Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-06

house was on fire. Go inform my
wife, said he you know do not in
terfere in household aifairsl
Scaliger only slept for few hours,
aud passed whole days without thinking
Of food. Sully when his mind was Oe-
cupied with plans Of reform, displayed
extraordinary 6ts OF forgetfulness. One
day in winter, when on his way 10
church, he observed, How cold il is TO.
day 4" Not more cold than usual, said
one OF his attendants. Then ! must
have the ague," said Sully. T" Is Il not
more probable that you are too scantily
dressed2" he was asked. On lifting
his tunic the secret was at once discov-
cred he had forgotten all his under
clothes but his breeches
Mrs. Bray tells somewhat familiar
story Of the painter Stothord. When
invited on one occasion 10 dine with the
poet Rogers, on reaching the. house in
ST. james Palace, he complained OF
cold, and CHANGING 10 put his hand on
his neck, he had forgotten 10 put on his
cravat, when he hastily returned home
to complete his attire.
Button was very fond OF dress. He
assumed the air Of the grand seigneur,
sported Jewels and inery, wore rich lace
and velvets, and was curled and scented
TO excess-wearing his hair en- appilotte
while at his studies. Pope, too, was a
little dandy in a bag wig and sword; and
his crooked figure enveloped in fashion
able garments gave him the look of an
overdressed monkey. Voltaire, also, was
fond Of magnificent attire, and usually
dressed in an absurd manner.
Diderot once Travelled from st. Peters
burg 10 Paris in his morning-gown and
nightcap, and in this guise promenaded
the streets and public places of the towns
on his route. He was often taken for a
madman. While composing his works
he used 10 walk about with rapid strides,
and sometimes throwing his wig in the
air when he had struck happy idea.
One day friend found him in tears.
GOOD heavensl" he exclaimed, what
is the matter2" Il am weeping" said
Diderot, at a story | have just com
posed
Young, the poet, composed his
might Thoughts with skull before
him, in which he would sometimes place
a lighted candle; and he occasionally
sought his sepulchral inspiration by
wandering among the tombs at midnight.
Mrs. Radcliffe courted the horrors with
which she filled her gloomy romances
by supping on halfraw beef-steaks,
plentifully garnished with onious. Dry
den used to take physic before setting
himself to compose new piece. Kant,
the German philosopher, while leoturing,
had the habit of fixing his attention
upon one of his auditors who wore a
garment without a button sewed on.
Kant, on commencing the lecture, fixed
his eye on the usual place. The button
was therel Fancy the CONSERVATION
of the philosopher, whose ideas had be-
come associated with that buttonless
garment. His lecture that day was de-
testable; he was unhinged by the cir
cumstance.
Too many authors have been fond of
the bottle. Rabelais said, Eating and
drinking are my true sources of inspir-
alton. See this bottle 1t is my true
and only Helicon, my cabalistio foun-
tain, my sole enthusiasm. Drinking, !
deliberatei and deliberating, | drink. "
Ennius, Eschylus and Cato all got their
inspiration while drinking. Mezerai
always had large bottle of wine beside
him among his books; he drank Of it
at each page he wrote. He turned the
night into day, and never composed ex-
cept by lamplight, even in the daytime.
All his windows were darkened; and it
was no unusual thing for him to show a
friend to the door with lamp, though
outside it was broad daylight. On the
contrary, Varillas, the historian, never
wrote except at full midday. His ideas,
he imagined, grew and declined with the
suns light.