Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-21
BRYANT'S HABITS.
His Daily Living and His Everyday
Tastes.

New York Tribune obituary: The strong
est point in Mr.. Bryant's character was its
simplicity. This is no more true of his poems
than of his prose writings; no more true of
either than of his daily pursuits and habits.
Travelling, as he did, through many lands
and among the proudest monuments of civil
lization; having, as he always did IN his char
acter and position, a personal passport to all
society and every public place, his heart re-
manned fixed in its first love of nature. Mr..
Bryant has told the story of his daily habits
himself. Nothing could be more simpler.
The Athenian born ON the poorest soil in
Greece, contented himself at dinner with the
head of fish, an onion and a few olives.
Even the rich were quite satisfied with dish
of vegetables; while people at large were ac-
customed to eat meat on a feast day for the
whole year. Mr.. Bryant in diet and in all
the pursuits OF the day was quite as simple.
In winter he rose always at half-past five
o'clock; In summer from half an hour to an
hour earlier. With little clothing on his
body, he Immediately began an hour exer-
else with dumb bells, horizontal bar, and a
light chair swung round the head. Some
times he gave more than an hour to this ex
ercise, but never less. When it was over he
bathed from head to foot. In the
summer, if living at Roslyn, he usually
shortened the exercises in the chamber and
went out of doors to engage at some work
trees or cutting wood. After the bath, if
breakfast were not ready, he sat in his libra
ry. No breakfast could be palmer than his
hominy and milk, or brown bread, oatmeal
or wheaton grts, and in the season, baked
sweet apples. Buckwheat cakes he did not
refuse, but coffee or animal food he never
took. Occasionally he drank chocolate, as it
has no narcotic effect. After the meal was
over he engaged for while at his studies,
and, if in the city, walked down to the Euen-
ing Post office, a distance of three miles,
After three hours passed thus he returned,
always walking, whatever the condition of
the streets or weather might be. IF living
in the country he studied or read until wea-
ry, and then went into his garden to prune
pear trees, or walked through the woods; he
seldom drove. He dined early on vegeta-
bles, with little meat or fish. At supper
he never drank tea, but was satisfied with
bread and butter and fruit. Fruit
formed a large part of his diet, and he ate
it at almost any time without inconveni-
ence. In the city, where people dine later,
he only ate two meals day. Water was his
almost exclusive drink, though he occa-
slonally took wine. He once said he was
natural temperance man, his mind being
rather confused than exhilarated by alcohol.
Milton once said, however, that the lyric poet
may drink VINE and live generously; but the
epic poet, he who shall sing of the gods, and
their descent unto men, must drink water out
of a wooden bowl. According to Milton,
then, Mr.. Bryant was more of an epic than a
lyric poet, and though his verses are not of
the epic order, no one lacking the epic spirit
could have translated Homer as he did. Mr..
Bryant retired early in town, at TENN the
country somewhat earlier. For several years
he avoided in the evening every kind Of lit
erary occupation which tasked the faculties,
such as composition, even to the writing of
letters, because it excited his nervous system
and prevented sound sleep. He never used
tobacco. 81 never NEEDLE with it, he said
''exceptto quarrel with It's use. Iabominate ali
drugs and narcotics, and have always care
fully avoided everything which spurs nature
to exertions which she would not otherwise
make. Even with my food l do not take the
usual condiments, such as pepper and salt "
When practicing law in Massachusetts he
was elected justice of the peace, and at one
time held the office of village clerk He was
often asked later in life to accept office, but
he steadily refused. HIS name was once
mentioned for the Italian mission, and he
Immediately responded, saying: what
would | do in the foul atmosphere of court
society which derives its tone from the sane
ton of royalty9 Give me the pure air, the
bright skies and the green fields In reli-
gion he was a deep, though unpretentious,
believer. AT Roslyn he regularly attended
the little Presbyterian church and partook of
the sacrament.