The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03
THE INrIRMrTIEs OF GENIUS.


For TIE New Orleans sundsy Crescent
AL men are not born equal. Some are endowed
with greater pbysical strength than others, some
with more moral force. On some God has with
Bis own hand conferred patent of nobility that
ell must recognize and bow down to. The brow
on which 0mnipotence has set the seal OF genius
is encircled with eoronet to which all common
men most do reverence. Amongst savage nations
eeminence is given to brute force. The ancients
worsbiIed Hercules now Apbllo's shrine is
thronged. Civilized man acknowledges the
supremacy of mind and he who would attempt
in this modern day TO combat the claims of intel
lectual worth, only demonstrates bis own ignor-
ance without doing iota towards efecting bis
designs. But as the hereditary aristocracy OF the
feudsl pgdoms Of former days had privileges
peculiar to their caste. by which they were dstin-
guished from the "peclts rulg''in," so the arsto-
crazy of Genius has lts privileges by the exercise
Of which we recognize 1t.
Genius is singular by virtue of its existence.
The mind that is content TO travel the same road
as all mankind will never excel. 1t is by being
different from the crowd, by cutting new paths,
/, that Genius displays itself. Hence, when once
we recognize a mans right to lead his fellows by
virtue of his superior mind. we at once cede to
that the right 10 violate all our previous ideas
upon such subjects as his talents 1T him TO con.
slider. 1t was by utterly setting at naught all pre-
vious rules of war that Napoleon In one campaign
won italy for France. IL was by entirely falsify-
ing all former systems that Calico demonstrated
his sublime theory which can best be epitomized
Not only do we grant to the possessors of
genius the right 10 travel in unknown paths to
fame, but we also allow them TO transgress the
fundamental laws binding every member of soci-
ETY., without melting. out to them that condemna-
ton which we would to an ordinary man. Our
judgment is blinded by the glare Of talents, and
we are too apt TO excuse gross violations OF
social. nay even Of moral laws, on the plea that
such men are not smeDable TO common tribu-
nails. Who does not pslliate Johnson's disgusting
gluttony with the remark that in his early days
he had half starved /? Who does not balance his
unhllal conduct to his father in his youth by the
repentance of his old age ? II there were need OF
such instances, q multitude could with ease be
cited, but man hath but to consult his own heart
TO demonstrate the truth of what have asserted.
Il lie noticeable that these violations OF social
laws are more frequent amongst poets than any
other class of men of genius. Whether it result
from primarily more sensitive, nervous organi
Zation which shrinks from the responsibilities of
the world, or from such a constant consideration
of subjects 80 essentially impractical as to render
the mind unaccustomed to every day matters,
and consequently unfit TO consider them, certain
il is that poets are now, and have been in all
ages and all countries, an unthrfty race. For this
uDthriftiness the world reverences them not the
less, but loves them the more, for in their failure
10 attain perfection they are brought nearer to
common mortals, thus made more lovable by their
very faults.
in this unsdsptability to ordinary life peculiar
to poets, we may class that quckness of temper
and nervous sensibity which so large siority
of them possess. Bere, again, history furnishes
numerous instances OF the three great masters OF
English erse-Shakspeare, Milton and Byron
each representing widely different school. not
one was blessed with domestic happiness. Pope
lived in q state of warfare with the world, and to
carry our illustrations further back, we can GER.
tanly state that when Virgil wrote,
"Qld Bdui,m non odit, drnet ttrG cd,paind Dlderi:
Atque idem ju1lgdt rulpeS, ct n'sdgedt h1cos,"
he was possessed with the same spieful spirit
hat 0f "a madam
poet. This unevenness Of temper can, think. be
accounted for by the fact that the mind OF poet
is more decately wrought machine than that Of
an ordinary man, and Is consequently more liable
TO be unhinged by q slight occurrence: Beauty
and strength ere seldom combined. That same
constant consideration of higher subjects which
makes poet poor financier, will account for his
chstinR at trifes.
But men are willing to palliate grosser crimes
IN men of genius than poverty and fretfulness.
Voltsire's amours and ayarice, Ney's treachery,
Richelieu's cruelty, Cromwells audacious murder
Of his king, are alike lost in the blaze OF glory
which surrounds their names. This should not be-.
Mental requirement cannot confer upon their pos
SCISSORS any right TO violate with impunity all laws
of man, and assuredly God will hold them strictly
TO account at His tribunal. Over against the
great white throne is written in letters OF living
fire, Where much has been given, much is re-
CURED" He who has misused his mind has a bad
account TO render for his talent, and amount of
intellectual work will then be accepted an off.
set to moral crime. And If by the use Of bis
genius be has led others to the same dark deeds
as blacken bis own life-if he has turned other
souls frcm God-bis doom will be but the more
terrible. Such a mans he'll would be to hear the
reproacbes of those he has misled. Human imagi-
ration can create no deeper deep-no proiounder
misery-no keener pain. Here then is, | think,
The substance of what | have said: man requires
less from those endowed with genius than he does
from ordinary mortals-God more.
ANXIOUS.