Year: 1865

Magliabecchi, the learned librarian to the
Duke OF Tuscany, never stirred abroad, but
lived amid books They were his bed board,
and washing He passed eight-and- forty
years In their midst, only twice In the course
OF his life venturing beyond the Wallsof Flo
renee; once to go two leagues off. and the
other time three and a half leagues. by or
der of the Grand Duke He was then an
extremely frugal man, living upon eggs.
bread and water in great moderation.


Luther, when studying, always had his dog
lying at his feet, dog he had brought from
Wartburg, and of which he was very fond
An ivory crucifix stood at the table before
him, and the walls of his study were stuck
round with carieatures of the pope. He
worked at his desk for days together without
going out; but when fatigued, and the idea
began to stagnate, took his guitar with him
into the porch, and there executed somemu-
sical fantasy, for he was skilful musician. J
when the ideas would flow upon him as fresh
as howers after a summers rain. Music
was his invariable solace at such times. In
deed, Luther did not hesitate to say that
after theology music was the first Of arts.
Music, said he, is the art of the proph-
cts: it is the only other art which, ike the
ology, can calm the agitation of the soul,
and put the devil to fight. Next to mu-
sic, if not before it, Luther loved children
and flowers That great gnarled man had
heart as tender asa woman s.


Calvin studied in his bed Every morn
ing at FIVE or six clock he had books, man
uscripts and papers carried to him there, and
had he occasion to go out, on his return he
undressed and went to bed again to continue
his studies In his later years he dictated
his writings to Secretaries He rarely cor
rected anything. The sentences issued
complete from his mouth. IF he felt facili-
ty of composition leaving him, he forthwith
quilted his bed, gave up writing and com
posing, and went about his outdoor duties
for days, weeks and months together, But
as soon as he felt the inspiration fall upon
him again he went back to his bed and his
secretary set to work forthwith.


Aristotle was a tremendous worker; ho
took little sleep, and wascons tantly retrench-
ing it. He had a contrivance by which he
woke early, and to awake was with him to
commence work. Demosthenes passed three
months in cavern by the seaside, laboring
to overcome the defects of his voice There
he read, studied and declaimed


Rousseau wrote his works early in the
morning; lie Sage at mid day Byron at
midnight, Hardonin rose at four in the
morning and wrote till late at night.


Rabclais composed his life of Gargantua
at Belly, in the company of Roman cardi-
nails, and under the eyes of the Bishop Of
Paris. La Fontaine wrote his fables chiefly
under the shade of tree and sometimes by
the side of Rachine and Boileau.


Pascal wrote most of his thoughts on lit
tie scraps of paper at his by-moments. Fen
elm wrote his Telemachus in the Palacee of
Versailles, at the Court of the Grand Mon
argue, when discharging the duties of tutor
to the Dauphin That a book SO thorough
w Democratic should have issued from such
a source, and be written by a priest, may
seem surprising.


De Quincy first promulgated his notion of
universal freedom of persons and trade, and
of throwing all taxes on the land-the germ
perhaps of the French Revolution-in the
boudoir of Madame de Pompadour.


Bacon knelt down before composing his
great work, and prayed for light and inspi-
ration from heaven. Pope never could conn
pose well without first declaiming for some
time at the top of his voice, and thus rous-
ing the nervous system to its fullest activi-
ty. :,


The life of Leibnitz was one of reading,
writing and meditation. That was the Sc
cret of his prodigious knowledge. After
an attack of the gout he confined himself to
diet of bread and milk. Often he sleptin
chair, and rarely went to bed tillafter mid
night. Sometimes he was months without
quitting his seat, where he slept by night
and wrote by day. He had an ulcer in his
right leg, which prevented his walking about
even had be wished to so.