Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-07
THE WHIMS
OF Celebrated Artists, Musicians and
Writers-Their Queer Habits and
Singular Tastes During Their
Working Hours-Their Pets and Their
Observation-Disclosures Menagerie
and His S~loyenly Attire.

Some amusing features from the lives
of celebrated men have been brought to-
gether by a German writer. Auber wrote
on horseback; 1t was not possible for him
to write in any other place than in Paris.
however beautiful another residence
might be and however many attractions
it might offer. Adam composed best
when he lay, with his clothes on, in bed,
and showed as great antipathy to all land
scape beauty as love to his eats. The
same antipathy to all natural beauty is
charged to Donizetti, who always slept
when he wen upon a journey, when he
should have given his attention to the
romantic scenery of Switzerland and
Italy. Cimarosa could not write without
having a lot of friends around him, with
whom he kept up an active conversation
about art matters. Sacchinis train of
thought was interrupted when his cats
did not play their antics upon his writ
ing-desk. Sarti could only become in
| spired in a room with out furniture. and
which was dimly lighted. Spontini could
only compose in the dark, and Meyerbeer
composed best during violen0 thunder
storms, under the roof of his house. Sa-
lieri gained his inspiration while he
walked quickly through the streets filed
with a human throng, meantime
eating 4 great quantity OF eontee-
sat in a soft armchair, with his gaze
directed to heaven. Gluck composed
in the open air. best in the ~glaring sun
shine. He liked champagne by his
work, and g~esticulated very violently, as
if he were an actor on the boards. Han
del wandered in the c~hurchyard, and
when he wished to become inspired he
sat himself down in one corner of it,
which was shaded by weeping willows.
Paesiello composed in bed, and did not
leave it until he had finished a whole
operate scene or act. Mehul was a great
worshiper of flowers. and often fell into
silent ~reverie in observing them. He
felt happiest in a quiet garden. Mozart
gained his inspiration from reading
Homer. Dante and Petrarch; Verdi must
read passages from Shakespeare, Goethe,
Schiller. Ossian and Victor Hugo.
Schiller inspired his musd by the smell
of rotten apples. which he kept con
~stantly in his desk; besides this. he liked
to live amid surroundings corresponding
To the subject on which he worked.
When he wrote the last act to NdrS
Stuart he had his servants clothed in
black. and 50 long as be worked on
'Ffff HSfffN ne HtHittitu no TcNltN vi
other military spectacle, and at home his
wife must sing battle pieces for him.
Goethe loved tn have plastic works of
art before him as he wrote. 1t is known
that in the creation of his "Iphigenia
he had the image of an antique female
before him in order TO see if that which
he made his heroine say would
suit the features before him. Jean Paul
replenished his ideas while taking a walk.
and drank a glass of beer now and then
on the way. In writing he loved the
strong smell of flowers. Her Won Kleist
worked with great difficulty, and when he
made poetry it was as if he had a conflict
with an invisible fend. Just the oppo-
Site was the case with Father Wieland
In making his poems he trilled a lively
song, and sometimes would spring VI
from his work and cut a caper in the air
Kotzebue, in the composing of his dramas
was also actor. He himself acted singl,
scenes in his study. 1t is related tina
when Sand murdered him, his little son
as he saw him reel and then writhe upor
the ground, cried to his mother: See
mamma, father plays comedy again!'
Burger, the immortal poet of Leonore, il
said to have whistled street songs as he
wrote his verses on paper. His converse
| ton in such moments is said to hav,
been obscene. Holderlin was otter
found crying when he composed
poems. Similar things are said o
l the French manc writer, Laton
: tame. His wife found him before hi
~writing-desk, swimming in tears. "0h
f, it is too sad" he sighed. at don't G,
at all" he sobbed; Il am still il
I the first volume" Mattison wrote hi
5 poems by moonlight, while standing a
} the window. Lamartine wrote his bes
things in the morning, before breakfast
+, while sitting before the fire. A contem
porary of Dumas wrote thus: The writ
ing-desk of Alexander Dumas presents
picture of classical disorder. The stud,
floor is covered with books and papers
a behind which he is seated, formally bar
ricaded. Also, a quantity of dogs, cats
poultry, pigeons and singing birds are t.
; be seen around, and these he feeds
l strokes and keeps out of mischief Will
. writing. In the background stand
number of printers devils, waiting 70
copy, and booksellers and such people
+ who have business with him. He write
very rapidly, and carries on, very often,
= conversation at the same time. He i
l., very negligent in his dress. '-Phreaolog
= zeal Journal.