Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-16
Habits Of Authors.


sighted, I'll absorbed in her own imagin-
ings-as if her characters were real men
and women whose minute history she was
putting ou record. And the language
stood in the penciled manuscript almost as
it aterward did on the printed page, for
she thought no time was SO favorable for
fastening upon the right word as the moment
of composition; aud if it did not come nat
uraly with the idea, as in her case it usu-
ualy did, she W. tied, and it suggested it.
self and fell into its place. Such was the
fidelity of thi, woman, who never put her
hand to a book until she was sure that she
had something to say.
Edgar A Poe used to think over his
subject untiiit was complete in his own
mind before he took pen to write, and his
manuscriptwas exceedingly neat and ele-
giant while, ON the other hand, N. P.
Willis, wlo was to appearance, the most
off hand # journalists, was in the constant
practice of changing the phraseology Of
his articles over and over again, even after
they had gone into the hands of the print
er, and the sheets were disfgnred with
many ensures and altera tions, showing
that the paragraphs, which flow as if dash
ed off on the spur of the moment, were in
reality, constructed with the utmost pains.
Another of the fastidious was Lamb.
He wrote very slowly, and every word was
subjected to the sevcrest criticism, and the
one which expressed the incest shade of
meaning was fixed upon. Macaulay made
a general plan on large sheets of paper
with lines far apart; then filled in, crowd
ing sentence upon sentence, until the whole
was a marvel to see, and when change for
the better, or illustration or ampifcation
seemed impossible, copied in fair hand
for the PRIMER. DR.. Charming in prepar-
ing one sermon actually wrote enough to
make two or three, going on and on as his
thoughts came rapidly, then cut out page
after page. saving nothing but those por-
tions which pest expressed what he wished
to preach.
And yet, IN the face of all this nicely
and deliberation, it cannot be denied that
some of the most popular things IN ltera-
ture, especially hymns and short poems,
with now and then a story, have been
written almost without forethought, and
printed with out little alteration. AS, for
instance, the " Missionary Hymn
"From Greenland's icy mountains"
which Heber wrote at a few minutes no.
tice.
And "Sheridan's Ride " has history
as felicitous. 1t is said of it that its au.
thor, Read, had Murdock, the actor, for a
guest, and while at breakfast saw in the
mornings journal an account of Sherldan's
exploit. He withdrew to his own room,
and in about an hour came out with that
poem, which Murdock read at his benefit,
the same evening, and which, in the course
of few weeks, appeared in half the news
papers of the land.
Sir Walter Scott said that when he be-
Would SSG becoHm9 81 1t he had no piv. =. III.
In the morning he would think it over a
while, then rush on, and the characters
took care of themselves and 1t all came
out right in the end. While he was en-
gagged on his novels, he became subject to
attacks of cramp in the stomach, and he
lay on a sofa and dictated near y all of the
" Bride of Lammermoor and the whole
of the Legend of Montrose." When
paroxysm of pain seized him, he would
stop with a groan, and then begin where
be left off. He used to arrange in his own
mind the portion for the day before his
amapuepsls came. which was 10 o'clock in
the morning, when he would commence and
90 right on, sustaining all the characters
and detailing the conversations without
confusions or mistakes, and so interested
that sometimes he would spring to his feet
and act it all out.
The same thing as to want OF plan is
said to have been true Of " PIckwlck," !"
and of some Of the novels of Thackeray
The author of " Pendennis and " Vanity
Fair was wont to daily with his subject
before he set himself to work, starting
with half a quire of paper, on part Of
which he made comic pictures, part he
tore up, and on the remainder, after walk
ing about in the most doletul manner, he
began in earnest.
Dickeus, in the earlier days of author
ship, wrote only when he felt in the mood
but afterward became thoroughly syste-
matte, and when the hour came he was at
his table, allotting certain part of the
day for work, and from this rule nothing
could tempt him to depart; for it was upon
persevering industry, not special inspira-
ton, that he depended. Southey was anoth-
er of the methodical workers. His days
were indeed all busy, for as he said, speak
ing of supporting his large family, his
means lay "in an inkstand.' And DR..
Barnes was another. Before he began his
regular employment for the day, he labored
at his Notes" on the Bible, which, al.
though all the time given to them was be-
fore nine in the morning. grew to such
proportions, through this systematic appli-
cation, that they form almost little library
of themselves.
Surroundings, circumstances, and the
hour have all been potential in their infu-
ence. Christopher North chose the night,
and sat in his shirt sleeves, in small
study, at q table Uttered with papers,
books, and pictures around, writing rapidly
with qulll-pen, his thoughts kindling
more and more as the hours went on.
Campbell rose early, and did his work be
fore breakfast. Carlysle takes good
vigorous English walk of several miles,
far enough to get himself into glow. and
then is ready tor his pen.
Addison used to pace up and down the
long hall at Holland house; Pope worked
himself up into high state Of excitement;
Lamb smoked Milton craved the sweet
help of music. He was wont to lie awake
at night seeing celestial sights with bis
blind eyes, and in the morning he gave bis
visions shape in immortal words, which
others wrote down for him. Tom Moore
had little green terrace back of his
house, at one end of which was table
and he would walk there. especially at
sunset which was his favorite hour and