The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-10-05
WILL CARLETON.
An Interesting Chat with the Michigan
Poet.
Denuer Tribune.

Denuer Tribune.
"Under what circumstances was your
poem, 'Over the Hills to the Poorhouse,
written?"
"While at school was interested IN visit
ing the almshouses and chatting with the
paupers. Among the acqusintances 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, of course, were not the same as re-
lated in the poem, but in them was the idea
afterward elaborated ..... --
"Did it not have strong moral efTect?"
"It did. 1t was published in the Harpers'
Weekly at the time, with illustrations. In
two months friend wrote me that the verses
had produced such an effect on him that be
Immediately sent check for 5000 to his
parents, whom he thought had been by him
too much neglected. have heard of cases
where people have been taken out of the
poorhouse by penitent children. In this con-
nection might instance the case of an old
man who died pauper at Cleveland. When
his satchel was opened and its meager con-
tents examined, copy of the poem was
found carefully rolled up. From these and
numerous other affecting incidents, believe
that the poem has done some good. Betsy
and l Are Out has come back to me at nu-
merous times. When stopping at hotel in
a large city recently, the proprietor came up
to me and in very demonstrative manner
told me that those verses were the means OF
reuniting himself and his wife,"
"What are the processes of composition?"
was asked.
"a poem will grow gradually in the writ
er's mind. 1t will be some time, perhaps
years, in reaching its fruition. Then, again,
he may not be conscious of its growth. And
again, he might 60 on with his poem In much
the same manner as in building house. All
these processes think take place in the mind
of poet.
Il think, however, that the inspiration so
much talked of is largely work. 1t must at
tend the artist, the musician, the mechanic.
A true mechanic feels true inspiration when
he feels that he Is doing 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 workmen have an up
hill journey. don't think inspiration can
be depended upon without good, square
work. Inspiration is the result of work.
The old saying that we find in our school
books, that 'there is no excellence without
great labor is true. Dr. johnson used to
say tha. every author can write at any time
If he will set himself doggedly about it,
There is a good deal of truth about this.
am not as great believer in waiting for
what they are pleased to term their mood
as some other people. / have known able
men to wait all their lives and then in the
end die without having achieved anything.
Life is too short to wait for moods.
"The important question to ask In writing
a poem is, will it accomplish good" For a
poem to be at its best and In the fullest sense
worthy of circulation, 1t should have an OBJ
ject to accomplish. In proportion as 1t accom-
plishes that object it may be considered sue
cessful. In my work I have aimed to ex-
press my thoughts of the people in the peo-
Piles tongue, to strive for the thought first
and the form afterward."
"How long have you been writing verse;"
"While quite boy began contributing
to the papers. In graduating, in 1860, I was
the poet Of the class, and at the college ex-
ercises read my 'Rifts in the Clouds which
has since been incorporated 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 s2OO,OOO."