Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-18
THE QUAKER POET.
His Early Work and Poor Pay
his NO.MethOd Way OF Turn
ing Ont Work.
New York Tribune Intsrvier


IL was unlike any Of the rest, 1
think, for | never had any methods,
When felt like it l wrote, and |
neither had the health nor the pa
thence to work over it afterward. 1t
usually went as it was originally com
pleted. Emerson wrote with great
care and would not only revise his
manuscript carefully, but have often
heard him say that he would fire.
quently rewrite the article upon the
proof sheets. Longfellow, too, was a
very careful writer. He wrote and
rewrote; aud would lay his work by
and then revise it. He often would
consult with his friends about his pro.
auctions before they were given to the
world. He therefore sent his work
out as perfect as great care and
brilliant intellect could make
it. l was not so fortunate. | have
lived mostly a secluded life with little
patience to draw upon, and only few
friends for associates. What writing
have done has been for the love Of
ii. have ever been timid Of what
have penned. 1t is really marvel to
me that | have gathered any literary
reputation from my productions.
Much that have written wish
was as deep in the Red Sea as Pha
roah's chariot wheels. Much of the
bread cast on the waters | wish had
never been returned. 1t is not fair tC
revive writings composed in the
shadow OF conditions that make ever
acceptable work impossible. In my
early life was not favored with good
opportunities. Limited chances OIL
education and lack Of books Away:
stood in my way. When | began t
write l had seen nothing Of the world
OF course, things written then could
not have been worth much.
I'm my fathers house there was mo-
a dozen books, and they were Of {
severe type. The only one that ap
preached poetry was a rhymed historl
Of King David, written by contem
porary Of George Fox, the Quaker
There was one poor novel in the fami
| ". Ii belonged to an aunt. This
secured one day, but when | had reat
it half through was discovered, ant
| it was taken away from me"
The poet laughed quite heartily a
he recalled those early days, and hi
first attempt to read something tina
was more suited to his youthful min,
than the Bible or the history of Kin
| David.
my first glimpse Of poetry wa
when my old schoolmaster brough
copy Of Burns poems and real
from it at our house. My first rea
work was done when George D
Prentice was editing the Hartfor,
Review, although | had written con
siderably before. | wrote and sen
him few things and he encourages
me. When he recommended me +
> take his place, the publishers wrot
: me and | went down. | had the
seen practically nothing Of the world
= and for two years | remained with tn
\ Review my greatest effort was to kee
people from knowing how little reall
knew. Ii was proyidential opening
] however, for il gave me start.
i 81 wrote continually, there was n
market for the work. My anti-slaver
convictions made my name valuelel
to any Of the magazines; but, stranl
t as it may appear, the Democratic r,
d view was always anxious for my wri
K. ings.n
"Was there no market at ALI N
price SGT upon your work.
Q None, | Just wrote for any pap,
r that would publish my matter, and
' Longfellow, Emerson, Hawthorne {
myself had been forced to rely upo
!, the products of our pens for our liz
u ing, We would have wanted bread ]
those days when most Of our be-
/. work was done. To me this is a dueI
phase Of literary life, to find that II
= greatest geniuses that America hi
d ever given to literature should hay
Q toiled without recompense, and bee
O forced to wait until they were o.
II before resping the fruits Of the
labor. Truly, IL is hard work for
J. writer 10 get foothold, but when
l. does il is q strong one"