The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-03
TIMELY RECOGNITION.

see monument erected TO himself, but
we feel perfectly safe in saying That the
sensation would be far from unpleasant.
At least one man in our day has a
chance to find out just how il seems.
That man is IBsEN, and his monument,
without any delay in anticipation Of his
decease, is soon 10 be erected before the
Royal Theater in Christiana. This has
the appearance OF conclusive proof that
in this case, at any rate, prophet does
possess honor in his own country and
among his own kinsmen, and that here is
an instance where great man is appre-
ciated before he dies.
The world as a whole has been rather
severely criticised by many, who mean it
solely for the worlds good, on account OF
its slowness in appreciating and honoring
its worthier minds. Too many, like
MOZART, dying OF hunger in his attic,
have asked for bread and been given a
stone-a costly stone, perhaps, as his was,
its sides chiseled with tributes to the
genius who in life starved for praise as
we'll as bread.
We cannot by any means deny that
large number OF those 10 whose works
we now feel ourselves most indebted were
treated very shabbiIy in their day and
generation. But II is equally true that
the world has never failed to be reminded
OF the faults and failings in this respect.
1t can never be allowed to forget that 1t
stoned STEPHEN and poisoned SOCRATES
and rated MILToN's epic as a long drawn
piece OF stupidity Like the man who is
tormented all his life by having his
youthful blunders flung In his face, so
this world is constantly put in memory
OF what 1t did or didn't do in its past
history. But 1t isn't that same world
today, any more than the man is that
same irresponsible boy. There are people
who make great point of the body's
being renewed every seven years, as the
old physiologies used to tell us, but who
seem to think that change, especially
any change that means growth and re-
newal, is limited simply to this physical
nature OF ours, and who never look
beyond to the fact that there is continual
rebuilding also OF the mind OF man, and
consequently Of the great sum total, the
mind OF humanity, which is "the world"
Taken all in all, mankind today has an
eagerness to learn and know and reward
genius and earnest effort wherever and
however embodied.
And in the cases where the world, by
being over cautious or incredulous, has
defrauded those deserving recognition,
there has never failed to follow the atone
ment for the neglect---a tardy recon-
pense, to be sure, but vastly better than
none at all.
We would hardly feel like prophesying
perhaps that the custom would become
general Of erecting monuments indiscrim-
iDately to the various writers, painters,
musicians andfthe like, whom the world
is ready to honor. There are too many Of
them, and besides there are methods OF
paying tribute to those worthy OF it,
other than the setting up Of stones. But
the fact that IBsEN finds himself thus
materially to be paid homage by his en-
thusiastic admirers and disciples, cannot
but establish precedent, and certainly |
bespeaks future possibilities of generous
and opportune appreciation OF genius in
other quarters.
1t isn't bad idea, this saying q good
word for great man while as yet he in
able to catch the friendly purport OF it.
IBsEN is fortunate man to live to read
his own monument, and the world is
wise and generous in giving him the