The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-21
HOW THEY NAIL THOUGHT
BILL NYE TELLS HOW CERTAIN EN-.
INENT WRITER'S REALLY WRITE.
Those Who Use the Pom Alone Grow
ing Popularity OF the Typewriter and
stenographer-Ma Twain and His
Literary Habits.

Margaret j. Preston dictates and has
for the past six years because her eyes
have been suffering from oyertaxation.
She has not relied upon her own vision,
therefore, fearing that overtaxation would
result in the loss OF sight, which would
amount TO oyortaxation without repre-
seRtation.
viii Carleton learned photography
while in college. lie still uses it in writ
ing out some Of his poems, but in making
out the bill for same is generally more de-
liberate and careful, doing this in long.
hand only.
John q. Whittier writes out his matter
with Joseph elliott steel pen dipped in
bluing lie says he does little now aside
from answering short letters.
William S. Walsh uses fountain pen
in mailing his thoughts to the virgin page.
He hates to have his trenchant pen run
dry whilst just in the act OF shaking hands
with a newborn thought.
James Whitcomb Riley uses steel pen,
though in the original draft he writes
with lead pencil on pad. He gets up
and rides on the pencil 80 earnestly, fear
ing that the printer will not got the rua OF
his remarks, that no easily makes ten or
fifteen copies OF the same Ms. Ho also
holds the pad on his lap while writing,
aud 80 one may read his thoughts on the
poets knee for days afterward. Mr.. Riley
writes very easily indeed, and few weeks
at the hospital after he has written poem
easily coax back the smile to his clean.cut
features. lie starts in with brain.wave
and keeps on at II. never stopping for feed
or water until tho completed poem Is
mailed TO tho publisher, together with n
prepaid and addressed envelope for the
return Of check. II is but the work OF a
moment for him 10 think OF a thought.
Mary liartwell Catherwood, the author
ess Of the "Romanoe OF Dollard," uses a
pen and Is very painstaklng indeed. She
Is quiet modest little woman, whose
manners ought 10 shame the disagrceable
literary person who goes through life
iilied with namcloss JOY because he
has succeeded alone In winning bis own
approval.
MIR. y. Il. Spinner during his carly
literary, career. while doing paragraph
Washington, used n three. legged quill pen
aud tcacup full Of Potomac mud. Ho |
made appropriate gestures by gently way
ing n bright red tongue through the aston
ished atmosphere.
John q. New, while Treasurer under |
Gen. Grant. wrote good many things,
aud his autographs, written at that period |
In his literary career, command high |
price. He did not use the typewriter. but
Is very symmetrical and Handsome pen.
man. Ills whiskors his pcnmanship, his
beautiful family and his unerring iudg-
ment ~ 20 the proper time when man
should be firm and stand pat are strong
Of his
Charles Dudley Warner never dictated
nor used a typewriter. lie does his own
writing and thinks his own thoughts as
they occur from time to time. lie docs
not object however, 20 the use OF type
writer or stenOgraphcr, II not taken in
inordinate quantities. lilo believes that
In literary work insp iration passes
through the two fingers and thumb. lie
Is glad 10 notice also thst the antique
finger nail trimmed with cdging OF moss.
agate Is no longer proof OF great literary
excellence.
George Makepace Towlo uses steel
pen, oven Ia composing. he says, but hopes
To see the typewriter, or a modification OF
that instrument, come into general use for
library purposes lie N sorry, however,
TO sec the Mss Of various authors robbed
OF their individuality In that way.
Richard Watson Glider feels very much
the same way. lilo psents tho "put.up.
job appearance OF typewriter manu-.
scripts, and yet he likes II because OF its
clcarncss. Mr. Glider IL the editor OF the
Cod1y Magazine. on Seventeenth street
near Fourth avenue, good and flourish.
ing publication, terms ~ year. His pa.
per u little slow In the matter Of news,
being made up about three months ahead
OF lis publication. The Coaigry has no
Geographic or Associated Press dispatches
and does not issue any sporting edition.
Mr. Glider does his own literary work by
means OF pen, and writes u strong. run.
ming hand. lie can return rejected Mss.
In such n gentle. carcssing way that disap.
pointed scrbblcrs como 10 him from hun.
dfcds Of miles 10 thank hun for his kind.
mess and stay 90 dinner with him.
Oliver Optic wrote with pen until four
teen years ago, when he was threatened
with pen paralysis. lie then had TO look
about ior other means Of expressing him
self lie saw an advertisement Gin this
paporl In 1870, calling bis attention 10 a
typewriter, and at once availcd himself Of
The machine. After six months Of use he
could do as we'll with the typewriter rs
the pen. aud nov no docs not have 10
hunt around over tho keyboard for a lot
tor. No his Mss. aro clearly and even
handsomely prepared In this way,
Amclic Rivcs writes with a trenchant
pen, and mover dictated, except 10 Mr..
Chanlcr, her husband. She uses a Spcn.
ccfian pen and wnlos q beautiful copy ~
symmetrical ~ Edgar A. Poe's, and as
last a. tho pom gets - hot that Il burns
holes in the paper aud hisscs when sho
sticks u into the ink bottle she pulls Il
outb means OF a pair VI longs and puts
In anew ono.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes with pen
aud her MS. IL quito plain In one way.
That u, u IA not pretty. She Is quito pleas.
ant and genial, unless one trcada on the
tail OF hor coat She thon writes or speaks
With flashing eyes and distorted nostfils In
clarion tones. Al such times, II she wero
10 uso the typewriter, II would sound like
Nylophone trying 10 convince a lawn
mower OF the error Of its way.
Rose Terry Cooke says she has written
with gold pcn on linen paper, holding
the dip on her knee, all through her M.
erary career, and sho has been writing for
iofly years. sho says 40 herself How
lev OF Ms authors arc willing 10 como out
and state over our own signature that We
have been on the road 40 long. Aside
IFaNa naa. 1la.... 81. n