The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-05-15
rraRryf ,ydaMESr.

In the palmy days eur RepubIici
The South easily stsod foremost Ia
Statesmen and political writers, ana
her social culture ard refinement
could successfully vie win the spieA-
dor and glory of the ahcients. ,oihce
the war our Statesmen ana WrIIe
have had to contend With the most 7
hitter sectional prejudiges and the +
| most blighting sectional partlsanlfsn
that have chOked and wlthereo tne
aspirations of genius, ana resCraiheu
the free and natural exercise OF
native capabilities. But as the perlou
of the war recedeS and naIlonai pIo,
press advances, these preJudlces anu
this partisanism wear away, anu a.
nin0 To assume their former proml-
nence and TO take their place In the
l front rank of American Statesmen
: In resnect to scientific Investigation
r and material development the south
has made, and is making, record Oh
. which she may we'll be PROUD, an1
Q which will give her suDstanClal
: DIece IN the history of our country.
t Rnt a nation cannot afford TO rest
p alone upon scientific Investigation
and material development 1t canot
= afford to submit Itself to the judgment
} of posterity and the future historian
g mon this alone; for 1t is natural TO
= suppose that as we have excelIeu the
ancients in these respects, 80 we, III
our turn will be excelled by those that
10 will follow Us; so that when future
es ages shall have advanced beyond US
re- in science and material development,
b there will be nothing particular In
10 onr history to excite their admiration,
TO or claim their gratitude. The South,
we are glad to see, is awakening to the
is subject Of the deepest Importance, as
~ we'll to her present happiness
as to her future glory, that Is
,e, of Thomas Nelson Page has beer
,r- great and far reaching, aud hi
- lectures upon Southern. Literature
NC aud his deep, fervent, and patriotic
I'D ntai est in the S)uth's history: anC
cir her D ace in history, are making Sc
of rious impression upon the minds an'
> hearts OF her people, and are Gaining
Ia them to q halt for time &c conslGer o
Or these things. The South in her mac
in hate to develop her resources, ha
4, not taken time Tor high literary cultl
walton, aud her people, inbued Will
icy the spirit that is abroad, are Cypress
all ed with business cares, or excite
ley with business hopes. Under sue
cir conditions, when everybody is in al
-ds most frenzy about material Pre-
TUE gress, and put money in thy purse
ne is the rule of the day, it Is difhcul
gs, for genius to divert itself from tn
are channels Of trade and commerce, an
devote itself to that WHICH the pres
are emit seldom appreciates and less otte
ing remun0rates, When there are sue
,lic rare opportunities for catching tn
Ier- golden smile of fortune, there are fe
men indeed who are willing to r.
II sign themselves to a life of labarioU
the work and constant thought, that brin
hat no returns commensurate with the
IabGrs, or appreciative of their sacr
-. fees. The man that enteTs llteFatul
Jan with a solid motive, can never rai'
nks it above the level of a trade, nor wi
of his works bear the impress OF genlu
No Genius is the concentration OF IL
mental power and faculties upon
certain line of thought, aud the d
leir yotion Of the mind aud heart to
feet particular subject. 1t is the concel
Tration of the energy, power aud so
Of M IN upon a life work. This
whet the south needs. Needs me
land there ar plenty Of them gittt
lCT with sufficient powers and 6apaoi
; at ties) to Withdraw from the frenzit
Oht struggle for wealth and fortune, al
devo e their lives and energies
literature and learning. Men, VIII
the1 taking no thought of what they shs
Jew eat, what they shall drink, or wher
old withal they shall be clothed, W
of seek first the Kingdom Of letters al
it's glory, trusting that all tnln
NAT ueedfuI will be added unto them.