The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-27

Arnold was surprised. This lstck OF con
fidence between husband and wife vas moi
usual.
you don't approve Of his literary aspir-
ations, then"
Not at ALL Do you?"
"Im not quite certain" answered
| Arnold, vino had become enough Of doc
tor to carefully hedge when an important
question was put to him. When we were
10 college / took a good deal Of interest 70
the fate Of his poems. Since / have sesl
more Of tue world / have come to the con-
cluslon that in these materiaiistic days It
may be better for man 70 be ii blac.i-
smith rather than genius"
Iagree with you, Sir. Arnold. l know
that harIan longs to devote his life to lit
erature but his father is wrapt up in tie
| idea OF having him lawyer and my sym
pathies are with Mr.. Otis"
But there's another asde to it," re-
marked Arnold, whose face in the last f. Y
years had become sufficiently mature TO
Conform to his stature. Il knew Harlan
very IN Ultimately for four years. | am, #
you viii forgive me for saying 50, inclined
to DOUBT that he will make success as a
| lawyer"
why"
In the first place, because he does not
care for his profession. That is a fearful
handicap from the start. Then again. lie
possesses a creative imagination. 10 a
certain degree such mental characters
tic is valuablein any line Of life. When,
| however, it is sufficiently developed to APP
proach genius it becomes a danger to him
who holds it and menace to those who
expect MIN TO live and move and have his
being like other men,"
She fiinched a little at his words Could
1t he that this man understood Harlan
better than either his father or his wife?
Then you mean" she suggested, that
the creative imagination in making man
poet renders him abnormal"
Perhaps that is it, At all events I am
inclined to think that any conception due
to what we call the inspiration Of genius
Is the outcome Of either permanent or
temporary unhealthy condition of the
mind No perfectly normal oyster has
ever produced pearl. The gem is the
product of disease. great poem is, to
my mind, the highest achievement Of the
human mind, but, like the pearl, its birth
is due to abnormal conditions. Wipe out
OF literature all The poems, iegends stor-
les that were begotten by men in fever,
under the influence of drugs or in the ex-
element of bodily pain and you will
erase much that the world can not afford
to lose"
" Granting that all you say is true" said
Alice, " am, nevertheless, a woman and
don't understand generalities. What I
want is the personal equation. OF course,
our sex can not argue, put tell me this IT,
as you say, the production of a poem is due
to an unhealthy condition Of the mind, is
n tfN
poems2"
All, my dear Mrs Otis, it will make no
difference whether the poet is encouraged
NJ not, so far as his output is concerned,
hs't as regards his personal happiness the
difference may be very great"
For many days Alice poudered these
words. Perhaps they would have borne
good fruit if she had seen her husband
oftener and he had shown all inclination to
be to her more as he had been in those
happy days of their betrothal. But the
fact was that Harlan had gradually become
thoroughly self-absorbed. The influence
that Alice had once welded over him had
lost its force. Sometimes he would look at
her longingly as though craving some
thing she had failed to give him. Some-
times he seemed jealous of the warm
friendship that had grown up between r
and his father Later on he became NO /
lily suspicious OF John Arnold. His only
relief from the worries that his over
wrought nerves produced lay in the ecstasy
of composition. He felt within him grow
ing power IN the realm of poesv, strength
and freedom of utterance that sometimes
gave to his verse a Tilt and melody that
strangely moved those who read his work.
That man Rupert is a true poet" Alex
n had ri h.N DC "a
cut the leaves Of IA current magazine. lis
sou smiled ruefulIy.
Yes" he said, " but he might better be
a lawyer"
Alice was the only one present who heard
the remark and she glanced at her he's
band suspiciously.
a few days later Harlan was seated at li's
desk in his fathers Office copying sou.e
wealisome legal document. The Office bo,
brolght him a letter. 1t was post.AlrleI
New York"
My DEAR MR. OTIs:-
viii yoa forgive me il take the liberty
of sending you few lines to tell yot how
much | admire your recent poems. IA
that dreamy past when we 50 often talk
of your future / did not realize that yOtr
genius was us great as you have prove
To be. You may wonder for "a moment 20 "
| know that yod and Rupert are one isi.l
the same. If your memory is not at ! u. t
you will recall that you once discuss Il
with me the al9tif Of your last poeGi--a
poem that mas made the name of hupett
famous. AS tie years have gone by nae
found tnat the cnlei longing of my life VS.
To nave YOU fulfill the destiny that Fate
marked out for you. How much [ rejoice
in yoar success -ou cannot know. 1t lnav
be that you have even forgotten my eX-
istencc. But, be assured, not an hour O.
my life passes that DO not think of YOU
and of the past. 1t is my only Joy to read
what you write and to see that the talents
nature gave you are being worthily em-
ployed. | send this note to you in the
friendliest spirit. hoping that in your lit
erary career you are receiving that
encouragement and sympathy that | know
your temperament demands. Iwish we
could have-but that is ABSURD. find that
| am more selfish than | thought | wa
Again l ask your pardon for intrudin
upon your time, and trust that you wi
accept my little effort at applause in TT
spirit in which it is sent.
Sincerely yours,
RHODA BARR.
Harlan turned pale as he read these
words. From that moment he lOnped to