The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-02-25

The editor OF an eastern health maga-
zine, having asked for information 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, no Y take my pen in
hand to reveal the true inwardness of my
literary life, so that boys who may yearn
to follow in my footsteps, sand wear lau-
rel wreath the year round in pace Of .
hat, may know what the personal habits
of literary party are.
rise from my bed the first thing In the
morning, leaving my couch, not because
am dissatisfied with it, but because
cannot carry it with me during the day.
then scat myself on the edge OF the
bed and devote q few moments to thought.
Literary mea who have never set aside q
few moments On rising to thought will do
we'll to Try it.
then insert myself into . pair Of mid
die aged pantaloona. Il is aeedfess 10
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. then bathe myself.
Still, this is not absolutely essential to
literary life. Others who do not do so
have been equally successful.
Some literary people bathe before dres-
sing.
then go down stairs and out to the
barn, where feed the horse. Some lit
erary men feel above taking care of
horse, because there is really nothing in
common between the care Of horse and
literature, but simplicity is my watch
word. T. Jefferson would have to rise
early in the day to eclipse me in simple
ity. wish had as many dollars as l
have got simplicity.
then go into breakfast. This meal con-
sists almost wholly of food. / am pas
sionately fond OF food, aud may truly
say, with my hand on my heart, that
owe much OF my great success in life to
this inward craving, this constant yearn-
ing for something better.
During this meal frequently converse
with my family. l do not feel above my
family, at least if | do, strive to conceal
it as much as possible. Buckwheat PAN
cakes, in heated state. with maple syrup
on the upper side, are extremely
COuuuCktC ~ AitCi 0tuIC INOOniuG JCIkS
the mental faculties around with greater
rapidity than buckwheat pancakes.
After breakfast the time is put into
good advantage looking forward to the
time when dinner will be ready. From
8 to 10 m, however, freq lently retire
to my private literary hot bed in the hay
NOW and write 200 words in my forth
coming book, the price of which will be
$3.50 IN cloth and 81 with Russia back
After that dig some worms, with a
view of angling. l then angle. After
this | return home, waiting until after
dusk, however, as do not like to attract
attention. othing is more distasteful to
a truly good man of wonderful literary
requirements, and yet with sing llar mod
esty, than the coarse al rude scrutiny
of the vulgar herd. In winter {. O not
angle. l sometimes spend an evening a,
home, in order to excite remark and draw
attention to my wonderful eccentricity.
l do not use alcohol in any form, if l
know it, though sometimes l am basely
deceived by those who know of my pecu-
liar prejudice. Alcohol should be avoided
entirely by lite y workers, especially
young women. There can be no more pitt
tul sight to the tender hearted, than a
young woman of marked ability writ ing
an obituary poem, while under the infiu-
ence of liq lor.
l know a man who was a good writer.
His penmanship was very good indeed.
He once wo an article for the press
while under the influence of liquor He
sent it to the editor, who returned it at once
with cruel let .e, every line of which
was b. The letter came at tire
when he was full of remorse. He tossed
up cent to see whether he should blow
out his brains or go into the ready made
clothing business. The coin decided that
he should die by his own hand but his
head ached so that he didn't feel like
shooting into it. So he went into the
ready made clothing business, and now
he pays taxes on $75, 900, so he is prob
ably worth $l5O,O0O. This, of course,
salves over his wounded heart, but he oft
en- says to me, that he might have been
in the literary business to-day, if he had
let liquor alone.