The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-14
BY HERBERT BREWSTER.

La Touche Hancock has, in the last
Bookman, collected together a number of
valuable records as to the methods and
inspirations of a number of writer's who
are classcd generally as humorists. Gu
riously enough, the average humorist is
a very serious animal and he rarely
takes himself humorously. 1t is good
enough to wear the clowns cap and to
jingle the bells until public attention is
attracted, then somehow, the clown
wants to be known as some other sort
of being. Charles Battell Loomis has
long been known for the delicious quality
Of his humor, but he is a most serious
faced MIR. Sobersides in appearance. John
Kendrick Bangs has much the same
countenance, but of the two mentioned,
Mr.. Bangs aspires more to be really Sc
rious. Nine enths of his work, he says,
is serious work, from which it would APP
pear that this author is striving hard
to establish reputation as something
else than a humorist. If you ask the
publishers or the editors of the maya
zines and Sunday newspapers, however,
you will discover that there is a greater
need of writer's of humor than for the
writer's of any other kind of matter. We
ars. as a people, too serious.
To get back 10 the methods of the hui
morists and the sort of inspirations
which they have, Mr.. Hancock quotes Mr..
Bangs to the effect that he never has in
SEPARATIONS. The genial author of the
idiot sketches plols six mornings a week
at writing and makes it rule not to
try to write anything in the afternoons
or evenings. Just how Mr.. Bangs con-
trivcs TO turn out all the matter which
appears over his name during morning
hours is difficult to understand, unless
he has indeed several enchanted type
writer's after the fashion of one of his
stories. The writer recalls an ocean
voyage during which Mr.. Bangs locked
himself in his stateroom, not because he
was at all i'll, for he came regularly to
his meals. but, at the end of the trip,
some 900 words of manuscript bore evil
6cnce 20 the labor which he had done
within the compass of eight days time.
George AIDE, according to the account
referred to above does not like to dis
cuss his methods or inspiration. Nearly
all the stuff l have turned out, ne
writes has been written under great
pressure. l had not time to stop TO
take mental photographs OF my own
moods: and as for waiting for an IN
spiration, if / had waited there Wouidn
have been any copy to turn in. have
tried several times to discover my own
II ethods, for l find that every genuine 1T
erarv person has a method lnasmucn as
7 have failed to discover any metnod III
INV work. i sometimes suspect that am
not a literary person. This suspicion mas
neen corroborated by about a Thousand
book reviewers in various parts OF the
country. / cannot wear a coat Wheh l
am writing, even though the temperature
of the room be freezing cold. L use yel-
low paper and a leaky fountain pen. ne
typewriting machine alarms me ana
drives every thought out of my head. Inc
larger part of my work is done IN the
forenoon. but my best work is done late
at night when l am in high-strung con-
dition. This has only happened once or
twice. but / am hopeful; if l could be
come victim of insomnia l might write
something good enough for the maya
zines"
Carolyn Wells. who has just published
another nonsense book under the title of
Folly in the Forest" can work only in
the quiet of her study and on mahogany
desk She finds it necessary to consume
large quantities of candy. Essays, of
course" she says, "call for caramels;
a play, chocolates; jingles, peppermint
sticks; and nonsense rhymes, marshmal-
lows"
Charles Battell Loomis. whose long
serious face can break into most charm
ing smiles, must have enjoyed writing
the following
Like all great writer's / have certain
method of work. l never rise later than
breakfast time This consists of whatever
the maid brings on the table, as / con-
slider that good for the brain. After
breakfast always go for a short walk
TO the postoffice. This consumes nearly
three minutes. after which | read my
mail if the writing is legibIe, and the
daily paper. After reading the paper l
go into my thinking room and think for
three. sometimes even four minutes. Then
| proceed to spread out my thoughts on
my typewriter until lunch time. If my
typewriter breaks | find it hard to spread
out my thoughts with a pen, thus giving