Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-21
COMMUNICATION.
How many soul sublime

There is no class oil men, perhaps, whose
character is more marked by peculiar features,
aud which, al the same time, so strikingly Sc
para,e them from the rest Of the world, as those
individuals who can, with proprlety, come un"
der the a2pellation OF MEN OF GENIUS. In their
habits Of mind-in their passion Tor sludy-in
The delight they take 10 solitude-in their high
souled enthusiasm, they hold distinct and
prominent place above the rest Of mankind
They possess no community OF pursuits-o OF
thought, or of feeling, with the busy mul,iludes
of meu Their intercourse seldom extends be-
yon6 ,hemselves-ii is inward, with their own
bright and vivid ideas Of things. ltisnot won
derlul, therefore, that the history Of men Of
genius should 80 seldom afford instances Of life
spent in the enjoyment oil happiness. Endow-
ed, as such individuals are, with imagina'ions
rich, vivid and creative-With intellect OF SUI
prriur power and energy-with high sensibili-
ties, aud peculiar tastes anu passions-they
Feel more acu,ely than ordinary minds the panes
aud miseries which flesh is heir TO-" Ii is, no
doubt, true that The peculiar qualities OF .rhsir
minds which have been specified, enables them
10 draw pleasures from sources closed upon the
majority of mankind The fountains Of their
happiness must necessarily be unknown, orr if
known, the living waters" which they send
forth appear tasteless and insipid But al,hough
the things with which they hold communion
are either carelessiy noticed or wholly over
looked, we a.e confident IL the opinion. thai The
same feelings and the same faculties which en-
able them TO derive happiness from sources
which do not affect the minds Of ordinary men,
must likewise render them more sensible 10 the
pangs of misfortune, and more easily affected
~ the Thousand lis watch Attic, US in life
And unfortunately, 100, their high and enthusi-
asic minds find too litic cohgeniali'y Of ssn'i-
ment in the disgusting formallues aud heart
lessncss Of lfe-too little in accordance with
lheir warm tone Of feeling, in the cold and
che, rless aspect in which the things Of the
world are arranged. And if penury and want
should circle them, it is impossible TO estimate
the wretchedness they are doomed TO suffer in
struggling for subsistence, with the rude pas
sions of men, with the unfeeling, the proud, ard
the con;umelous. How harrassing 10 the high
spirit of Kirke White to depend upon the cha
,i,y Of friends for support! How harrassing
10 The proud feelings Of Fielding, 10 be compel
led to labor for the daily presses TO relieve the
wants of his family!
The unhappin>ss Of men Of genius arises,
TOO, from the nature Of heir pursuits, which
renders them dependent upon caprIcious pub
lie for patronage, and, what is esteemed dearer
than life, their fame. Mankind are slow in
awarding praise 10 lit, rary men. The poliri
clan and lawyer are, comparatively speaking,
ceri,in Of success. Their eXrrtions and rHoris,
acting upon the common business OF lie, are
lel, and acEuowlt dyed. Literary MN, on the
contrary, address themselves 20 'he magma
ZION, he feelings. and the minds oil mea; and
as th, l. produc 10 S rarely att c. the common
pursuits OF lite or the ordinary wants Of man
kind, il is seldom hat their merits are property
appreria,ed. This remark derives con6rma-
ton FROM The history Of men Of genius. Too
frequently has it oeen the Case, that works Of
great m, rit have been almost entirely neglect,
ed or il noticed, TOO often have The authors
been compelled TO suffer from the envy and ma
levolence Of critics; Of whom il has been apply
said: That although they never give life 10
any thing, they can tell how book might,
could, or should be written, just as an old, con-
cei,ed rusty, dry>5oned, pig tailed bachelor
can ,ell how 10 manage wife or 10 bling up
children better than Other people, although he
has never been able to gel her one or the
Other" The great work Of Millions was not
properly appreciated until the succeeding CEN
tury, after the poe, had long mouldereG in quiet
in his grave. Johnson could scarcely keep
himself above the most AFFECT state Of poverty,
no,wirhst snding the mighty power and energy
Of his pen. Savage has been known 10 WANDER
over the city Of London, Tor whole nights, for
want Of place uf repose. The lis nigh, be
easily multiplied. Kirke White suffered from
the rude attack IF criic-tae ardor Of his
genius representative fine sensibili:ies Of his
nature harassed and torn in pieces, and he him
self plunged into misery aud wrstchedness.-
What anxie,ies, too, must the author struggle
with, when the 6cke public is to pronounce
sentence Of approval or of condemnation! What
energy Of mind, what a buOyanoy of feeling,
must DC possessed, to enable him to sustain,
with foriitude, severity Of criticism, disappoint.
menr, and neglect! After the mos, intense de-
volion 20 the cause Of letters; after struggling
long and ardently for the prize. too frequently
i, escapes Unexpectedly, from his hands How
trying 10 ,he feelings of such men 20 be Con-
scious of merit, which misfortune, or he cold
ana harsh judgment of mankind keeps in con-