The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-15
THE WOES or GENIUS.
Fame and Misery Are Usually Insep-
arabic Companions.

From the New York Mail and Express.
Genius is traditiona.ly unhappy and un-
fortunate. Whether the greatest minds
are susceptible OF tho greatest passions
and capable of the greatest misery, or
whether by the law of compensation the
capacity for pure enjoyment and the gift
of adaptabilty are omitted from the
makeup of a genius, is question to be
decided perhaps, only in particular in
stances and not in the abstract. Such
accounts as are given of the private
lives of literary celebrities, however
seem to confirm the idea that q genius
has not the faculty for happy domestic
existence or else is most unfortunate
In selecting a life partner.
But aside from this phase of the matter
there is the incont rovertblc tact that
genius is oft misunderstood, unappeciaf-
ed and denied. From the genius is with
held In life the recognition he must ale
to gain. The struggle not only for fame,
but for the maintenance Of Il principle
and the necessities OF existence oft has
ended in tragedy Great men have suffer-
ed from their greatness. Columbus, Tor
instance, was laughed at for daring to
think the earth was round and died mis-
erably in chains. Calico was thrown
into prison for hts theories about the sun
and stars.
some Unhappy Geniuses.
Many men of literary genius seem to
have been singularly unhappy in their
love affairs and marriages. The most
brilliant minds have been allied TO Wo-
men OF mediocre intellect; utterly lack
ing in appreciation. The wife OF Racine
took no interest in the great poets work,
oI1p nf
Moliere was likewise unhappy In his mar
ried life, and the rites of sepulture were
refused him because he had been an
actor Chatterton, 1.-The marve.ous boy
who persisted In his pride" Is one OF the
most pathetic figures in literary history
Dire poverty was the lot of this young
genius. who spent his last farthing Tor
poison.
More than one author has been thrown
into prison Cervantes wrote the nrst
part of Don Qulxote" behind the bars,
John Bunyan languished miserably In
prison for years, and there wrote his Phi
grim's Progress" Richard Lovelace' the
cavalier poet, also knew the hardships OF
prison life Milton wrote his immortai
epic in domestic discord. Financial and
political troubles overlook him nnd did
not tend TO soften his wife's sharp
tongue The daughters to whom he dic-
tated Paradise Lost he had given put
a rudmentary education, and this work
was consequently a fearful trlal or pa
thence on both sides. William Cowper had
frequent hts of insanity, Rare" Ben
johnson was wretched.y poor. Drydens
wife made home so unpleasant for him
that most OF his me was spent at Wils
coffee house Goldsmith was both poor
aud unhappy. Creditors. physical awk-
wardness and a hopeless love AFFAIR COM
bined to make life wretched for the gentle
author. Pope. sick.y and deformed, was
fouied by his adored Lady Mary Weniy
Montague. and altogether the poor little
wasp Of Twiekenham" had an unhoppy
time Of 1t.
Poetry Allied to Unhappiness.
Poetry and unhappiness seem to nave
gone hand In hand in many Instances.
shelbv's life and brilliant genius were
c,ouded by domestic troubles From his
marriage. at 10, TO his death by drowning.
nj 20. he went through many tragic and
irving experiences Consumption shat
tered his career His body was cremated,
except the heart which was taken Dy
his wife TO England after the ashes had
been buried in the picturesque cemetery
AT Rome. The slab over his grave bears
the inscription "Corcordium.
Ryron's stormy life Is almost exception
al He endured most Ol itc
can posslbly befall mankind. The story
of his bitter experiences and Lonely death
h well known One of the saddest chap
ters I'm all literature Is the short life
OF John Keats--brilliant,. severely critt-
cised. misunderstood by the woman he
loved. and doomed TO death by consump-
ton at 25. A short time before ne died
he said he "felt the daisies growing over
his grave" and on his tomb are engraved
nv his own wish the memorable words:
Here lies one whose name was writ IN
water"
Mozart suffered from love AFFAIR that
cast discord over his peaceful life; Dante
wandered in exile, Homer was bind ana
prosecuted. Beethoven, master OF music,
was deaf to its melody. Poe's poverty ana
tendency 10 drink, together with the piu-
ful death OF his young wife. well nigh
drove him to madness. Edwin Booths
sensitive spirit was broken by financial
misfortunes and domestic bereavements.
uleanora Duse's life is sad tragedy
which has made Of her morbid woman
The list grows long, but these are not
All CHANGING over the worlds greatest
names. II will be seen that misery has oft
beon linked with fame. Fate, perhaps.
with a grim sense OF justice, deals out
the greatest sorrows with the greatest
gifts.
s-~->-----------
MRS. CARRIE NATION.