Middletown transcript., 1886-03-12
BILL NYE's HABITS OF LIFE.
GIVEN TO THOSE WHO wIsH.To ADOPT
A LITERARY CAREER.


A LITERARY CAREER.
The editor of an eastern health
magazine, having asked for informa-
tion relative to the habits, hours Of
work and style and frequency Of feed
adopted by literary men, and several
parties having responded who were
no more essentially saturated with
literature than am, I now take my
pen in hand to reveal the true inward
ness of my literary life, SO that boys
who may yearn 10 follow in my
footsteps and wear a laurel wreath the
year round in place Of hat may know
what the personal habits ofa literary
party are.
1 rise from bed the first thing in the
morning, leaving my couch not be-
cause am dissatisfied with it, but be.
cause cannot carry it with me during
the day.
then seat myself on the edge of
the bed and devote few moments to
thought. Literary men who have
never set aside a few moments ON ris-
ing 10 thought will do well to try
it.
then insert myself into a pair of
middle-aged pantaloons. 1t is need
less to say that girls who may have
literary tendency will find little to
interest them here.
Other clothing is added to the
above from time to time. l then bathe
myself. Still, this is not absolutely
essential to literary life. Others who
do not do so have been equally sue
cessful.
Some literary people bathe before
dressing.
I then go down stairs and out to
the barn, where I feed the horse.
Some literary men feel above taking
care of a horse, because thereis really
nothing in common between the care
Of the horse and literature, but sim.
plicity is my watchword. T. Jefer-
son would have to rise early in the
day to eclipse me in simplicity. I wish
I had as many dollars as I have got
simplicity. set 40 3.
then 60 in to breakfast. This
meal consists almost wholly of food,
and l am passionately fond of food,
and may truly say, with my hand
on my heart, that I owe much Of my
great success in life to this inward
craving, this constant yearning for
something better. ,~.....c
During this meal I frequently con-
verse with my family. 1 do not feel
abovemy family, at least if 1 do I strive
to conceal it as much as possible.
Buckwheat pancakes in a heated
state, with maple syrup on the
upper side, are extremely conducive
to health. Nothing jerks the mental
faculties around with greater rapidity
than buckwheat pancakes.
After breakfast the time is put in
to good advantage looking forward to
the time when dinner will be ready.
From 8 to 10 a. m, however, I fire.
quently retire to my private literary
hot bed in the hay NOW and write
1900 words in my forthcoming book,
the price of which will be $3.50 in
cloth and 81 with Russia back.
After that dig some worms, with
a view to angling, 1 then angle. After
this I return home, waiting until dusk
however, as I do not like to attract
attention. Nothing is more distaste-
full to a truly good man of wonderful
literary requirements. and yet with
singular modesty, than the coarse and
rude scrutiny of the vulgar herd. In
winter I do not angle. I sometimes
spend an evening at home, in order to
excite remark and draw attention to
my wonderful eccentricity.
I do not use alcohol in any form, if
| know it, though sometimes I am
bosely deceived by those who know
my peculiar prejudice. Alcohol
should be avoided entirely by literary
workers, especially young women.
There can be no more pitiful sight to
the tender hearted than young wo-
man of marked ability writing an
obituary poem while under the inf1u-
ence of liquor.
I knew young man who was a
good writer. His penmanship was
very good indeed. He once wrote an