Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-05-19
Habits Of Authors.


system. of literary work and forced
himself into a rigid adherence to it,
spending Just SO many hours daily at
his desk, whether in the mood or not,
and whether accomplishing anything
or not; ploddng away at composition
IN as matter-ot-tact manner as la
borer would shovel at an embankment,
he sat an excellent example for all
writers, but one which a majority of
them WOULD find it impossible to im-
tate. NO greater diversity, no sharper
contrast can be found than appear in
the modes OF composition, the require
ments IS TO surroundings, state Of feel
ing, and necessary conditions for free
donl 10 working Of different authors. as
shown by their own statements or those
their blographers and personal friends.
Walter Scott felt no special need of
reconsldering or revising what be had
written; but having dashed off novel or
poem-he sent off one after the other
iu rapid succession such as Lad not
been heard of before his day. W here
would the Waverly novels have been,
and should we ever have had the long
list if he had been subjected to the
test which Alcott, in his Concord
Days" lays down in his "code OF COM
position - to wit: * Burn every
scrap that stands not the test of all
moods of composition; such lack Ion
gevlty What is left gains immensely
Such is the law. Very little of what
is thought admirable at the writing
holds good over night. Sleep on your
writing; take walk over it; renew it
of an afternoon; digest it after every
meal; let it sleep in your drawer
twelvemo onth."
The impulsive habit belongs. to some
writers whom we should least suspect
of it. If there has been one wopian
writer in America who was pre-. eminent
for strong masculine understanding
critical insight, GOODNESS and impartial
ity in her judgments, and the power to
put her own personality aside, it was
Margaret Fuller; yet, Of her, when es-
pecially employed as critic on the New
York Tribune, Mr. Greeley complained
that she could only write when in the
vein" and although new books de
mauded her attention, and the utmost
promptness was desirable, she waited
day af'er day to feel in the right mood
for Writing, and her criticisms were
consequently too late She did in
fact, distrust herself in writing; her
pen was non-conductor, she said !;
she was subject to pain, and affected by
the most subtle influences; sometimes
wrote in bed, and believed that she
" could I'm ierstand anything better
when she was ILL.," Her Summer on
the Lakes " seems to have been written
under more tranquilizing circumstan
ces, and after more orderly way than
usual with her " Every day, she
says, Il rose and attended to the MANY
little calls which are always on me.
Then, about eleven, [ would
sit down to write at my window. close
to which is the apple tree lately full of
blossoms and now of yellow birds
Opposite me was Del Sarto's Madon.
na;' behind me 'Sileuus holding in
his arms the infant Pan | felt very
content with my pen, my daily bouquet
and my yellow birds. About five I
would 90 out and walk till dark
Another woman Of the highest dis
tinctitn In science. Mrs. Somerville
gives us. in that modest. straiehtfor-
ward way which makes her narrative
SO charming, an account of her habit
of writing. Abstruse as were her
subjects, she did not find it necessary
to seclude herself She had singu-
lar power of abstraction, which made
her ''lndependent of outward circum-
stances. She rose esrly, she says, and
made the needful ARA ngements for
family, then wrote; subject to inter
ruptions of visitors; who had ''come tc
spend few hours with her. How
ever [ learned by habit to leave sub.
ject and resume it again at once, like
putting mark into book [ mieh
have been reading" n another
place she says: q had, and still have
determ mined perseverance, but I soon
found that it was in vain to occupy my
mind beyond certain time. [ grew
tired aud did more harm than geod
SO, if met with a difficult point, x
left it, took my work or some anus
ing book, and resumed it when my
mind was fresh" She took for this
recreation poetry, aud afterward nov
els The Aldine.