The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-28

 he was seldom seen reading a textbook, and was always ready to play, talk or stroll. His classmates were proud to be associated with "genius," who knew Euclid" as Newton did, by in- tuition, and e uld read the classics at sight, as Parson used to.
 But one night an accident exposed the "genius." Some skylarking students broke into his room, thinking to find him in bed. They found him under the bed, studying by shaded lamp. The curtains were down, and every precaution had been taken to prevent the light of the midnight oil from shining too far. The idol was toppled of it's pedestal, and the angry worshipers gnashed their teeth at the "genius who worked in the darkness that he might shine in the light. A great mans standard is always higher than himseli, and he labor. harder to satisfy himself than to please his audience. Ruskin's critics have written bitter things against hls thoughts and style. But no one of them has ap- preached the severity with which this modern prophet criticises himself in the reissue of the second volume of his "Modern Painters"
 Thorwaldsen, the Dane is reputed to be the greatest sculptor since the days that the genius of Greece ceased to ex- press itself. One day gentleman called upon the sculptor, and found him glow ing with energy, modelling a statue.
 "l have an idea," said Thorwaldsen. !" have work in my head which will be fN | ing, till at my usual hour I went to bed. But my idea would not let me rest.
 "I was forced to get up. struck a light and worked for three hours, after which l again went to bed. But again l could not rest again was forced to get up, and have been working ever since. If can but execute my idea, it will be a glorious statue"
 The statue-Mercury drawing his sword just after he had played Argus to sleep-is said to be the finest creation of this great sculptor. Yet he himself did not think 1t came up to the work he had in his head.
 The man of genius is severe on his own execution because his conception of the idea trascends his power of expressing it. But the man who has nothing but talent views with satisfaction what he has done there is little difficulty in expressing his ideas
 The great composer, or sculptor, or painter, or orator is alarmed when he discovers that he is satisfied with his execution. He looks upon the feeling as symptom that his genius is waning, and will no longer suggest to him ideas beyond his power to express.
 "Has anything distressed you ?" asked friend, finding Thorwaldsen one day in low spirits.
 "Yes," replied the sculptor, in a mourn ful tone "My genius is decaying"
 "What do you mean P exclaimed the astonished friend.
 "Why," answered Thorwaldsen, his face growing sadder, "heres my statue of Christ it is the first of my works, that have ever felt satisfied with. Till nov my idea has always been far beyond what could execute. But it is no longer so. shall never have a great idea again."
 And he ne yer did.
 The author who is as much pleased with the reading of his book as he was with its composition, is losing his ability to think broadly and to write clearly. The ascending poet turns from his poem because it is but the shadow of what stood before his lind.
 Discomfort is both the burden and the stimulant of genius. The open vision never finds form, or color, or word ade- quate to express it.
 "God alone, says Julius Hare, "could look down on His creation, and behold tha. all was very good"
 Lord Bacon, making devotional use of this contrast, prays:
 "Thou, after Thou didst turn to behold the works which Thy hands had made, saw that all were very good, and aids. rest.
 "B But man, turning to the works which our own hands have made, see there al- together vanity and vexation of spirit, and can not rest.
 Wherefore, if we labor in Thy works, make us to share in Thy vision and in Thy restP'