The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-06-19

UnS S'S"eoo O'SA OAOUSHt oSeotIo
the second, is that they are to-
stupid to know that they are not
James Russell Lowell says
mo man of mere talent eve
threw his inkstand at the devil
Perhaps the greater questio,
might be whether there be not 6
more effective way of using inl
than that of throwing it at tht
devil wholesale. The explosive
character of this tantrum of Mar
tin Luther accords very we'll will
the common temper of genius
Genius is unfettered and erratic
talent is bound and regular. We
have no quarrel to make with
genius. It is that which lifts the
world up. 1t might be hkened
unto those great movements OF
nature that occasionally break
up the surface preparatory to a
Enew formation. If we could
count up the ruptures of the So
cial and intellectual formations
that have taken place in the 18
centuries past, we could cennt up
genius on our fingers.
But genius is not all; though it
/ is great in construction, it is accu-
rate to say, that the largest part
of the solid, homely, useful fab
ric of the worlds every day life,
is wrought in the looms of talent.
1t is a low estimste, perhaps, that
nine hundred and ninety nine
persons out of thousand, sooner
or later will learn. if they are left
to themselves and their friends
do not deceive them. that they
belong to the ranks of talent
rather than to genius; and if
they be sensible persons, the first
dawn of this consciousness will
make them tractable enough to
work we'll. Whatever pranks
and irregularities may be allow
ed to genius, talent must work.
We are under law, the most rigid,
the most imperious !; not mean
one; grand law without ex-
cuse, without exceptions. If we
will not abide by the conditions
of sedulous industry and self ef-
fort. we shall no more unfold the
powers that be wrapt in every
child, than a dry seed will de
velop which refuses to be subject
to moisture and sunshine.
Solomon had the whole philos
ply of life. We who have plans |
and purposes live, not so much
from day to day as by periods
Every great life hss climaxes
which monnt up like steps. The
class of '84 have finished their
first. All tha lines of their move
nents for twelve years have been
:onverging till they meet in this
irst centre. What has cost theiri
ime; what has taxed their pa
fence and left them perpIexed
vhere they have often succeeded
nd sometimes failed-all the
un ard shadow of these years,
hey review and sum up as con-
ributing. in some way. to the
lory of this occasion. We no
ooner finish one period than we
egin to plan for succeeding.-
ZACH triumph must transcend
ne last, else no credit. We are
peculiarly constructed as soon
, tire of similars-which acts
ke an ever recoiling spring to
ush us on.
Of two sins to which the COM l
naliiy are given. it is difficult to b
ldge which is the more COM {
on: over:axity, Indifference, or h
npatience. We are not over v
ocked with patience. When o
lose aggressive geologists began a
'st to interpret the days" in h
enesis as involving long peri d
Is of time. the pious churchmen
ere shocked, and with some ILL., fl
lmor said: TIA! it is much a
ore up TO the nature of the Di- II
ne and business like to do it up j.
a weeks time" Impatience a:
bout the only controversy now h.
tween the churchmen and ge- il!
ogists OH that question, is just
W many millions of years.
e are all addicted to impatience. CT
fancy if we could have wit te
ssed the tumu't of earth and lei
, in that long dark period of DO
, earth's history-could have
m the upheaval and depression orr
he strife of fire and water con- '!e
ding like demons over the in pc
t earth; with our paltry no pa
MS of time and practicability, W.
had said, "what's the use of ih'
this 2" And those wild spir- op
with some rebuke, nigh: have WI
wered, swat a little" And Po
,ng ii e after, when the fires I'd
re quieted, and the waters a.
:e flowing down, accumulating ''o'
soils, and frost with myriad w, WIZ
.ers was crumbling the noun 10
/ tops, again we might have "'.
Sed on and asked. whats the Pol
of al this 2" And those pa
It, never firing forces might !