New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25

In discussing the question " Docs Genius dwlndlc us
talents multiplyf' The London Spectator says
that the chief note Of such a literary age our own
is the immense number OF different distractions which
solicit the attention of cultivated men, and not only
solicit ii but engage ii.
Put a great number OF different and divergent
strains on the atteLton OF cultivated men, aud the
final result is that you distract their attention from
the moods of meditation and imaginative reyerie in
hlch their own literary instincts would lead them to
steep themselves. When ut came TO pass In those
days that William Wordsworth went up into the hills
as Mr.. Bagehol happily plraSed IL, he went there to
cherish mood Of meditation and to pore species
Of observations from which the various intellectual
distractions OF the nineteenth century would eecaly
have wcaned him If he had not shaken the dust
from his feet and left the distractions OF the nineteenth
which the prophet Micah mcditated when he called
upon the mountains and the strong foundations Of
the earth 10 hear the Lords controversy" We shOud
never have had Il Words worth, just I'm the nBe
teenth century we could not in any case have had IN
Isaiah or Micah. Genius such as Shakespeare or
Millions. WordswOrth's. Scotts or Tennyson's
rs almost inconsistent with the multiplied distractions
firious wonders and interests which, cultivate the
understanding, and awaken the Curiosity and discipline
lucid exposition. and educate fine discrimination and
judlcous criticism and intelligent appreciation, are
not only not subservlent to, but are positively in
consistent with. that concentration OF the Imagination
on high themes and vivid anticipatons OF the whole
drift OF human IRE ana emotion which are essential to
the higher genius. One Of the most potent Of all
reasons why genius OF the higher kind Is now seldom
vOucsaled 10 us, Is tat Tor all ability and intelligence
OF the secOndrate kind there such infinitely varied
occupations aud interests that there IS hardly any
opportunity afforded for so dreaming and musng and
following the deeper currents Of human suggestion
the prophets and poets OF the greatest moments Of
literature have always dreamed and unused and sounded
the depths OF their hearts. The great difference
between the kinds OF ability and capacity which are now
more common than ever. and the higher forms Of
genius is think. tlis,-that the former depend upon
the due division Of labor the careful study OF ap.
prOprate and methods OF intellectual discipline
In a word on the accumulation Of suitable intellectual
experience. while the latter depend upon the careful
fostering OF unique and only misunderstood instincts
and powers such lnducedte prophets OF the Jewish
people To retire into the wilderness or in our own
century sent up Wordsworth TO his retreat amongst the
Cumberland hills, Thomas Carlyle into his Dumfrles-
shire fastness. Alfred Tennyson to his sea-shore rum
nations and John Henry Newman 10 his lonely oxford
rides and walks and his still solitary Slcllian
so far as the special influence OF the nineteenth century
IS concerned II gets disractlng y rather than vorably
on gifts of this unique order.
The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes's book Ethical
Christianity" will be one OF the notable series appear
Ing from the press OF T.. p Dutton & Co. under the
general title Of Preachers OF the Age"
The operation OF the Russian Censure leads TO some
amusing incidents. More than purely mathemat
zeal work. II Is said ns been suppressed owing to the
dsordered fancy Of harassed Official. Should o
special treatise OF this kind contain n sentence In
the preface footnoe alludlng to the enlightenment
of the Emperor his father grandfather. It would
after having been examined in the ordinary way, be
handed over to tine Minister Of the Court. who would
take counsel to whether the allusion should stand
or the work be allowed TO sppear. :" How dare you