The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-07-14
Habits of Great Men.


have beeu interested in aud entertained
by gossip respecting the personal habits
aud individual idiosyncrasies Of popular
writers aud orators. II is universal
and undyiug characteristic Of human
natureS No age has been exempt from
it from Pliny's time down to Beecker's.
1t may suitably be called the scarlet
fever curiosity, aud rash, indeed, must
be the writer who refuses or neglects to
furnish any food for / e scandal .mou
gers NAV. While we dcprecato 10 the
strongest terms the custom which per.
sists in lifting the veil of personality
from the forehead Of the great, respect
for traditional usages and obligation to
the present, AS well as venerable for the
future, impels US TO reveal some things
that are not generally known concern.
ing the men who are playing "leading
business" on the worlds great stage Of
to day.
For instance, mankind is generally
ignorant of the fact that Mr.. Sumner
bathes twice day iu compound, two
thirds Of which is water aud one third
milk, and that he dictates most OF his
speeches TO sIenograpber while reclin.
ing in the bath tub. Wendell Phillips
is said to have written the greater por-
tion OF his famous lecture on The Lest
Arts on the backs Of old envelopes
while waiting for train 10 the Boston
depot. Mr. George w. Curtis prepares
his mind Tor writing by sleeping with
his head encased ia a nightcap lined
with leaves Of lavender and roses -
Grant, it is said, accomplishes most OF
his writing while under the influence Of
either opium or chloroiorm, which will
account for the soothing character Of
his State papers. Walt Whitman writes
most Of his poetry in the dissectiug-
room Of the Medical College, whero he
has desk fitted up in close proximity
to the operatingtab,e. Mr.. Dana is
said to write most Of his editorials iu
one OF the parlors Of the Manhattan
Club, arrayed iu black broadeloth, from
the sole OF his head 10 the crown of his
foot, his hand cncased in corn .eolored
kids, piece OF chewing gum in his
mouth, and bottle of Cherry Pectoral
by his side. The report that he eats
fish every morning for his breakfast is
untrue; he rejects Fish Colfax writes
all his speeches aad lectures with his
feet in hot water, and head wrapped in
a moist towel. His greatest vice, next
to being Vice President, is TO insist
upon having his writing desk in front
Of mirror Butler aceomplishes most
of his literary labor over dish of soup.
which he absorbs through the medium
Of two Of his iayorite weapons, thus
keeping both his hands employed, aud
debating to an amanuensis every time
his mouth enjoys vacation Beechel
has several methods by which he pre-
pares his mind to write a sermon BY
riding up and down Broadway on the
top Of s;agej visiting the Academy ol
Anatomy, or spending few hours al
the Bloomiugdale Retreat Neither
Holmes nor Whittier are able to write
a lne Of poetry until they are brought
IN contact with the blood of freshly
slain animals; while, on the other hand
Lonefellow's only dissipation, previous
to poetic effort, is dish of baked beans
Forney yexes his gigantic intellect with
iced water and tobacco, (of the latter,
"two papers, both daily.") Mr.. Tilton
composes as he reposes 10 night-dress
with his hair powdered aud "a straw
berry mark upon his left arm" Alr
Parton writes with his toes, his hands
being employed meanwhile knitting
hoods for the destitute children Of
Alaska. Mr. z. is philapthropist,
Bayard Taylor writes only in his sleep
or while IN a trance state-notwifh.
standing the fact that hs lives in the
State OF Pennsylvania. He will then
dictate enough to require the acrvices
OF three or four stenographers, and in
the morning is ready to attend to the
laborious and exacting duties attached
to the position of stockho in the
New York "Tribune." Mr.. Greely
conceiyes some Of his most brilliant ed.
itorial articles while churning the mer-
curial milk of the Chappaqua farm into
butter; or vexing the gracious grain
with the flying fail or listening to the
pensiye murmurings of the plaintiye
pigs, aud the whispered cadences of
the kindly cattle-Ifdrh Tram.