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A collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s short fiction, ordered by date of publication.

Page 283 of 1087
Table of Contents

How to Write a Blackwood Article

things with the public. And then there was ‘ The Man in the Bell ,’ a paper by the by, Miss Zenobia, which I cannot sufficiently recommend to your attention. It is the history of a young person who goes to sleep under the clapper of a church bell, and is awakened by its tolling for a funeral. The sound drives him mad, and, accordingly, pulling out his tablets, he gives a record of his sensations. Sensations are the great things after all. Should you ever be drowned or hung, be sure and make a note of your sensations⁠—they will be worth to you ten guineas a sheet. If you wish to write forcibly, Miss Zenobia, pay minute attention to the sensations.”

“That I certainly will, Mr. Blackwood,” said I.

“Good!” he replied. “I see you are a pupil after my own heart. But I must put you au fait to the details necessary in composing what may be denominated a genuine Blackwood article of the sensation stamp⁠—the kind which you will understand me to say I consider the best for all purposes.

“The first thing requisite is to get yourself into such a

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