The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-10-11
WILL CARLTON.
An Interesting Chat With The Mich
igan Poet.

Under what circumstances was your
poem 'Over the Hills to the Poor-house"
written?'
"While at school | was interested in
visiting the almshouse and chatting
with the paupers. Among the acquain-
tances | made. there were two very
worthy old people whose children had
abandoned them in their old age. The
father told me his story. The details
were not of course the same as related
in the poem, but in them was the idea
afterward elaborated.
''Did it have strong moral efectp"
at did. 1t was published in the Hdr-
per'S Weekly at the time with illustra-
tions. In two weeks a friend wrote to
me that the verses had produced on him
such an effect that he Immediately sent
a cheque for 800 to his parents whom
he thought had been by him too much
neglected. | have heard of cases where
parents have been taken out of the poor
house bv penitent children. In this con-
nection | might instance the case of an
old man who died q pauper at Cleve-
land. When his satchel was opened
and its meagre contents examined, n
copy of the poem was found carefully
rolled up. From these and numerous
other affecting instances, | believe the
poem has done some good. s'Betsey and
| are out" has come back to me at nu-
merous times. When stopping ut a
large hotel in a large city recently, the
proprietor came up to me and in y very
demonstrative manner told me that
those verses were the means of reunit-
ing himself and his wife"
''What are the processes of compo-
sitionp" was then asked.
"a poem will grow gradually in the
writer's mind, it will be some time,
perhaps years, in reaching its fruition.
Then again he may not be conscious of
its growth. And again, he might 90 on
with his poem in much the same man
ner as in building u house. All these
processes, | think, take place in the
mind of the poet
Il think, however, that the inspiration
so much talked of is mostly work. 1t
must attend the artist, the musician, the
mechanic, A true mechanic feels true
inspiration when he feels that he is do
inc his best. Every man has genius
for something. and when he feels that
he is in his proper sphere he will get
inspiration. The trouble is that men
often miss their calling, and when this
is so the unfortunate workman has an
uphill journey. | don't think inspira-
ton can be depended upon without
good square work, inspiration is the
result of work. The Old saying we
found in our school books, that there
is no real excellence without great la
Dor, is true. Dr. johnson used to say
that every author can write at any timo
if he will set himself doggedly about it..
There is a great deal of truth about this.
am not as great believer in waiting
for what they are pleased to term their
mood as some otner people. l have
known able men to wait all their lives
and then in the end die without hav-
ing achieved anything. Life is too
short to wait for moods.
The important question to ask in
writing poem is: Will it accomplish
good?' For poem to be at its best,
and in the fullest sense worthy of oircu-
lation it should have an object to ac-
complish. In proportion as it accom-
plishes that object it may be consider
ed successful. In my work have aim
ed TO express my thoughts of the peo-
pie in the peoples tongue: to strive
for the thought first and the form af-
terward."
"How long have you been writing
verse?'
"While quite boy | began contribu-
ting 10 the papers. In graduating in
1869, | was the poet of the class. and at
the college exercises read my Riffs in
the Clouds, which has since been incor-
porated in the volume of farm ballads.
This was in reality my maiden effort,
Since then four books of poems have
been issued, and the aggregate sales
have been $500, 000. .-DeHUCr Tribune.