The Red Cloud chief., 1877-08-23
LongfellOw and Lowell.
How They Write Their Poem.

How They Write Their Poems.
Although 20 years old. Mr.. LOngtel
low has in his manne little of the sen
timent which pervadeS his poem Nor
ituri Salutamus." He dresses in a sui,
of black broadcloth, has long white hail
and an aspect full of genial warmth
and refined humor. is very much OF d
democrat generally speaking),conyerses
freely, and has a marvellous faculty,
when he chooses 10 exercise II, OF put
ting n quite AT his s He spends
his winters in Cambridge, and his sum
mers in his cottage AT Nahant- He rises
early. takes a com aratlvely light break
fast. and If the day is not rainy sets ont
for a walk. which takes up An hour or
two. according 10 his inclination. His
gait Is firm and hearty. and as he walks
he holds himself perfectly upright. He
does not rambie two mornings in the
same direction. but varies his route
daily.
Every day or two he calls on his
printers. Welch. B;gelow X Co. al The
University Press. and receives or re-
turns proofs of his works, II he has n
thing in type. which is mostly the case.
He studies his matter carefully after il
is in print, and generally submits his
proof 10 John Owen. his former pub
Usher and friend. Little, if any. of his
y.lasrv 10 nrhf,cIal nc ur,.ay on -.
spur OF the moment. The Divine
Tragedy" is said 10 have been rewritten
after 1t was nearly all in u pe. During
late years he has been in the habit OF
publishing his poems in the magazines,
and after having obtained a sufficient
number, adding a few new ones 10 them
and issuing them in book form. He
brings his copy" 10 the Office of the
University Press. which is only half a
mile or so from his own residence. writ
ten in Lad pencil. in ssma,l back hand.
very much like the average newspaper
mans style Of handwriting. clear and
mostly free from mierlluea:ioUs sat
eraSureS. His magazine poems are a.
WAYS revised and Corrected. or a; lsaS,
altered more or less. before their publ
cation IN book form. 81 tina: the reader
rarely encounters one IN exactly the
same shape As N the periodical. Mr..
l-ongtellow - n a frequent dIner-out,
although he has PROBABLY quite often
eaten from the banquet board OF James
t. Fields and Others OF his more init
mate friends. who have DOUBTLESS r.
this compliment His health IS
very fine. and lie has himself stated tia;
It has eve been better than during
the present season.
tie Is az present engaged on a series
entitled Poems Of Places This work
considerable reading. nn,e-tsk-
.ng. and sorting out Of old poems and
productions. and the ppet rarely has a
'oem in pm: nowadays. The first ;hre-
volumes. rela;in: 10 Scotland. Francs
Italy. have already been published.
md the printers are DOW a; work n
The manner in which COPY j.
furnished is As follows: When the
'rlnters are out the p.et sends I'D boy
With q wheelbarTow or other vehicle
with books containing poems
which he wants 10 include in his COL
with a written ref@re.oc 70 the
cok, or p - PvenS The compos-
up the matter Indicated. and
books are sent back 70 the residence
their owner. The poe, is SAID 70 - d,
n1ious that his books may appear in
neat and attractive a shape as pos 4
Die, and the diamond edition was only
lowed because the e1igencles Of took. g
'aklng reg uired IL the costlier books i
eng 80 far o II Of the reach Of a vast
-saders tina, 10 get q, them /. Z