Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-11-24
GENIUS DEFIcIENTlN CONVERSATION

The great Peter CurHcllle. whose genius re-
senbled that OF our shakespeare. and who has
50 torcibly expire sed the sublime sentiments
Of the hero. had rothiug in his exterior that
indicated bis genius; on ihr Contrary, his con-
versatlon was 50 inspidid. that il never tailed
Of wearying. Nature, who had lavished uI
him The gifts OF genius, had forgotten To blend
with them her more exlrs0rdInarv ones. tie
lid not even sprak correctly that Language ot
which he was such d master. When his
fri auds represented TO him much more he
might please by not disdajnining to correct
these trivial errors, he would smile aud say.
Il am not the less Peter Corneiiiei'
d %scarles. whose habits were formed in
/ solitude aud mclitations. was -ilent in mix
company; aud Thomas describes his mind by
swing thsthe received his intellectual wealth
/ from nature IN solid bars, but not IL current
coiu; or as Addison expressed the same idea,
comparing himself 10 d banker, who possess
ed he wealth OF bis friends al home. though
he carried none OF ii IN his pocket; OF as the
ioditians moraIisl Nicoie, one of the Port
ROYAL Society. who said OF a scinlillant wit
lie eouquers me IN the draw ing room. but
surrenders 10 me oil discretion on The stair
cass Such may say with Themistoeles.
when asked 10 play on the flute Il cannot
fiddle but | can make d little village a great
civ"
The deficiencies Of Addison in c9nversa-
ton are we'll known. tie pres rived a rigid
Silence pmOng strangers. but II he was silent,
it was the silence ot meditation. How often
/ at that moment, hc labored at some future
Spectator. The cynical Vaudeville compdr-
ed Addison, after having passed an evening
in his company. to a siien. parson III a tie
wig. 1t i, no shame for Addison TO receive
the censure ola Nlandeyilie; he has only
t. blush when he calls down those Of a
Pope.
Virgil was heavy in conversation. aud re-
sembird more All ordinary man than an en-
chanting poet.
la Fountain SAYS In Bruyere appeared
coarse, heavy aud stupid; he could not speak
or describe what he had just seen but
when he wrote he was The very model OF
poetry.
II is very easy said a humorous observer
on la Fontaine, to be a mau OF vii or a fool,
hnt to be both, and that too in the extreme
degree. is indeed admirable, aud only TO be
iouaj in him. This observation applies 10
that fine natural genius. Goldsmith. Chau-
Ger was more iaetions in his tales than in his
conversation. and the Countess Of Pembroke
Used 10 rally him 5ysiyIag that his silence
WAS more agreeable than his conversation.
ls0crdies, crirhrated for his beautiful ora
tofleal compositions. Was ot 50 tlnld d dispo-
sitipn that he never ventured To speak IN
public. lac compared hims-l toa wheislone
wh ich Will not cut. bat enables other things
10 % thi,; for his Productions served "a mod
els TO other orators. Naucons0n was said 10
be as much d machine as any he made. Dry-
den SAWS OF himself, My conversation is
SLOW aud dull. my humor satu.ine AMI reserv-
Ell. In short, | am nonr OF these wlo endra-
vor 10 break lests IN company or make repair
tees ."-CHrioS'ties II Literature,