Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-11-19

Va one occasion, report OF aeabOhth school
concert, which had written. was Published
in preference TO one sent 10 By the pastor Of
the church in which The concert was given.
although the latter was already In type when
| handed mine in. l wrote = letter 10 a
western newspaper, the editor Of which,
being an extensive dealer in the article called
SCOT solder" gAvemy lettSra very cOmpIi-
mentary notice in bis local columns. and iu-
yited me to write again. The editor Of a
Vermont newspaper, TO whom. had cent q
Communication. wrote me, asking me to be-
come regular correspondent Of his paper,
to which request aeccded.
Afterwards, | wrote namber Of articles
upon various topics. Half Of these were
copied by other papers, and 90, from the out.
set, L was successful in my writing. Flushed
With my success, which, after all, was lin.
tied and utterly unworthy Of consideration,
l began to regard myself az very promis.
ing writer. | did not at the time realize
the fact that | was deDscly ignorant of mat.
ters aud things generally. knew just
enough Of literature 10 think knew about
all that could be known about il, and
thus in regard to other things. What made
the matter still worse was the fact that
was early obliged by poor health TO leave
school. | know almost nothing Of grammar
and had Of course no knowledge Of the
structure Of sentences, except what | had
gained from reading. had read newspa-
pers great deal and books q very little.
This was a great mistake, for net only is
reporters EOgliSh" synonymous with bad
writing, but the newspaper reader skips so
constantly from one topic to another that he
learns not to think consecutively. But the
fact that my poorly written articles attracted
attention seemed to me but another proof Of
my ability. For if can win the regard Of
newspaper men while writing so poorly thus
reasoned) what would be the limit Of my
success IL could write we'll In this and
in similar ways my vanity constantly fat.
tered me.
In an evil hour or, to be more exact, in
an indefinite number Of evil hours, read
three Of Charles Dickens books. | wal
captivated by the style, which, fool.like, /
attempted to initiate. In my hands il lost
its refinement aud all its charms. did not
then realize the fact that diffusiveness, the
distinguishing feature of Dickens works
when not Illuminated by the greatest genius
is insufferably dreary. My manner Of ex
preston, which had previously been clear
concise and simple, became coarse and
undigulfed. In fact, my style became thor
oughly demoralized, and in three months
time l was completely Disguised with it.
then undertook to reform 1t and found ny
hands fall Of business, for Il had become
doep-seated and almost over-powering.
have, since then, made soma progress and
hope 10 completely eradicate the evil event
ually. I...
have entitled this article, &c onfession
of Literary Lunatic." My "lunscy" ha
consisted in yielding to my vanity until
came to regard myself as "genius; !" il
allowing myself to attempt initiative writ
ing; in thinking myself well informed OF
subjects generally; in speaking disrespect
fully of good, true and able men and indulg
ing to n great extent in the use Of the cur
rent phrases Of the day-othcrwise, slang.
Some will perhaps be in doubt as to ny
motive in writing this article. have bu
single one, that Of warning other youn
writer's not to follow my example. Writ
as briefly, as simply and as clearly as yo'
can and be as original as possible in though
and expression. DO not attempt 10 be NOR
than this, aud do not deem yourself sag
because a few knights Of the paste pot an,
shears consider your articles worth copying
LUNATIc.