St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-01-26

personal magnetism, without any fac
ulty for communicating his thoughts in
conversation, and apparently without
the disposition to express any such
ideas as those which have delighted us
in his writings. He may be, personal
ly, one of those people "who coddle
themselves, who toast their feet on the
register, and intrigue to secure pad
ded chair or corner out of the draft"
Instead of finding ourselves placed
In a personal relation with him which
would enable us to receive directly
from the fresh fountain of his thoughts,
as we hoped, we probably only realize
that such a personal relation would be
utterly impossible, and we may even
regret that the knowledge of his per-
sOnality has in a measure destroyed for
us the charm of his writings. We read
the delightful stories or essays of some
arge-brained, large-hearted woman,
and we imagine her to be one who will
inspire love at sight. We long to know
her personally. Fortune seems to fa-
vOr us by granting the coveted OppOr-
tanity, and we probably find most
-Ordinary-looking and uninteresting
woman, who is preOccupied who list
ems to what we say with an absent
minded, far-away air; who occasional
ly carefully suppresses a yawn and
looks at us as though she saw some
thing much more interesting beyond
us.
There are, of course, pleasing excep-
tiOns to this rule; but they are excep-
tiOns. Few authors, poets or artists
are personally magnetic or responsive.
A little reflection and the exercise
of common sense should teach us not
to complain of this, but rather that we
have no right to expect of such people
that they shall put themselves en- rap
port with people generally, and give
out their vitality in their expression of
thoughts which may be their mental
capital. People who do not perform
brain work, such as is required for ere
ative work in literature and art, have
no idea how utterly emptied the mind
may become which is constantly re-
quired TO produce and produce nor
can they realize the suffering which
may be inflicted upon such workers by
the mere companionship of people who
talk and talk, expecting responsive at
tentiOn. 1t is quite natural that so
many brain workers should shrink
from general society. 1t is one of the
penalties which they must pay that
when they are exhausted by the men
tai work which is, perhaps, an inspira-
ton to thousands, they shall be per-
sonally demagnetized-ifo one may coin
a wOrd-and become as uninteresting
and unattractive as a squeezed orange.
The lesson of all of which is, first,
not to be Over-desirOus to know per-
sOnally great geniuses or very distin-
guished people. The inspiring thoughts
which they utter let us prize and love
and profit by. Let us accept the
truths they express, their "thOughts
that breathe and words that burn" as
part of the divine illumination of the
world, and not ask too curiOusly con-
cerning the medium of this illumina-
ton. Furthermore, let us remember
that to the greatest and best of these
creative workers the "being known"
and "noted," and distinguished per-
sonallv," is rather an annoyance than
a qualification. 'If there is one thing
! r:-dut dislike more Uhan another, said
one of the most eminent writer's of our
country, sit is being treated as though
L was distinguished man.
And, second, let us remember and
cheer ourselves with the thought that
the most lovable people in the world
are not the talented, nor the distin-
guished, nor the geniuses. 1t should
perhaps even be a matter of cOngratu-
latiOn to us that the gentle, faithful
members of our homes, upon whose
| loving thOughtfulness so much of the
happiness of life depends, are not gen
fuses, nor authors, nor poets, nor ar
fists that they are free to give to the
home and daily life their best and
freshest vitality. After all, that is a
very suggestive anecdOte that is told
of the young man who was describing
in glowing terms the wonderful tai
ents of a young lady who was distin-
| gushing herself as a writer, an elOcu-
ZIONIST, and musician.
''Well, are you going to try to marry
her ?" said his listening friend. "Mar-
ry her ~ Oh no when | marry | just
want to find some real nice girl" Nc
fact falls more frequently under Oul
observation than that the home life OF
our distinguished people is often un-
satisfactory, and that they do not in
spire deep personal affection. For thi.
they are perhaps to be pitied rather
than blamed. They are but human
their power to communicate of them
selves to others is limited; if tina
power is dispropOrtionately taxed by
the circumstances of their lives or tn,
necessities of their work, they vii
necessarily be correspOndingly uninter
esting and uncOmmunicative. They
will be less lOvable and the less loved
thrir fault.