The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-10
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GENIUS.
ny II. DENNINa.

No pyramids set of their memories,
But the eternal substance of their greatness"
The fields Of science, art, and litera-
.ure have, since the dawn Of civilization
been open to the investigation OF man, :,
and the progress made has been in q
great part derived from the research es
of men whose names have gained q
place in the world of genius.
Wo should not hesitate to place q
Shakespeare first in rank in the field of
modern literature, or Raphel or Mi.
chel Angelo in the perfection of art, or
q franklin or a Newton in the discove.
ries Of great principles of science, aud
yet these have only contributed morsels
to these departments Of creation. Men
OF genius see Nature as it is, aud secure
from it's storehouses it's treasures of poe.
try and art, and grasp her mysteries
with the hand of science. In the su-
blime words Of Horace they "receive
from nature more than human fres,"
and are thus enabled to become the ore
ators of what talent looks upon with
amazement, and could not itself produce.
Learning ia not genius. 1t may be an
element Of it. It constitutes the pass
port to the realms oil literature aud Sci
ence; especially does it become a
requisite to extensive scientific research.
Some of tho most learned men have
devoted themselves to the cause of lit
erature rather than the complications of
science.
Iutellect is developed by study aud
thought; by these tho creative powers
are strengthened, and become gigantic
in proportion as they approach the per-
fcction Of creation. Goethe is said to
have confined himself to his room dur
ing the production of his great literary
creations, and whom he appeared to the
world was almost a skeleton. Milton
devoted himself to study during his
entire lifetime: the result was the rep
utatidA of being one of the most learned
men that ever lived, and the production
of one Of the most wonderful poems of
all times.
Profound learning is Indicative of tai.
ent, not always of genius. Some of the
chief men Of science have attained great
celebrity, and yet their works fail to
como up to the standard of that famous
saying of Tacitus: "Truth is established
by Investigation"
The influence which men Of genius
exert over their fellows is inconccivably
great. More than two centuries ago,
Shakespeare composed his immortal
plays at the present day they sro met
with equal applause by the ragged urchio
iu the pit Of the play house aud the
philosopher of human nature. Raphael
became the disciple Of art, aud all Eu-
rope vas radiant with the light of his
genius. Columbus conceived the idea
of another continent, aud the Western
hemisphere became the domain of civ
ilized man. Martin Luther revealed the
bigotry and perverted doctrine Of the
Roman Church in his age, aud all Eu
rope became involved in the struggles Of
the Reformation.
The enthusiasm which the works of
genius excite, is equally great. With
what admiration do We behold the
Madonna della Setliu of a Raphael, the
"Moses" of a Michael Angelo, or listen
to the majestic strains Of q Mozart's
"Requiem," or Hadyn's "Crcation." In
what quick succession are brought to
bear upon us the power of pathos aud
satire, wisdom and the charm of graceful
language in tho perusal of some great
work of literature; and with what
emulation Of thought we follow the
elaborate complications Of o scientific
theory.
Aud thus we are led to see the links
between revelation and genius,--the
creative power revealed by each Joined
in the boing personated as the Creator
of all things. He has made genius an
earthly agent in bringing to light the
great mysteries of nature, the power of
art, the triumph Of literature, until we
shall be the recipients of tn at perfect
genius 10 the vast eternity to come.