Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-26
ODD INCENTIVES TO
IMAGINATIVE WORK
y Glance at the Methods Employed
by Some OF tho Poets and "a
Novelist Of tho Past.
SKETCHES GENIusEc AT WORK
Somewhat Theatrical Talent of Bul.
wcr Lytton Found Stimulation
From Midnight Hour and Bed
Drapcd With Black BugIcs.

The sight OF a good workman at
MS work Is always interesting. and
surely not least 30 when that work
IS creative writes Sir George Douglas
IN The course Of an exhaustive article
on imaginative Writer'S in a recent
number OF Chambers Journal He
men goes on TO sketch few pictures
OF Geniuses at work:
Lord Byron. in whom the divine
spark was allied with a more than
common share OF gross earth. worked.
~ one period. on a starvation diet OF
isiSins and soda water judging. piaus-
ibiy enough. as i; would seem. that
ms MAS favorable TO the liberation Of
he spirit
hHwnr Lytton found stimulation from,
the midnight hour and n bed drapcd
with black buglcs.
more curious case is that of rheo-
nriously sensuous OF poets and most
highly nnished OF s,yiists. Here Is
els In italy. given by his friend, Max
inc du Camp: This book which one
would suppose TO have been thought
out in retirement. IN a library Of
and catalogs of museums within
reach. was actually written in "a print
ing house. amidst tn" clatter Of the
presses at WORK. the hum OF machinery.
Siammine OF doors aud hubbub Of
busy workshop. He composed without
finished ten lines, the ovcrsecr would
zip them from the manuscript and
hand them 10 The COMMISSION. repeat
ing the process until the article or
NAPIER was complete
I'm contrast to this is the procedure
~ Robert Burns. as described by him
ne editor OF his songs: He writes:
My way isl consider the poetic SEN
,iment CORRESPONDENT 10 my idea Of
the musical expression: then choose
these: Tan
~ composed. which * generally the
most difficult par, Of the business. /
FOR objects in nature around me that
arc in unison and harmony With the
roeitaiions OF my fancy and workings
If my bosom; hummine every now
and then the air with the verses
nave framed. When | feel IN! muse
BEGINNING 10 jsds. retire TO the soli
tarv hresidc OF my study. and there
commit my illusions 10 paper: swing
'nc a; Intervals on the hind-lcSs OF
my clbow-chair. By way OF calling
forth my own critical structures may
shelley. like Burns. found the sight
OF natural objects inspiring. bu, in
stead OF resting content. as Burns did.
seek out rare and reconcile varieties
and combinations or natural beauty.
~ MARROW: a, Kesw!ck. in Wales. in
was ever in quest of carth's lovcl!est
and most impressive scenes.
II make no apology for Introducing
schiller into my group OF poets. Tor.
had his counirymcn laid Schillers
teaching TO heart. ii might have re-
strained th.'ir degenerate tendencies
and saved them from their moral cata-
clysm. His method OF production, how
."er indicates strain; \ indeed the
means TO which lie resorted to stiniu-
late Pegasus are at times rather pam
ful 10 read Of For example. ii used
10 DC traditional in Weimar that he
kept docaying apples III his room Tor
IND sake OF the nervous irritation pro-
iuced by the efiiuvium: and surely =
poci mus, be hard put I" ii before he
comes 20 that Another story de-
acribcs him as sitting al work with
4 hog towel about his brow 10 drive
Assistance IN composition MAS sought
in laudanum by De Quincy. who rates
lis propnrties in this rcspec, far above
those OF alcohol Wine. says he in e!-
feet. hurries man out OF himself.
whereas opium lights 4 lamp within
his brain and gives him god-iike
command of all his faculties.
1T has been given TO few poets to
enjoy supremacy equal to Tenny-
sons His foibles were all on the sur
face, and masked a deep humanity
beneath superficial misanthropy His
hatred OF being observed or intruded
on WAS notorious, and. as many who
understood him impcrfectiy believed.
was carried 10 iauThablc lengths. As
matter OF fact, no poet eve; laid
~. his life better in the interests OF
MS work"