The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-01-10
The Rewards of Genius.

A knowledge Of the biography Of many Of the most
eminent sons of genius that have cmbazoned the other
wise dark corridors of the past furnishes with un-
nstakeable proof that this distinction Of intellectual
gaudeurhas otimes fed upon the uncertain and scam
ty repast of cold neglect at periods when common JUS
tice demanded food Of greater nutrmert and in
unreserved quantities With the flower oftheir strength
exhausted upon labor that aimed at and achieved the
common good Of their native lands, we find them upon
the shadyside Of their career poor pensioners upon
the ungraefl recoecons of those for whose interest
and amusement the bards weayed in glowing verse the
purest sentiment, and the philosopher, Vulcan-lke,
hammered the more ponderous weapons of, keen-
edged weighty logic, with whichthe statesman felcd
the towering head of abuse and shaped the symmeri.
cal proportions Of reform, the progeny of which have
made nearer and approximations to the perec
ton and balancing of systems of morality and govern
ment whose comely aspect fills the antiquarian with
amazement at the development ofprncples which in
the Of the past presented scarcely on outline of
their present construction and utility.
The ages Of tue past are more ungratefu to their
true benefactors and chief ornaments than the present
Whilst intelligence everywhere manifests certain de.
gree Of adration for the man of true genius there is
nevertheless marked reservation Of reyard that just
IL attaches to the n!,n t.,as- ~
orefs sacrhc his time and talent upon the altar of
tree-wl offering to bis countrys glory Age too often
sefeonstituted censor doles out most sparingy to
rising youth the encouraging weldone, Which bears,
to ajust ambition the relation that the droppngs
of oil do to the gratngs Of newly erected machinery
And youth, thus goaaed by the ayarcious grasp Of
those to whom it looks for sustenance, rushes wildly
DER the fair fields and fertile valleys that genius map
ped ont for its cultivation reaches forth its hand
to gather the ripcning fruits that hang in luscious
clusters at almost arms-engt The measured approx
al of genius in its development tells with bligbting
effect upon its fruit and consumes with the greedness
Of hungcred worn even that which the fertility of
the soil may produce, despite its neglected culture.
Most to be censured of all is that class who regard
genius in the category that the Epcurean places
choice game, fish and fowl-as something that is to
be trundled in market carts and sold 'or consdera
tion" to any one willing to comply with the terms
THIS class-magine that should they drop encourag
ing word or two the price is paid, and that heneeforh
good and sufficient title thereto is obtaiued-a perfect
carte blanch to direct it in whatever channel may seem
best to subserre their interest and amusement. They
thus seek to deprive genius Of ono Of its most csse
tal qualifcationsan independent choice Of thcme,-
and thereby to weaken its efforts against principles
from which they draw indirect temporal advantage
When they have extracted the Eanss so much dreaded
by their selfish apprelensons and exhausted Ill that
could be turned to account for them having toyed with
the Of genius to safety, they cast him aside as
would the shell of egg, to be trodden under foot
of men.
In the woods of t'- north there insects hatprcy
Upon the brains 0, the elk till his very last sigh,
Oh Genus! Thy patrons, more cruel than they
First feed on thy brains then leave thee to die"