The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-07


from my new acquaintance.
There is a question: said II would
like to ask You. since from actual ex-
perience you are doubtless well informed
upon it'll have often heard It argued
that the best productions of authors
poets IN particuar-are written under thu
influence Of what they are pleased to
term inspiration can you enlighten me
as to the truth of that assertion
I can say IN reply" sand the old man,
with his unwavering eyes fixed upon
mine-'I can say in reply that the best
productions of authors-poets in particu-
lar-are written under the influence of
what they are pleased to term 1nspira-
ton have seen it proved"
How proved7' 1 asked.
Listen. Take, for example an In
stance / will recite; A man worn and
enfeebled by age. whose eyes are dimmed
TO sightlessness almose; whose mind,
once clear and vivid as the light OF day
is now wavering and tickle as the wind:
and yet at times this influence comes
upon him like an avalanche, and as irri-
sistible; a voice cries, Ayritel writei
writel nor does he know when he has
obeyed that summons, what his trembling
hand has written. Further that this is
divine inspiration. his fragmentary pro-
auctions will oftentimes be in the exact
manner and diction OF writer's long since
passed away; and am satisfied they are
produced at the direct dictation of the
departed I know thisl"
you astonish me, said !, in unfefgned
wonder; you say you know this-how
do you know itg'
Because I am the man.
Although the assertion, In my mind
was simply preposterous, there was a
certain majesty in the utterance that
held me half In awe. I looked upon him
as one might look upon some curious
being from an unknown world. He was
moving now-pacing grotesquey up and
down little space of half a dozen steps
and wheeling. at the limits of his walk
as nimble as the harlequin in the panto-
mine, and repeating, as Enough to him
| self, Il am the man; l am the man.
We'll, sir said /, forcing myself into
an air of indifference l did not feel
| well, sir, not for a moment questioning
your own belief as to this strange infiu-
| ence which may possess you at times,
| you will pardon me for expressing the
vaguest scepticism, since I have never
| been so fortunate as to witness an actual
| demonstration. He was about to inter-
| rupt me, but 1 continued cooley, by
what circumstances is this influence In
troduced-or how produced-is it
He broke in on me with a keen little
pang of a laugh that almost made me
shudder. You are my convert" he ex-
claimed excitedly. "Quickl Give me pa
per-give me paperp But before could
take my note book from my pocket he
had hurriedly snatched a scrap of wrap
ping-paper from the counter, and bend
ing over it, was writing with great rapid
ity.
His manner was decidedly singular In
the occasional ps ses he would make he
would lean his forehead in the palm of
his left hand. with the fingers dancing
nervously upon the aid spot on the sum
nit of his head, while with the hand
that held the pencil he kept up a con-
tinued rotary movement in the air. Then
he would suddenly pounce down upon
paper before h. as though in a perfect
frenzy of delight, and line after line
would appear as if by magic, each sue
ceeding one preluded by that sharp lit
tie yelp of a laugh; and three minutes
ad elapsed, he had covered both sides
of the paper He then threw down his
me the scrap and motioned me to read.
l was at first completely nystified, for
| what / had confidently expected to be
r. fme was prose; but ere l --ad examined
| 1t far / was as highly gratified as at
first disappointed The writing, although
so recklessly scrawled was quite legible,
and here and tnere gave evidence of more
| than Ordinary grace and elegance; the
punctuation, so Jar as 1 was able to
| judge seemed perfect in every part; and,
In fact, the entire production bore the
appearance of having be executed by
a slSillful hand.
copy it verbatim from the original
scrap, which now lies before me:
BY this time they had come upon the
figure of the old hag seated ny the road
side. and, in harsh. cracke voice, Groom
ing dismal ballad. by Gods rood"
! quoth the king in burst of admira-
ton, did l no. tell the t was some fair
princess, decoyed from her fathers cas-
tie and thus transformed. through the
! despicable arts of some wicket enchanter;
for thou hast but to perk an ear to have
! the sense of hearing bathed and over
flowed with melody. Dost thou not also
| note rare grac and sweetest dignity
voiced, as 1t were, from the very tatters
that enclothe her FORM" Indeed thou
mayest." said the squire; "for 1 have
heard It said rags may enfold the purest
gol1'-Yet in this instance I an restrain
ed to think 1t more like the hidalgo's
dinner-'very little meat and a good deal
of table-cloth Hold thy peace. blad-
| derhead," exclaimed the knight, Test l
make thee gnaw thy words Win loosened
teeth. Listen what liquid syllables are
spilled upon the atmosphere
My fathers halls. so rich and rare,
Are desolate and bleak and bare;
My fathers heart and halls are one
Since /, their life and light, am gone
%, valiant knight. with hand of steel
And heart of gold, hear m. appeal
Release me fror7 the spo. crs charms,
And bear me to my fathers arms
The knight had by this time thrown
himself from his steed, and with lance
reversed and visor DOTTED he sank upon
his knees In the slime and ooze of the
dyke exclaiming: BE of good heart.
fair princessi Thy succor is at hand.
since the fates have woven thee--the
pearl of pearls-into the warp and wool
of my, great destiny. Nay, nayi No
thanksl Thy fathers beaming eye alone
shall be my guerdon, for home thou shalt
go, even though I must needs truckle
thee thither on q barrow
Good said I. grasping the old man
| by the hand. Hail, Cervantes!'
"Cervantes? Cervantes?" he unused,
as though bewildered; why have been
writing? Is 1t not poetry?''
yes" l replied enthusiastically, both
! prose and poetry, and that of the rarest
school, Read for yourself"
| I handed him the scrap but he pushed
it from him with a gesture Of Impotence.
do I know what have written. Read it
| aloud"
Although has ened to comply. I did
| 1t with a decided air of incredulity as to
the belief that he did not already know
every word of II, and even closed with
the gratuitous comment that l felt as
sured the quotation was perfect in every
particular.