The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-22


ed writer's of the present day expressed
in letters to the author of the recently
published book on the arc of authorship
will be found interesting.
Mr.. Hall Game thinks that without a
natural ear for good prose no writer
will ever do great things.' He him
self took for models Brougham and
Carlyle. a course by no means to be re
commended to the tyro, and which
would doubtless have spoiled Mr.
Gaines style had lac been in the least
influenced bv those shocking examples.
Professor Huxley says: Il have never
had the fortune. for good or evil, to re-
ceive any guidance or instruction in
the art of English composition. IL is
possibly for that reason | have always
turned deaf ear to the common advice
10 study good models. TO give your
DAYS and nights to the study Of Add
son, and so on. Button said that a
man 8 style is his very self. and IL my
judgment it ought to DE so. "
Professor Haeckel writes: "Since you
are specially interested in my style.
aud wish To know what methods | use
in my literary composition. / can only
reply that an Unborn talent fayOrs me
possibly, and that from early youth on
/ have wished To- give my thoughts
clear and precise expression. Special
literary education | have had none, nor
have | bestowed any care on artistic
composition. - Professor Tyndall, IN a
letter from his fayOrite Alps, says:
Emerson has said in one of his essays
that there re methods in mathematics
winch are incommunicable, and it GER
tainlv would be difficult, If not an
impossible. task for me TO tell you bow
| reached the style of which you are
kind enough to speak SO favorably. 10
think clearly is the first requisite. My
next aim is TO express clearly IN writ
ing what think.
The Hon. James Russell Lowell Isl
inclined to think that mans style Is
born with him, and that style mo
delled upon anothcr's is apt to be none
or wOree."
Edmund Clarence Stedman says: II
am the more impressed the longer
live with the force of Buttons saying.
Yes, the style is indeed the man.
Julian Haw thorne is disposed to
think that literary style is largely a
matter of innate aptitude. and Is los
tered as much by the study of good
authors as by personal efforts"
Spea king of methods of composition,
the late Robert Browning says u
cannot name any one author who eX-
clusiyely influenced me In that respect
as to the fttest expression of thought
but thought itself had many Impui-
sions from various sources.
William Morris, poet and socialist,
sends characteristic letter In which he
says (of the young men for whose be-
hoof these views were collected III
were advising them, | should advise
them to learn as soon as possible the sad
fact that they are slaves, whatever their
position may be, 80 that they might turn
the whole of their energies toward WIN
ming freedom, il not for themselves, vet
Tor the children they will beget. IN
der such conditions art and literature
are not worth consideration.
a very sound statement IS that oil
Professor John Stuart Blackie, who
writes: II never made any special
study Of style. and whatever virtue
may have in this may grew up as. my
mind grew unconsciously. Style seems
TO depend on three things. a mental
attitude and character; ~ familiar
ity with the best authors; 81 dexterlty
IN the use of words. acquired by con-
slant practice. So we must learn to
speak by speaking. ~-as we learn
TO walk by walking. or to dance
by dancing. The main thing IN
writing is to have distinct and clear
and well.marshalled ideas, and then to
express them simply aud without affec-
tation. This forms what we may call
the bones of good style. Then you
must study to give color by apt images,
and warmth by natural passion and
earnestness. The music OF words and
the cadence of sentences Is matter
which depends on the ear. AND ne
concludes: But it is difficult to give
advice in such a matter. Every man
must have his own style, as he has his
ow n face and his own features"