The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-10-18
Genius and Labor.

Men Of the most spontaneous intel
lect are rarely spontaneous in their dis
tinguishing achievements. Hard, abb
sorbing work must generally be done
some time, either in preparation or
execution. Sheridan had the name of
O radiant aud ever-ready wit; he had
but to open his mouth, it was thought,
and epigrams flowed thence in spark
ling stream. He was very vain of, and
carefully cultivated, sneh reputation.
But he did not deserve it.. His aston
ishing readiness was q sham; he used
10 lock himself in his chamber, and,
under pretense Of recovering from a
debaueh, slowly and deliberately de-
wise the finc speeches which he assumed
10 throw off by sudden impulse. Some
of his vaunted impromptus cost him
hours Of reflection. The present text
OF ''rhe School for Scandal" is totally
different from tho first copy; not lines
merely, but passages, scenes. and entire
acts were recast and rewritten again
and again. Almost everything that
emanated from him was the result of
much deliberation. He was q rare
genius; but before he was 50 ranked,
aa we'll as after, he was hard worker.
Tennyson's best poems seem as IL
they had run in all their sympathy and
sweetness from his oyerAowing brain.
But no poet has ever toiled more over
his verses; he forms and reforms them
changes. grasses, reproduces, files, and
polisheg them, until those that stand
would never suspect their early and re-
mote progenitors.
Very few poems or writings of any
kind that are re.read or remembered
but have been wrought with copious
brain sweat. As a rule. the offspring
Of genins. whatever its nature, is born
with exceeding travail, although il is
common TO believe il generated after
the manner Of Pallas.
Hawthorne's works are patterns of
excellence in design, detail and finish.
In literary Europe he is known where
scarcely any other American is; his
rich genius has long been recognized
on both sides OF tho sea. Bnt was a
single chapter Of his dashed of as most
of us are inclined to believe the writing
of genins ordinarily Is? Hawthorne
has made no literary confessions; he
shrank from the thought of exposing
his intellectual laboratory. But il is
altogether probable that his produc-
tions grew-grew with him, ont Of him,
and into him again; that they were
woven fibre by fibre; that they were the
indelible photographs upon his mind of
severe studies of nature and humanity.
His matchless, hawless sentences show
the most solicitous attrition. the cease
less exercise of enthusiasm for perfec-
tion. They appear so natural that they
must be begotten Of the deepest art.
They are the mingled product of great
genius and great work, one always COM
ing TO the aid OF the other, and preserv-
ing just and beautiful proportion.
Poe is originality itself. Some of
his poems and most OF his tales have no
parallels in any literature. To resem-
BILE them is TO initiate them; they are
strictly unique. They are unhealthy.
narrow, limited; but wonderful never
theless. Everybody speaks OF Poe as
q pure genius, as an exceptional intel
lect, rs a thoroughly peculiar organi.
zation, as he was Individually; but nc
author has labored harder, more calmly
more vigorously, at his self-appointed
tasks. His philosophy Of composition
is no doubt true, an accurate reflex ol
his method His creative processes
were like the processes OF mathematics
Despite his fiekleness, his love OF con
trast, his infirmity Of purpose, he wal
q marvel Of work while he did work
having spasms of diligence that werl
weltnigh superhuman. II. BrO'ra
I