The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-21
A FIT OF INSPIRATION.
Tho way 1t Supplied wished-
For Poem

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less sentimental name than John
Thomas Augustus Brownrigg. hut
names. like appearances, are deceptive.
and the young man who bore the ono
quoted was among the most senti-
mental 81 creatures His weakness II
weakness IL was--cxpressed itself in
the particular form Of poetic effusion.
From the early age Of six he had dab
bled in verses, and by the time he was
twenty-one he must have invoked the
muse to the extent Of several reams Of
foolscap. But hitherto the inappre-
ciative obsiurncy Of editors and pub
fishers had prevented his Jkiforts from
seeing the light 81 print; indeed. the
farthest he had ever got on the road 20
publication was TO pay the Authors
Alliance (limited) twenty guinness for
bringing ont-or. as II proved. not
bringing out-a volume Of his poems
The worthy BrownrigR, however,
was not so easily daunted or put out
of coneeit with himself He remem-
bered Wordsworth and Keats, and how
the literary fraternity Of their day had
snubbed them at the outset True
genius, he modcstly consoled himself,
though often secuted in its initial
stage, was sure TO find recognition In
the end; and he, Augustus Brownrigg.
only had TO wait for ultimate success.
Once give him an opening and he
would rush through it irresistible as
the ocean through breach In q dam.
This opening, the one thing needful
for him, he tried for n long, long time
in win TO get; but at length favor
able opportunity presented itself by
the Kindness Of friend he was given
an introduction to the editor of popu-
lar monthly magazine; and this editor,
a good-natnred man, in an unusually
good-natured moment commissioned
him to write some verses on the death
of leading minister Of the crown,
which had just then occurred The
editor did, indeed. reserve to himself
the right OF rejecting the verses II they
we're not up TO the mark; but this
caused Brownrigg no uneasiness what
ever. up to the mark. forsoothl'
lie was granted week ia which TO
write the verses. One day In this week,
viz, the Saturday preceding the Tues
day on which the verses were to be
sent In, the poet took as a holiday, hav.
ing some time back made nn engage
ment with an old school-fellow, who
was then in town for few days, to
lunch with him at the .'Cri." and then
go on to a matinee Of sIienry VIII
He came up, therefore, from Ealing,
where he lived, to keep his engage
ment, and, after copions and elab-
crate lunch, repaired with his friend
to the Lyceum. finding himself almost
too drowsy to enjoy the piece.
When 1t was over, nothing would sat
sfy his friend but that they should 90
and split another bottle Of champagne
1t q neighboring restaurant, which
they accordingly did. And it was get
ling quite late in the evening when
hurried OFF to catch the
train for Ealing, which should get
him home In time for dinner and thus
save him the outpourings Of paternal
which always greeted him
when he was late for that meal
II was the dead season In London
lust then. Hence very few passengers
we're abont. The platforms OF the I'm
railway were almost de-
'erted. And the smoking compart-
nent, into which our friend betook him
elf ut Gloucester road. presented tho
unusual spectacle, at that time of day,
If being entirely empty
Brownrigg was glad Of this. For the
,ffect Of the champagne and Of a.good
.igar had been to put him into adrcam-
ly poetical frame Of mind, In which he
,elished the idea Of lying drowsily back
n the corner Of the carriage and
orCoding over the verses In self-ab-
'orbed solitude. 50. as the train moved
tut, he surrendered himself to the
ireamy iangnor, half closing his eyes,
md waiting for poetical thoughts to
all and entrance him.
Vie had not been long in this lethar-
yic state. feeding his mind with high
thoughts on the great sub
ect which engrossed him, when actual
ines and verses began to shape them
elves in his brain, and gradually TO fix
themselves there In the tangible form
# articulate words.
They seemed to come to him with no
.ffort-at least, no conscious effort
IN his part, but, as it were, spontan-
.ously; until five completed verses
erscs, too, such as he had never hoped
D writehad rivetcd themselves in his
memory. This. then, was
,oetic inspiration No racking OF the
rain for ideas; no beating about for
hymes; no paltry drudgery with pen
nd ink; but simple surrendering OF
mes self to dreamy meditativeness and
leaving Of all the rest to the heaven
y mnsel
Ii Ealing Broadway" had not been
terminus Brownrigg would infallibly
ave been carried beyond his destina-
ion. For, as it was, he had to be
ouscd by porter before he could
wake from the dreams of poetry to
he facts OF practical life. lie rubbed
lis eyes, shook himself and stepped
mt of the train. Those verses-dread-
u thought!-had they vanished with
lis dream? mol Thank
ieaveni They were still clcar and
RNHH ~ htS mcIuOry Ac Woulu c0u-
ait them 70 paper at once in case they
light escape him. So, taking out his
ocketbook he wrote them down hasti-
= then and there. being more than
yer struck with the beauties Of his
wn m use as he saw them in black and
5hite. What a hit they would malei
Why, they were worthy Of
,ennvsnn himsalfi
He said nothing to anyone about this
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