River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-13
BOyhOod and Manhood.

Some one has said, 'The sun is seen
/ best al his rising and setting; so men 5
I native dispositions are clearliest perceived
when they are children, and when they
are dying" The boy is too often ignored
and only the youth and the men are
brought to the front for inspection and
instruction. We find secret connection
/ between the first impulses and the latter
actions of individuals; and if parents
and teachers would look more for
indications and predispositions in the
+ boy, there would be less of misftting
and fewer blunders in the business of
/ life.
/ The force OF impressions received in
the warm susceptibility of childhood is
little known to us. First studies and first
/ habits are often of momentOus importance.
The faculty of genius can exist independ-
emily OF education, and where it is want
ing, education can never confer it. 1t is
an impulse an instinct working in the
character, which may require considerable
influence, and in the right direction, to
develop, but can be crushed with ease.
Painters and poets have often been such
before they understood the nature ofcol-
ors and the arts of verse.
Michael Angelo, while yet mere boy
busted himself wherever he went in draw
ing. His parents belonged to the nobil-
ity, and were distressed at the idea of
genius breaking out, and disturbing the
proud line of their ancestry, consequent
liz forced him to relinquish the pencil.
And then the boy-artist flew TO the
chisel--the art in his soul must have
vent.
An imperious Unborn impulse drove
Murilo into the world in pursuit of more
+ knowledge, and higher style of art. He
was almost unknowr in the place Of his
birth. lie was destitute of the ordinary
means Of making journey, and bought
Ia piece of canvass, which he divided into
lparts, and painted on each figures of
Saints, landscapes and flowers, which he
sold by the way. His sister, with tears
and lamentations, tried in vain to turn
him from his mad and perilous project.
lHereached Madrid, where the great We
llasauez was struck by the ingenious sim
Iplidty OF the youth, who urgently re-
guested letters for Rome. When the for
met understood the purport of the roman
1 tic Journey, he said: "You need not go to
/ ltaE to learn art, my lad" And he
opened the royal galleries to Murillo, and
assisted him in every way possible. When
Mufillo returned to bis native city, where,
from Lis obscurity, he had never been
missed, he made it the theatre of his
glory.
Under similar impulses, Cabot, at the
age of twelve, disappeared from under
lis father roof. He wanted 10 be an
engraver, but his proud parents thought
II was de- relation. He was picked up
in the utmost distress by a gang of gyp-
sizes. and returned home. He ran away
again and was found by his brother and
brought back. His father, losing all pa
thence, allowed hira finally TO become the
most original genius of French art; one
who. in his vivacIous groups, the touch
of his graver and the natura, expression
of his figures, anticipated the creations OF
Hogarth.
Nanteuil hid himself ina tree to pursue
the destinations of his pencil, which had
been denied him.
Handel was ever at work at harpsichords
while being drilled for doctor of civil
laws, and would convey musical instru-
ments secretly to his bedroom aud break
forth into harmony in the middle Of the
night.