Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-11
AUTHORS AT WORK.
Washington cor. Philadelphia Times.


the Capital is George Bancroft, author Of
the only complete history of the United
States. The venerable historian is one ot
tho few rnethodical brain workers | have
ever known. He is ss living refrlation OF
Scott's assertion that no man OF genius was
the theory that the brain at work Is sensi
bly, affected by the external objects around
and in some degree takes lis tcne from
them. The historian works in long mar
row room, adorned profusely with hlstorl-
cal paintings From his seat he has 81 !ul!
view of his art treasures, and frequently
gazes at them as if for inspiration. His
desk is d model oil order Instead Of pigeon
holes he has numbered hooks, corresponding
| with the chapters lie is writing. There are
enough pens before him to supply AZ aver
age college class. He uses paper Of pGcu-
liar color, cut up in large, almost square
sheets 1t is not yellow, nor yet green, but
disagreeahle combination of both. | was
surprised to hear that this peculiar paper is
necessary to keep up the flow Of the hsto-
rian's thoughts and expressions. He mas
often said that, with ordinary white paper
before him, the composition Of Il single SELL
tence was the work of fifteen or twenty min
utes. There is also but one kind Of pen
that suits him--a large fiat one Of Eng'ish
make. When composing his history, hlr.
Bancroft sits almost erect, seeming hardly
to bend his neck, as the pen travels over
the paper. When the pen begins 10 hesi-
tate he stops work. He writes little Al one
time, but that little freely. The prerara-
tory looking over references is dore atc:
break fast Next follows a long walk, DUR
ing which he Sits las evidences, constructs
the page or chapter mentally. unu has lis
outline before his eyes when he begins
writing which is usually about four III the
afternoon.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett, the novsl
ist, on the other hand, is an example Of a
mind evolving ideas, aud fingers obedientiy
penning them without regard to external
circumstances. Her work is usually done in
the breakfast room, with her children about
her, prattling and playing their innocent
pranks, with the customary noisy accom-
paniments The children not only do not
disturb her, but she even finds pleasant
relief in watching their childish movements
Unlike Bancroft, she doesn't adhere to oae
kind OF paper through even one work. It's
said that nearly every insialmeut OF
Through One Administrations, her laS:.
novel in The Century Magazine, was written
on sheets Of different sizes aud texture. y
dull pencil is her favcrite writing irstIu-
ment.
I knew Mark Twain when he was Il rcl.
low Washington correspondent, many years
ago, before "Innocents Abroad" brought
him fame and fortune. had opportunities
to see his working habits then, and / hear
that be has not materially changed thr!J
since. Mark was then writing letters iog .
California paper, while at the same tiIae
planning several gigantic works, as is the
wont of beginners in the field of letters.
His room was a perfect chaos, his table u
curiosity in its way. On it could be seen
thinS-lrom soiled manuscript to old
boots He never laid his paper on the table
sheu writing, partly because there was 10
available space and partly because the posi-
tion so necessitated WAS too much for his
lazy bones. With both feet plungedin MSS,
chair tilted back and notebook aud pencil
in hand he did all the writing I ever saw
him do. An ordinary atmosphere would
not suffice to set in motion the stream of
Marks ideas. 1t must first he thoroughly
saturated with the vlest tobacco smoke
which he puffed from L. villainous pipe
said pipe having never received cleaning
can testify. He regarded this pipe as his
salvation from bores, taking a ghastly de
light in putting away like locomotive when
an undesirable visitor dropped in, and
eagerly watching the paleness which grad
uaily crept over the face Of the enemy Gs
the poisonous stuff got in its work
as the novelsts OF tho day receive more
attention from readers thar the laborers in
any other branch OF literature, their work
ing idiosyncrasies are proportionately bet
ter known. w. D. Howells is so fond of
writing about himself, however, that he
leaves nothing for others to tell. 1t is not
50 with Mr.. James. Whatever else may be
said against the author of q. Portrait of q
Lady" it cannot be truthfully asserted that
ne is conccited. Ii he takes pride in his
works 1t is feeling far removed from liter
airy vanity. I have never known more
painstaklng author than Mr.. James. Not.
withstanding his great talents and acquire
ments, he has not an overweening conf
dence even iE his ability to construct n
sentence properly. He corrects and revises
every page until his manuscript is totali,
illegible to any one but himself 1t has lon :
been question among brain workers
whether morning, afternoon, or night is
most fayorble to production. Some tiEd the
refreshing state which follows light break
fast best adapted to the purpose. Others
contend :ha, we'll cooked dinner sharpens
the intellect, while the majo:ity think that
night, when all the cares OF the day are
over and darkness has wrapped the world
in silence, is the time when the mind Is
most inclined for steady work. Mr.. jane
holds the last view.
George w. Gable is said TO be the moss
ahsnrhad of literary unrkers LIE rsnlly