The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-10
GENIUS AND 81 SINESS.
THE IMPROWOENCe OF SOME MEN
OF LITERARY TASTES.

Comparatively Few Examples of Reck-
less Expenditure Among the Authors
of Modern Times-EngIish Writers and
Our Own Literary Men.
Coming down TO more recent times we find
among the modern men of genius compare
lively few examples Of real improvidence
Leigh Hunt Is usually considered as one Of
this class, for he was poor all his life and al
ways in debt, and at one time considered n0s
overscrupuIous in payment. William Hazlitt
lived all his life from hand u mouth. and
would never write an article or DO any kind
of literary work as long as he had a guinea in
his purse. Gentle Kit North was another
man who had little regard for money. He
never looked Mt or touched money in the
usual way. No one for its own sake or for
his own purposes ever regarded riches with
such perfect Indifference.
Byron, who was born 70 debts and an in
numbered estate, had a lords scorn of earning
money. There were nine executions in his
house during his brief married life and he in
dignantly sent back a check 70 his publishers
at the very time when the officers were pre-
siding over his establishment
Carlyle was too canny a Scotchman not to
know how 10 take care of himself. although
he was miS"rahly poor in the early days. He
carried the economies Of his youth n little
v,
made II somewhat harder for Mrs. CARLYLE
than there was need Of all the way
through, much 70 his own regret after her
death. Lord Tcunyson has never dis,lainel
to make money from his work; indeed, he has
seemed extremely anxious 70 do 50, and has
succeeded even beyond his hopes. He has
probably received the largest prices for liter
AIRY work Of any man living, and he has care
fully hu~hanicl his gains.
~
void Of financial knowledge or ability Of any
kind. lie almost starved in the streets Of
London when young, although his father was
wealthy man. Later in life he SO misTnnn-
aged money. and was 50 conscious Of it him
Solf, that he gave UP all management of his
expenses u daughter, then but n Young
girl, nfter which his affairs were kept in better
order. Walter SCOTS pccuniary troubles
have become historical, hut they may Ver-
haps hc attributed as much 10 misfortune rs
10 incompetcncy Charles Lamb, although
overgcncrouS, could not be called improvi-
dent. BY his own unaiied exertion he cared
for himself and afflicted sister through life,
and even made provision for Mary after hi
death
MacaUlay was prIlcnt, although gen
croUs man. lie amasscd considerable for
tune, although he cared for his entire family
for large portion of his life. and was very
open To calls upon his resources from those
who hal no particular claim upon him
Wordsworth waS a man prudent even 70 par
simony, standing almost alone among the
records Of genius in this respect. In the early
part If the poets life petty economies had
been absolutely necessary, AMI he had nc
quired such habit OF praCricing them that
he could not drop them when they ceased to
be necessary; rs is so often the case with
other people beside poets. Unlike Words
worth in this respect was sydney Smith, vino
practiced Close economy while it was necdful
but spent his money very literally, though
always wisely. after he became rich
Douglas .Jcrrold was man very liberal
of his money when he had any Tom Hood
was always poor and always sick, yet he was
possessed of n sturdy independence which re-
fused the assistance Of friends though ten
dcrCd ever so dchCatclv, and of n generous
heart which gave 70 others even out OF his
pittanCc.
Charles Dickens a keen, business man
almost too keen, il was thought. in his
later years. II was known at the timc-to
himself as we'll ms 10 his friendS-that he was
seriously injuring His health by his reading
tours, Yet il seemed almost impossible for him
TO give them up as long as they were so i'm
menScly profitable. Thackerav was n man
who combined prudence with generosity, and
who Skilfully managed all his business affairs:
and vet he was open handed TO his needy
friends. lie saved for his daughters very
comfortable fortune out of his literary gains
Our own literary men of note-if we except
Poe-have all been men Of thrift and practi-
cal sense in business affairs Washington
Irving carcl for himself and n large family
of sisters ont Of his literary profits, and left a
moderate fortune besides. Bryant saved
quite "A fortune for his time, and was esteemed
IA shrewd business man. Emerson had the
Yankee good sense and economy, and though
he 'hitchcd his wagon to n STAR never lost
his hold on mundane things Longfellow was
n good man of business, and in his latter years
waS reputcd wealthy. Even Whittier who
gave 50 much time and strength unscltiShly
10 IN" anti slavery reform, has always been
wcll-tp-io and has none Of a poets disregard
for worldly affairs. Prescott and Motley and
Bancroft We're all shrcwd men of affairs, rs
arc Lowell and DR. Holmes. Mari, Twain
has genius for money making, and HowelIs
and Alirich are prosperous men. Mr. Alcott,
the philosopher. Is our only visionary of the
old school, | think, unless we should mention
Thorrau in that connection Hawthorne was
poor and had no love for the task of money
getting, Vet he could not be called improvi-
dent or devoid Of good sense in financial
affairs. Altogether the modern man of
genius may be trusted to take care If himself
and seems to succeed in worldly matters quite
rs well - his brethren les favored by the
Gnls.-Hnttie Tying Ciriswoil in Chicago
Tribune.
Why Some Occupations Are I1cspised.
Il wonder why we despise certain occupa-
tons: We don't despis' man who hammers