The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12
For the National Era.
THE TRIUMPHS OF GENIUS.
BY T. WICKERsHAM.

Before going into a discussion of this subject,
the mind seems naturally led to inquire, What is
Genius? To define that which has no tangible
form is ever difficult task. 1t will doubtless be
found as impossible to explain the intrinsic prin-
cple of Genius, it is to understand the primary
nature of the imponderable agents, light, heat,
and electricity We only speak Of these from
the effects which we see produced. So it is with
Genius We witness the power of its inspirations
in the beauty of it's creations, but we know moth
ing of the secret spring from which they take their
origin.
From the character Of those men who, ia com.
mon parlance are denominated men of Genius"
it seems to be a superior endowment Of some Pc
culiar mental power-a creative energy-a faculty
for originating, which has produced those beauti-
full forms Of painting and statuary, and from
whence have flowed those exquisite strains of
poetry, music and eloquence which in all ages
have called forth the admiration of the world.
This elevated nature has been the gift Of only
a "favored few,n yet the fire which they have
kindled has warmed the heart of many adespond-
ing wsnderer, and the light which they have shed
abroad has ilumined the darkened pathway Of
multitudes, whose latent energies, quickened by
its genial influence, have suddenly started from
the shades of obscurity, and come forth to fulfil
their part in the great arena of human action.
There is something so ennobliDg in the aspira-
tions of Genius-they command the attention,
f,scinate the senses, and arouse every refined
| element Of our being with a new and holy inn
pulse.
Genius is subject to no conservative principle
its field Of action is the illimitable universe its
labors, like the works Of Deity, are for all time
Its expansive and far-reaching energies grasp the
materials of the past, present and future, and by
the activity Of its superior powers it creates and
recreates from countless combinations, till the
rugged pathway of ages and the barren deserts of
space are peopled with the imagery OF imagina-
ton These glowing faucies, these brilliant con-
ceptions and lofty aspirations, have rendered the
Sons of Genius the admired of all men have i'm
pressed their brows with the signet of divinity,
and crowned them with the chsplets of undying
fame.
IL is these rich qualities of mind which give TO
the painter that power by which he almost i'm
parts life TO the insensible canvass-by which he
conceives matchless forms of loveliness, the COM
bnations of a THOUSAND living memories and fan
cies, cherished within and portrays them with
masters skill before the eye Of the admiring be-
holder Who does not feel, when gazing upon
the sublime works of Raphael and Michael An
gelo that Genius has asserted its Heaven
descended nature-that the eternal conceptions
and undying energies Of mind have triumphed
and proven their supremacy over all that belongs
to the external7 The trials and trumphs Of &C.
MUS have ever been a wonder to our minds. Be-
hold Quaker school.boy creeping by stealth
into his fathers garrett busted hour after hour in
a labor to which he has devoted his whole soul
Missed at school, he is surprised by an offended
mother, and led from his retreat to receive the
reprimand Of fathers frown. But the spirit
| within was too strong for imprisonment-hish hand
| would not rest from its lsbors The prejudice OF
sect was arrayed against him, but with no avail.
| They could not quench the FIRE within, nor
| banish the visions that haunted his soul. lie
| triumphed; and the fame of West is enrolled
| among the Sons of Genius Thus does Genius
conquer circumstance.
Let us 90 to the land Of the sculptor, and wan.
der among the forms Of the gods and heroes
which people the silent halls. Italy, for centu-
ries. has been the home of the artist, There, in
! the language of Madame de Stael, Beauty in
eternal sleep seems dreaming Of herself y and,
| in the imprisoned words Of our own Western
Wallace
nThere the souls are all genius, tn. hea-ts are all fire.
There the ryers-the mountsns-tbe lowiisst sods--
We're baio~ed long since by the bright feet Of godsp
What tiiumphs have been achieved by the
sculptor in that "shrine of the sunp 10 the
shapeless block of marble his genius beholds an
exquisite form, and, lo from the untiring labor
Of patience and time image appears, clothed IN
| all the symmetry and loveliness OF his cherished
ideal, and he only needs to realize the fable OF
Pymaion, and the beautiful creation would feel
as he feels love as he loves and adore as he wor-
ships There is something that holds the soul as
by a magic spell when gazing upon these forms OF
cold mar be--theset temples ofthe material in which
are enshrin the ideals Of the spiritual The
thought which thrilled the heart Of the sculptor,
while giving to the statue each graceful and re-
fined touch by some secret spring of sympathy
inspires us with the same emotion, and we are
melted in love of the Beautiful and humbled in
alteration of the Divine. There We behold the
impress Of noble thought fixed on the brow for
ever, and passions portrayed on features through
which the warm life blood never coursed and we
pause unconsciously, almost expecting to see the
hand move in gesture Of welcome and the lips
part with the smile and word Of salutstion
Thus do We behold Nature welded to Art In
the marble Of Paros-another triumph Of the la
bors of Genius.
But how shall we speak Of the achievements Of
Genius, when, rs We turn from the harmony Of
| proportion, our ears are charmed with the sweet
symphonies Of Musicf To the mind Of the indif
ferent observer, there 10 nothing peculiar In the
voices Of Nature. To his ear there Is merely a
compound mixture Of sound. IT'S truly said
WHO has no inrard beauty, none psreeivss,
| Though all around 10 beautiful"
| pot when the heart of the mnstrei Waa touche al