Evening star., 1902-03-05
THE EVENING STAR WEDNESDAY,, MARCH s. 1eoa-1e PAGES
GREAT ATTIC WRITERS
LITERARY MEN WHO WROTE IN
POOR QUARTERS.
Room in Green Arbor Court Where
Oliver Goldsmith Labored
in Letters.
From Tit Bits.

sists almost entirely in the constitution OF
ones habits, and that the statement con-
talns a very large measure of truth no
thinking man or woman will venture to
deny. Which Of us does not know some
one or other among his or her circle OF
friends who is unhappy, solely from sheer
and stupid habit? Individual cases where
persons are unhappy because they have
got into the way-the habit-of being
gloomy are as common donkeys with
long ears. Just as common. indeed. as Op-
p0site cases, where men and women are
happy for no other real reason than that It
Is their habit to be happy. Such cases as
these are the following. cases where great
men have been happy from habit, even in
garrets.
:. Emile zola, the great French novelist and
essayist, has allowed the whole world to
know. through the pages Of the Journal
des Goncourt. that some OF the happiest
days of his notable life were those spent
long ago. away back in his youth. In a
Partisan garret. There he lived and worked
or the seventh floor, in downright Grub
street fashion. For view from his high
little window there was nothing except the
roofs Of other poor houses and the smoke
and CRIME that one might expect in such
circumstances. There he worked, sur
rounded by only the bits of furniture that
were absolutely necessary to existence.
Without Candle Money.
He had not always in his possession the
small sum Of twopence wherewith to buy
candle that would enable him to continue
his labor on his epic poem, entitled Genesis,
Humanity and the Future through the
darkness Of the night yet he dares to risk
ri6icule and all else by stating that he was
supremely happy amidst all the hardships
and privations of those early days!
Anthony Hope. one OF the most gifted and
famous among modern British authors, the
writer Of the Dolly Dialogues and several
successful plays. occupied until year. ago
high room. which his friends called a
garret. 1t was situated in buckingham
street. off the Strand. London, and there
he did the great bulk of the writing that
has gone out into the world to cheer those,
among others, who lounge In the easy
chairs OF coZy drawing rooms.
It must not be imagined that Mr.. Hope
worked where he did from reasons associ-
ated with economy. That Is far from the
case, as a glance at list Of donations and
subscriptions ne regularly makes on behalf
of less successful brothers and sisters would
amply prove. The undoubted reason for
his garret quarters was his happiness in
being there; his sense of being just where
he wills; his superstition. so to speak. Of
being In a place where that rare inspiration
of his knows where to find him.
Gray's Cheap Lodgings.
The late Robert Buchanan Informed US,
in his eloquent way. Of his first days in
London with the poet Gray. spent in gar
ret in the neighborhood of Stamford street.
To be sure they sought cheap lodgings, and
that is why they were content with a gar
ret. At first when full Of hope and conf
denee. they knew happiness that only
comes to a few. The garret was the 81
lent witness Of that great Joy experienced
only by the craftsman who is conscious Of
creative spirit, and Buchanan, when he
arrived at comparative wealth, looked back
upon the almost overpowering delight that
was his for a time during the days spent
in Stamford street.
The dark ending of Gray's young life
was. of course. fresh In Buchanan's
thoughts to the last, yet just as fresh was
the memory Of their winged moments Of
ecstasy: the enthusiasm Of their waking
hours in the garret burnt in his soul when
ever he looked back and again pictured
himself there with his poet-companion anx-
ious and ready to conquer the world Of
letters.
The Farmers Boy.
That world-famous poem. "The Farmers
Boy" by Robert Bloomfield, was written
in a garret. The admirers Of this English
poet are aware that he began his labors
in the literary field In garret In Fishers
court. and later in another garret in Blue
Hart court. which are both in the locality
Of Coleman street. within five minutes
walking distance OF the Mansion House.
Besides writing 1.-The Farmers Boy" he
wrote his well-known Autumn" as we'll
as his winter in the garret in Blue Hart
court
1t Is related that when the great Gold
smith began his literary work he rented
a miserable room, with next to no fur
niture in it, In part Of the Old Bailey
known In those distant days as Green Ar
Dor court. Subsequently, he went to Wine
Office court to the historic apartment in
which the celebrated DR.. Johnson so unex-
pectedly discovered the immortal Vicar Of
Wakefield.
DR.. Johnson himself might we'll sympa-
thize with Goldsmith, for 1t is known that
he worked in most humble circumstances
within tumbie-down lodgings In Exeter
street. Strand. He has published the fact
that he dined for the sum of eight pence
at the Pineapple, in New street, fast by
In those days food was very different in
price from what 1t is now. and 1t would be
quite safe to say that an eight penny meal
would mean not a fraction more than what
is today purchasable for half that sum.