Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-08
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Habits OF Authors.

The methods Of composition employ
ed by authors have been as various and
interesting as the lives Of the authors
themselves, and the history of these
methods is one of the most entertain
ing and important passages in literary
biography. Old Burton kept a COM
mon-book, the contents of which he
poured into his ''Anatomy Of Melan-
choly." Thomas Fuller, who advises
everybody TO follow his example, did
the same. Barthius, Turnebus, Scali-
ger, most Of the medieval scholars,
and notably Butler, VINO by that means
enriched his s'Iudibras' with such an
amount Of learning, adopted like
method. So did Southey, and the
''Doetor' is the produce. Bentley
bought all his books with wide margins.
and .jotted on the sides whatever struck
him in the reading, and thus supplied
the defects Of a memory exceptionally
imperfect. Pope was forever collect
Ing materials, and at once noted down
thought which struck him in CONVERSE
ton even in a crowded room. He
woult. ring his servants up at all hours
Of the night to get him writing mate
rials for the purpose. Sheridan and
Ioote were ever on the alert for wit
Addison took notes for his essays.
johnson pursued the same course for
his ''Bambler ;" and Hogarth would
sketch on his nail any face that struck
him, and i'll this way he managed to
furnish his wonderful galleries Of por-
traits. 4ltschylus, if we are to credit
EIian, could never write until he was
intoxicated: and, according to Horace,
this was the ease with Ennius and Cra-
tinus. Ben Jons0n wrote the best
under the influence of canary; Sheri-
dan prepared his marvellous speech on
the Dude charge in tavern, after
swallowing tumbler after tumbler Of
brandy. The younger Pitt was often
under the influence Of port when he
spoke, and Dundas, if We may believe
one Of porson S epigrams on the sub
ject, could never speak till he was ''far
gone" Blackstone wrote his Com
nentaries" " with i bottle Of port before
him, and Beckford Vathek' support
ed by constant draughts Of the same.
Shadvell stimulated himself by opium.
The arch imposter Psalmanaazar, Col
eridge and DeQuincey used the same
stimulant. Dryden and Fusili ate raw
meat to insure vivid dreams. Noltaire
was never without his coffee, and By
ron wrote "Don Juan; uuder the in
huence of Gin. Many literary master
pieces were written at a sitting. The
first draft Of The Castle of Otranto'
was nearly finished thus, the author
only desisticg because he was physical.
ly unable to hold his pen. ''Vathek"
was completed in three days and two
night, of incessant effort Dryden fin
ished .'Alexandeg' Feast in a day
and a night and it is said that Mrs
Browning wr"te Lady Geraldine :
Courtship' in twelve hours. Shelley,
Byron and Theodore Hook wrote with
amazing rapidity and so did Scott,
who seldom or never corrected. Dry
den tells us that his thoughts came
pressing in 50 fast that he had scarcely
time for selection. He composed the
Parallel between Poetry and Paint
ing in twelve mornings, and the
Medal in few days, 1t was the
same with johnson, who wrote his
Life of Savage" in a little more than
thirty-six hours, and ''Rasselas' to
defray the expense of his mother s
funeral. .--Loadoa Globe.