Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-06-20
Bryant Dead.

bryant Lead.
William Cullen Bryant, for years
the Oldest Of American poets, died
On the l1th instant. A week or two
previous he had fallen on the steps
at the entry of house, his head
striking in a manner to produce con-
cession. A day or two afterward he
revived, and there were hopes of his
recovery but he gradually sank and
died. His name and fame are known
10 all readers. His habits of lite are
not 80 well known and for that rea-
son we publish the following letter
"NEw York, March, 80, 1871.
To Joseph III. Richards, Esq:
My DEAR SIR: [ promised some
lime since to give you some account
Of my habits of life, so far, at least.
as regards diet, exercise and occupa-
ion, l am not sure thut it will be
Of any use to you, although the sys-
tenn which | have for many years
observed seems to answer my pur,
pose very well. 1 have reached a
pretty advanced period of life, with
out the usual infrmities of old age,
and with my strength, activities and
bodily faculties generally in pretty
good preservation. How far this
may be the effect of my way ofIife,
adopted long ago and steadily ad-
hered to, is perhaps uncertain.
II rise early at this time of the
year, about half-past five; in Sum-
mer, half an hour or even an hour
earlier. Immediately, with very
little incumbrance of clothing, l be-
gin series of exercises, for the most
part designed to expand the chest,
and at the same time call into action
all the muscles and articulations of
the body. These Sre performed with
dumb-bells, the very lightest, cover
ed with fannels, with pole, a hori.
zontal bar, and light chair swung
around my b sad. After full hour
and sometimes more, passed in this
manner | battle from head to foot.
When at my place in the country l
sometimes shorten my exercises in
the chamber, and going out, occupy
myself for half an hour or more in
some work which requires brisk ex.
ercise. After my bath, if break fast
be not ready,I sit down to my stud
les till l am called.
my breakfast was simple one
hominy and milk, or in place of hom.
my brown bread or oat. meal. or
wheaton grits, and in the season
baked sweet apples. Buck W heat
cakes | do not decline, nor any 9th.
er variety of vegetable food, but an.
imal food l never take at breakfast.
Tea and coffee L never touch at any
lime. Sometimes | take a cup of
chocolate, which has no narcotic eff.
feet and agrees with me very well.
At breakfast | often take frnit, either
IN its natural state or freshly stewed,
CATER breakfast l occupy myself
tor while with my studies, and
then, when in town L walk down to
the office of the Euenlng Post, nearly
three miles distant, and after about
three hours return, always walking.
whatever be the wes Their or state OF
the streets. In the country | am
engaged in my literary tasks till q
feeling of WEAKNESS drives me out
into the open air, or | go upon my
farm or into the garden and prune
the fruit trees, or perform some 9TH
er work about them which they need
and then go back to my books.
do not often drive out, preferring to
walk.
"In the country dine early, and
it is only at one meal that take Ell
Their meat or fish, and of these but a
moderate quantity, making my din
ner mostly of vegetables. At the
meal which is called tea only take
little bread and butter, with fruit
if it be on the table. In town whore
| dine later, | make but two meals a
day. Fruit makes considerable
part of my diet, and l eat it at al.
most any hour of the day without
Inconvenience, My drink is a glass
of wine. | am natural temperance
man, finding myself rather confused
than exhiirated by wine. 1 never
NEEDLE with tobacco, except to quar-
rel with it's use.
"That | may rise early,I of course
go to bed early in town as early
ss ten in the country somewhat
earlier.
"For many years | have avoided
in the evening every kind of literary
occupation which tasks the faculties,
such as composition-even to the
writing of letters, for the reason
that it excites the nervous system
and prevents sound sleep. My broth
er told me not long since that he bad
seen liz a Chicago newspaper and
several other western journals a
paragraph in which it was said that
l am in the habit of taking quinine
as stimulant, that l have depended
upon the excitement it produces in
writing my verses, and that in con-
sequence Of using it in that way l
had become as deaf as post. As to
my deafness you know that to be
false, and as to The rest of the story
it is equally so. 1 abominate ell
drugs and narcotics, and have all
ways carefully avoided everything
which spurs nature to exertions
which it would not otherwise make.
Even with my food / do not take
the usual condiments, such as pepper
and the like.
| am, sir, truly yours,
"W. G. BRYANT.',