Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-22
VERSATILITY.

There are some very ancient ana
oyster-like fogies," who quite graVely
/ lay it down that man cannot do more
/ than one thing WE'LL. l do not mean
at a time. but during his life. Thus
they would have a clergyman nothing
| but a theologican, a soldier nothing
| but a military engineer and tacticlan,
and so on through the range OF the
professions. They have holy horror
| of too many irons in the fire. They
deny that the best refreshment of
mind is a change of pursuits, just as
/ the best repose for the human body is
q change of exercise, and yet volumes
might be filed with the proofs of the
falacy of this fogy theory. This coun-
try would not have been what 1t is
if the American people had not been
| many sided people, and the individuals
composing il each being able TO put
his hand to anything. Let us then not
tell a man to do only one thing all his
life. but rather encourage him to DO
as many things as he can do well. Inc
past is full of encouragement to those
who have a variety of tastes, and wish
to crafty them all in their pursuits.
"Beneyenuto Cellini," who flourished IN
the sixteenth century, was sculptor,
engraver, goldsmith, an adroit master
of arms, an accomplished military en-
gineer, and a good writer both in
Latin and Italian. When the Con-
stable of Bourbon besieged Rome,
Cellini was entrusted with its
defences and with one cannon
shot killed the constable, and with an
other the Prince Of Orange. But what
shall we say to Michael Angelo, one OF
the mightiest upon the roll of fame?
He was equally eminent in painting,
sculture and architecture; his sonnets
prove him to have been a no mean
poet. while in minor accomplishments
he excelled his contemporaries. He
was a perfect master Of the sword, and
no fencer of his time could disarm him.
In his sixteenth year he executed his
first work-marble. The first attempt
at fresco painting, the dome Of the
Listine Chapel was masterpiece. AT
the age of sixty he commenced the
painting of "The Last Judgment" the
most sublime of artistic productions.
At seventy-twO years Of age he under
took the continuation OF st. Peers,
and built the campedoglio Il the
FameSe palace. He was fine poet, as
l have remarked. a thorough anatomist,
and an excellent lecturer and
prose writer. He did many things and
he did them all WELL.
Paul Peters Rubens was not only the
glory of the Flemish school Of paint
ing. but an excellent scholar and
writer, and possessed Of such fine gem
eral talents that at a very critical
period he was appointed to negotiate
a treay Of peace between Spain and
England.
Blaumachais the author Of the Bar
Der of Seville" and Marriage OF
Figaro" was a matchmaker, musician,
song writer, dramatist. man of pleas
ure. man Of business, financier, manu-
facturer. editor, shipping merchant,
diplomatist. and orator. exercising al
most every trade, like his own
Figaro"
could fill up several columns with
only the briefest illusions TO the diff
ferent men Of mark who, in the pro-
gress Of the worlds history, have illus
trated the truth-that one man, in his
day, may play many parts, and play
them all WELL.
It is people who are afraid of work,
who sheer at Jack Of all trades; good
at none"
Versatility, as I remarked before, |
strongly characterizes the Yankee"
If a Yankee wants anything done well, !
he does it himself, and it is his habit
of not trusting to others, or doubling
his own resources. which have made |
him the go ahead and successful being !
that he Is.