The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-08-03
Originality.

1t is fact, scarcely apparent upon
it's face, that the ideas put forth by the
average human mind are preconcep-
tions of other intellects. For instance
your idea of originality is, we may as
sumo, similar to mine, because our idea
of the words meaning is not original.
Pre-expressed ideas have so habituated
our minds to it's meaning that we &C
cept it as our own. Precisely so with
the larger number of our cherished
ideas, they are ours only by adoption;
we have not produced or made them
ours by the labored investigation of our
own brain. With this idea before us
we have less difficulty in analyzing the
originality of those with whom we come
in contact. We must thoroughly grasp
the meaning of the word "originaI."
Procreation, says one, holding up an Edi-
son or Darwin as an example. But the
idea generated in their minds may be
enlarged and developed by another and,
therefore. equally original mind. Again,
the same idea may be evolved by two
minds and be original with each; for
instance Webster's on government "The
peoples Government, made for the
people, made by the people, and
administered to the people, with
LincOm's, "a Government of the
people, for the people, and by the peo-
ple." This, and similar instances, would
indicate that original minds, bent in
the same direction would in the end
arrive at, and express the same idea.
ivy hnc ;c
shown by taking fundamental idea,
zone that has been with us since history
began and applying it to another field
an entirely original line of thought: as
did Bacon with Aristotle's idea Of utili-
tarianism: as has been done by Ameri-
ca with democracy. Or we may revise
this and send flashing across an old
field of thought. some new idea that
revOlutionizes the doctrines of the day,
that forces the mind from the beaten
path of ages, and opens to active intel
lects new fields of thought and action.
From this we see that originality may
be expressed in several ways. First,
procreation, the begetting of primary
idea: Second, by, development, the
adoption of the prOcreated idea of an
other, broadening, improving and beau
tifying it: Again, by creating from an
old idea new field of thought: Still
further by applying a new idea to an
old field of thought. These four phases
of originality contain all that pertains
to the true meaning Of the word Origi-
nal. SO then in analyzing the intellects
of those with whom we associate, if our
ultimate analysis does not bring them
under one Of these divisions it may be
safely concluded that they are devoid
of originality, or rather that their orig
inality is that of expression. not con-
ceptiOn. TO grasp this, it is only neces-
sary to know that there exist countless
stock ideas, upon which the average
intellect unconsciously feeds, and from
which conclusions are derived that,
seemingly original, have been drawn by
other minds before them. In other
words the human mind in all the vary
ing conditions of race. time and place,
yet remains essentially the same. But
when we find among our associates one
who stands out in strong relief from
the ideas, the doctrines, the principles
by which he is surrounded, look upon
him with clear eyes, for given the oc-
casiOn, the uncut stone might shine
FORTH a polished gem of originality.
LEONARDUS.
Tn the GLOW ar incandeScent lamD