Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-07-28

himself more closely to business. No; the
being who could win his heart, must have a
soul to sympa!hise with the loftiest flights of
poetic genius. Bessie was clever, exem-
plary girl, to be sure but not the girl for
George Selden. To lessen, therefore, the
poor creatures suffirings for the loss of so
estmable lover, he determined TO leave
the house. Besides, he wished to get nearer
to his new friends, The Enacted dramatlsts.
When he next appeared at business, he
was ordered to go into the counting-house.
The first thing which caught his eye was his
manuscript lying on the table before Mr..
Webb. As he had not missed it from its
hiding place, he wondered how it got there !;
but that was soon explained.
Il sent for You Selden, began Mr.. Webb,
to say that complaints are so constantly
made of your inattcn,ion to and carelessness
in business, that, unless you can manage to
alter your conduct, you must seek another
situation
Very well, SIR said the genius, with an
air that was meant to express total indlt-
ference as TO whether he went or stayed.
perhaps you wish to go2' remarked the
master.
Il certainly do find my situation here ex-
tremely incompatible with my feelings
Then there is an end to the affair." re-
turned Mr.. Webb, on Saturday next you
will leave u.s.
very good, SIR
'You take the matter so coolly,' continue
ed Mr.. Webb, presume you have prori-
ded yourself with better place, or at all
events. with one where you are to have high
or wages?
quite the contrary answered the ge-
Mus, utterly disguised with some of his mas
ter's expressions l do not intend to take
another situation, and if did, salary is al
ways with me a secondary consideration
Although Mr.. Webb had read the tragedy,
and was prepared for almost any degree of
folly from its author, he hardly anticipated
such decided infaluation. He felt kind OF
terror at the fate which the young man was
drawing down upon himself. "A word or
two before we part he said 'Mr. Will
liams found this manuscript ofyours. l have
read it,
Selden's eyes sparkled. He expected a
flattering eulogy would follow. | read il
with this view: | saw that you were render
ing yourself totally unfit tor "A business-lifc
and hoped to discover in your poem germs
ofsuch talent as would justify me in encoura-
ging you to cultivate it. In this | was to-
tally disappointed. l can see that you have
mistaken incoherent rhapsody for power, land
the rawlings of an unhealthy Imagination fol
poetry. You are evidently ignorant of the
first rudimcnts OF literary art
George, who was fast losing his temper
murmured something about genius being
superior to art
THAT remark continued the master
'proves your slight acquaintance with either
However great mans genius may be, it i,
only by studying the means Of making it in.
teligible to others, that he can prove he pos.
sesscs it. Devoid of this kind of application
and industry, genius itself is curse. 1t fill.
the mind with that dangerous vanity whicl
breeds a contempt for all useful employ.
ment; itmakes real merit personal sloth
and deems a reprehensible dislike of bushes.
the evidence Of superior ability. | corrode'
the best feelings with constant disappoint.
ment; for the untutored and unStudied &c.
MUS is filled with desire for fame, and he
never obtains it because he will not take the
proper means. In the words of a clever cs
sayist, he pants for the prize, but will no
struggle in the race
The genius was getting impatient at bein.
thus lecturedby mere tradesman, and wish
ed to end the discussion by remarking, A
all events, find business and literature quit,
Incompatible
Doubtless, because you have not sufficien
industry TO cultivate both at the same time
But that has not been the case with many o
our finest geniuses. Sir Walter Scott,
most volumnous author, is punctual ma
of business. Being one of the clerks TO tn
Court of Session in Edinburgh, he nigh, b,
seen laboring in that certainly prosaic voca
ton day after day, with little intermission.-
Charles Lamb, as a clerk in the East lndi
House, passed the greater part of his life a
the desk. One of our most esteemed poet
was keen and clever banker. Indeed,
could mention hundred instances of men i
business passing their leisure hours in litefa
) ry pursuits, without Interference, in the small
lest degree, with their daily avocations.-
You, however, are unable to bring your fan
, cied genius to the low level of trade or usefi
r occupation. And can only say, that loo
upon your future career with extreme ap
prchension.'
t 1t must be remarked, that, with all the
] high-souled resolves, geniuses of Selden
/. stamp are generally great towards. Thong
: he longed to combat Mr.. Webb's opinions
though he burned for wordy revenge upo
notions so directly opposed to those of til
t select society of Enacted dramatis,s-he di
: not dare to open his mouth, but took h
, manuscrip, tragedy, and left the Office wit
an air of extreme sheepishness.
0 He was not long in unburthening himself
h for, in the evening, he deigned visit to til
!, Coopcrs. Had he been anything but pser
g do-genius, his heart would have smote hi
J., for the care-worn pale cheeks of Bessie
f When he entered the room he found her BIT
= silly employed with several sheets of pape
i which were covered with figures. Her me
b Their was knitting by the fire. Bessie aros
: and tried to greet him with cheerfulness, b'
the effort brought tears into her eyes, and 81
again bent over her calculations.
d 'Well,' said George, with flippant so
81 &c ,ac,,l,r - porsn nf his cha r a