Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1884-01-09
THE QUAKER POET.
His Early Work and Poor Pay.
His No-Method Way of Turn.
ing Out Work
New York Tribune Intsryiew.l


Twas unlike any of the rest, I think, for
never had any methods. When l felt like
II wrote, and | neither had the health nor
the patience to work over IL afterward IL
usually went as il was originally completed.
Emerson wrote with great care, and would
not only revise his manuscript carefully, but
have often heard him say that he would
frequently rewrite the article upon the
proof-sheets. Longfellow, too, was very
careful writer. He wrote and rewrote, and
would lay his work by and then revise It. He
often would consult with his friends abou.
his productions before they were given to the
world. He therefore sent his work out as
perfect as great care and brilliant intellect
could make it. 1 was not so fortunate. !
have lived mostly secluded life with little
patience TO draw upon, and only a few
friends forassoc.ates What writing have
done has been for the love Of it. have ever
been timid OK what ! have penned. 1t is
really marvel to me that have gathered
any literary reputation from my produc-
tjons.
"Much that have written wish was as
deep in the Red sea as Pharaoh's chariot
wheels Much Of the bread cast on the wa
ters / wish had never been returned. II is
not fair to revive writings composed in the
shadow Of conditions that make even ac-
ceptable work impossible. In my early life l
was not favored with good opportunities
Limited chances of education and lack Of
books always stood in my way. When be-
gan to write had seen nothing and virtually
knew nothing Of the world. OF course,
things written then could not have been
worth much.
"In my fathers house there was not a
dozen books, and they were of a severe type.
The only one that approached poetry was a
rhymed history Of King David, written by
contemporary Of George Fox, the Quaker.
There was one poor novel in the family. It
belonged to an aunt. This | secured one day,
but when l had read it half through was
discovered, and it was taken away from
men
Tho poet laughed quite heartily as he re-
called those early days, and his first attempt
to read something that was more suited to
his youthful mind than the bible or the his
tory of King David.
My first glimpse Of poetry was when my
old schoolmaster brought a copy of Burns
poems and read from 1t ut our house. My
first real work was done when George ID.
Prentice was editing The Hartford Review,
although had written considerably before.
wrote and sent him few things and he en-
couraged me. When he recommended me to
take his place, the publishers wrote me and /
went down. ! had then seen practically
nothing Of the world, and for two years
remained with The Review my greatest effort
was to keep people from knowing how little
really knew. 1t wasa proyidential opening,
however, for it gave me a start.
81 wrote continually, but there was no
market for the work. My anti-slavery con-
victions made my name valueless to any of
the magazines; but, strange as it may appear,
The Democratic Review was always anxious
for my writings"
"Was there no market at alli No price set
upon your workn
.'N5ne. just wrote for any paper that
would publish my matter, and il Longfellow,
Emerson, Hawthorne or myself had been
forced to rely upon the products OF our pens
for our living, we would have wanted bread
in those days when most Of our best work
was done. To me this is queer phase of lit
erary life, TO find that the greatest geniuses
that America has ever given to literature
should have toiled without recompense and
been forced 10 wait until they were old before
reaping the fruits of their labor. Truly, il is
hard work for writer to get foothold, but
when he does it Is a strong one."