM
mands an artists price. In the same
manner, the most common place object
or scene, we'll painted by words has an
artistic value.
The greatest artist of this sort tha,
We ever had in America, is IIav-
thorne. To Every young writer who
wishes to study how TO learn to use
Language 80 as to make every day
scenes and things picturesque and charm.
ing. we recommend thorough and
diligent study of his writings.
The sketch called "Tho Old Annie
Dealer" is specimen of what can be
done by a thoughtful and careful study Y
OF apparently the most unintcrestins
subjects in the world. A poor, stupid.
common place man is made the theme
of one OF his most wonderful pieces Of
writing.
Many have supposed writing comes
by fits and starts, and by dashcs-bv
bursts and inspirations. But there is no
good writing that has ever come with
out labor, great study and incessant
practice.
The publication of "Passages from
the American Note Books of Nathaniel
Hawthorne" has done a great service to
all who wish to learn to write, in open.
ing before their view all the processes
by which the greatest American formed
that inimitable style, whose sheenv gloss
and exquisite word-painting are SO aston
ishing. ....
We can see in these books that he
studied nature day by day; going out
to study, as a painter goes out with pal.
let and brushes, only that, instead of pal.
let and brushes, he used the words of the
English language.
The young writer can see in these
Note Books, how in this daily process
of walking. studying and writing he
accumulated that wonderful store of
imagery which is reflected in all he
says.
1t also illustrates what we say-that
he excelled in writing because his love
tor It led him to practicely it constantly.
These Noto Books are but a small
speciman of volumes after volumes filled
with minute descriptions of all that he
saw and all that he did. just as GYM
mast becomes graceful by constant use
of his muscles SO Hawthorne, by a, con-
stant dealing with words, and a constant
daily habit of writing, acquired fexibil-
ity and versatility of style.
Many young writers Imaging that the
vivid dreams and romantic visions and
conceptions that come to them are evi-
dence of talent for writing.
Alas! my young friend, your vision
and your dream has got to be translated
into the English language, and it is only
by seeing that your words and phrases
will reproduce the same enthusiasm in
other minds that you are to feel that
you have succeeded.
The gresrest modern French novelist,
De Balzac, says:
"To imvgine is easy enough. 1t is
merely to smoke enchanted cigarettes,
which after all may dissolve in air. Tie
real work consists in bringing out these
airy conceptions"
MrsH B. StOaoc in Hearth and Home
"BURLEIGH," the regular correspond.
ent of the Bosten Journal, thus alludcs
to the relations of General GRANT and
the otfics-seekers, who proved to be a
soro infliction to all who have heretofore
occupied his position:
When Buchanan was elected tho
march of the Democracy was to Wheat
land. In Pierce's time it was to Cen
cord. Springfield was the Mecca OF the
office-seekers when it was certain that
Mr.. Lincoln was to be President buI
gentlemen in search OF good positions
don't know what TO do with General
Grant. He will talk Office to nobody.
Letter, sent on that tender subject are
thrown into the FIRE, and are known to
he a nositive damage. Every day hordes
of persons go round from Senator to
Senator and from Representative to Rep
resenta,ive, trying to get their signatures
to be asod after the inauguration. But
one answer is generally given; awe
sign no papers to go before General
Grant" The result is that the General
has quiet time of it. He eau he seen
down to his office with great
all alene, and he is probably
froer from annoyance than any President
elect since the days of Washington,