The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-06-12
GENIUS AND METHOD.

The methods of composition employed by
authors have been 20 various and interesting
az the lives of the authors themselves, and the
history of these methods is one of the most en-
tertaining and important passages in literary
biography. Old Burton kept q commonplace
beck, the contents of which be poured into his
Anatomy of Melancholy" Thomas Fuller,
who advises everybody to follow his example,
did tho same. Barthius, Turnebus, Scaliger,
most of the medieval scholars, and notably
Butler, who by that means enriched his HUI
dibras" with such an amount of learning.
adopted like method. So did Southey, and
the Doctor" is the produce. Bentley bought
all his books with wide margins and jotted on
on the side whatever struck him in the read
ing. and thus supplied the defects of memory,
exceptionally imperfect. Poe and Gilbert
Wakefield did the same, and 90 did Coleridge.
Pope was forever collecting materials, and at
once noted down thought which struck him
even in conversation in q crowded room. He
would ring his servants up at all hours of tho
night to get him writing material for the pur.
pose. Sheridan and Foote were ever on the
alert for wit Addison took notes for his es-
says. johnson pursued the same course for
h6 " Rambler" and Hogarth would sketch on
his nail any face that struck him, and this way
he managed to furnish his wonderful galleries
Elan. could never write unless he was intox.
icated, aud according to Horace, this was the
case with Ennius and Cratinus. Ben Jonson
wrote best under the influence Of canary;
Sheridan prepared his marvellous speech On tho
Dude Charge in tavern after swallowing tum-
bier 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 Persons epigrame on the subject, could
never speak till he was "far gone" Black.
stone wrote his " Commentaries with bot
tie Of port before him, and Beckford "Vathek"
supported BY constant draughts Of the same.
Shadwell stimulated himself by opium. The
arch impOster, Psalmanaaza, COleridge and
De Quincy used the same stimulant Dryden
and Fuseli ate raw meat to inspire vivid
and Byron wrote "Don Juan" under tho in
fluence Of gin. Many literary masterpieces
were written at sitting. The first draft Of
1.-THE Castle Of Otranto" was nearly finished
thus, the author only desisting because he was
physically unable to hold his pen. "Vathek"
was completed in three days and two nights Of
incessant effort. Dryden flashed "Alexan-
der's Feast" in \ day and night, and it 10
said that Mrs. Browning wrote Lady Ger.
aldine's Courtship" in twelve hours. Shelley.
Byron and Theodore Hook wrote with amazing
rapidly; 50 did Scott, who seldom or never
corrected Dryden tells US that his thoughts
came pressing in so fast that he had scarcely
time for selection. He composed the Parallel
between Poetry and Painting" in twelve morn
ings, and the "Medal" in few days. 1t was
the same with DR.. Samuel johnson, who wrote
his admirable "Life Of Savage" in little moro
than thirty.six hours, and his Oriental romance
of " "Rasselas" for the purpose Of obtaining
funds to defray the expense Of his mothers
funeral '-s