Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-19
NCyrDENGE
BRAiNAPD

columns OF the Connecticut Mirror. Brainard
seems to have been a general f%avorite; since
his demise. paper after paper has been received
containing some tribute of ale Ction tor his
memory or respect Cor his talents. II must be
a consolation to his relatives, that although
thus early called from the world. he had lived
long enough 10 secure the esteem ofmany per
sonal friends the silent homage Of the worl&
"The recent death Of this interesting man.
taken from life, as the germ Of genius had be-
gun TO give the promise Of rich fruit. brings
with il the painful feeling Of disappointed hope.
Ii IS one Of the mysterious d'epensttions OF d.
vine Providence, which, without strong faith IN
the wisdom and benevolence of tho Deity
might lead US 10 scepticism. The dull plodder
whose IMAGINATION scars no higher than TO an
ticipations Of worldly gain; the cold hearted,
whose visions of happiness all centre in HIM
self; and the dovotee OF pleasure, who knows
no purer enjoyment than is connected with his
grosser nature; these we see passing uninier-
ruptedly down the current of life, adding moth
ing TO tho general amount OF knowledge, hap
piness or virtue. Bat how often do those, who
are highly gifted with Intellectual endowment.
who seem formed for The delight and improve
ment Of society, depart like the transient me-
tcor, which dazzles for a moment, and then
fades away forever.
CONNECTED with genius, there exists too Oft
en-, a sentiment which no, unirequently destroys
the happiness and usefulness OF those whom
nature seems to have formed for mental great
ness. II is difficult to analyze this sentiment;
it is perhaps composed of disappointed cxPec-
tation and mortified pride, which. united, pro-
duce universal disgust. How often does a ro-
bile spirit, fresh and glowing as il just sprung
from its Divine Creator, enter upon the stage
of life, ardent To promote The happiness OF man.
Kind, and conscious of hs own worth and ele-
walton, expecting love and esteem from othe.s
Bat alas! the enthusiastic hopes OF youth fall
before the blighting influence Of the selfish
| policy OF the world; the undetermined beng
sees itself passed by, with cold neglect, II secs
that Intellectual wealth, that the treasures OF
the heart, are not 10 be PIT INTO competition
with silver and gold; il seems that ,he favors
Of the world are seldom conferred upon dessrv-
ing merit, but are gained by low assimilation
and successful intrigue. IL cannot stoop to
these, but, like the dove sent forth from the
ark, finding on earth no resting place, the spirit
takes its f;ght whence It came 1t returns TO
God who g I've ii"
But lei not the h%igl-minded, the intellec-
tual, and moral, entertain the belief, that
there IS no merit in mingllng with mankind,
that il is noble 10 withdraw IN dis gust from So
cial life, because 1t exhibits niarks'of sel.ishncss
aud low-mindcd views. To the mind walking
= III u ols VI TO wv
ty, Shere is an internal sunshine which cannot
he obscured by clouds from without. Let
Christian humility be engrafied upon the lofty
ASPIRATIONS OF genius, and IT will subdue those
feelings Of mortified pride, aud induce pity and
The desire to improve, rather tn An disgust, and
wish to avoid mankind.
"The above remarks have naturally arisen
as connected with Tho history Of many of the
favored, or more properly, the unhappy children
! of genus; but BralnaId, was in many respects
an exception. His talents received the en-
couragement of public appreciation, and what
ever he wrote was regarded with no ordinary
degree Of compla cency, but still he possessed
the eccentrlciiies and inprudences Of genius
and had his life been spared to old age, he
would not perhaps have arrived at that DIS
%tinction which is often attained by far humber
talents.
"The first ~poetical publications from the pen
of Brainard ii is believed, appeared in the Con-
~nectIcut Mirror, while il was under the editorial
charge of one, who though less known TO the
public in the character Of a poet, was no less
gift ed with deop-toncd senslbility, and poetic
enth uS'asm. An acquaintance between them
commenced by BraInard's scnding 20 the Edi-
tor of the Mirror occasional p%oetlcai articles.
These, although the public had not pronounced
Brainard a poel, were valued, and considered
as indications of no ordinary talents. " is too
often the fault of authors, that they feel an un-
willingness to submit TO the criticism, still less
TO the alterations of others. That the subject
of this article was superior to this, and diff dent
Of his own abilities, appears by letters to the
Editor OF the Mirror, in one o. which, dated
January, 1922, he says, II received yours this
moroing, and IN reading IL, had 10 regret that
you should have thought 1t necessary to offer
The slightest apology, on account Of The very
IL t,.- - sIa E-.aI
sent You. For if | remember right. you was
not onl, authorised, bui Requested to make
such use of them Us would best answer the pur-
pose of The Mirror. From the solemn tone Of
your letter, | feared that you was hyppcondri-
F, &C, or that you was not so well acquainted with
me as | could visa. Why my dear L., when
you was about it, did you not apologize for
thinking me a concetcd fool, who knows his
verses are none Of the best, and yet q%uarrels
with his friend for coming TO the same conclu-
sion, Upon my word, | did not expect to see
so mnct Of them printed as | found in your
last Mirror" Toe'e is something. which
! makes us feel as il were, almost sacIloge to
bring forward to the public what was only de-
signed for the eyo of friendship but it also seems
as il the public had a kind Of property IN the
private thoughts OF men of genius; and when |
we find talents uniled with modas,y and good
hnmour, we are constrained to love where we
before admired. But Brainard and the friend
to whom he wrote, are now both removed be-
yond The frown or favor Of the world.
In the Spring Of 1922. the editor Of the Mir
ror, leaving for agricultural pursuits, a situa-
ton not harmonih,ng with a coniemplative aud
retiring mind, was succeeded in the editorial
department by Ms. B'ainard; IN the space of
litle more than one year tho latter was called
10 the melancholy duty Of announcing the
death Of his predecessor. FIVE years after
that. on the anniversary Of the same day. his
successor announced the death Of Barnard.