Yellowstone monitor., 1908-07-09
THE FLOWERING OF GENIUS
By Mrs. John A. Logan.


of an inventive character. The proba-
bilities are that this comes from the
mingling of blood from all nations
with that Of our own, the environment
which encompasses the encouragement
given to every aspirant for recognition
along all lines by our government and
philanthropic individuals.
We have sometimes thought that
mistakes have been made by doing too
much for supposed geniuses. They
have not always been allowed to endure
the whips and scorns of outrageous
fortune or been spurred to their utmost
endeavor to develop the talent that
was within them, but have been per-
mitted to slacken their energies by
supplying them with too many luxuries.
There is no denying the old adage
that necessity is the mother of inven-
ton. - The greatest achievements the
world has ever witnessed have been the
result of dire necessity and dauntless
courage in conflict with poverty and
adverse conditions.
Genius is Unborn, but it's develop
ment must come from human endeavor
and the environment of it's possessor
will doubtless contribute to it's final
triumph.
! am much inclined to believe that
this is not an age of greatness because
we have few great soldiers, statesmen,
authors, artists, theologians, orators or
dramatists in comparison with the past
and considering our present population.
On the other hand, we certainly have
far superior geniuses in the line of in
ventions and practical matters.
There never was an age when there
was so much genius displayed in dis
coveries in electricity and the marvel
Gus impetus which its discovery has
given to civilization. Investigations
which have discovered remedies for
diseases in man and beast have been in
calculable in their benefits.
The vast mineral and agricultural
resources of America have created a
demand for the products OF inventive
genius that would enable men to reap
the richest harvest through their de-
velopment. Anticipating abundant re-
ward has inspired prodigious effort on
TIE part of professors of talent along
practical lines and has wrought mar
Velous achievements that have added
many millions to the wealth of the ma
tion.
Obsolete and tardy methods have
been abandoned to adopt new inven-
tions which have advanced civilization
with incredible speed. The rapid null
tiplying of the population in this new
country of ours has driven the greatest
minds of our time into utilitarian
channels, leaving little time and offer
ing small encouragement to the artists
and literary geniuses who have doubt
less been present in every generation.
The past few years have demon
strated that it is oniv question of
time when master minis will appear
in the fields of art, literature, science,
oratory, the drama, the church and the
state.
Education, the legitimate forerunner
of genius in the fields enumerated, has
been spread broadcast throughout the
boundaries of our fair land, creating
higher ambitions, giving encourage
ment fol the cultivation of every talent
and making it itpossible for every mind
to come within its helpful scope.
If the self-made men of whom the
nation is so proud had been helped a
little in the struggle they made to cul-
tivate the talents with which they were
endowed, what might they not have
achieved? No amount of application
and earnest endeavor can supply the
place of God-given gifts, but with the
energy and aspirations which force
men to employ every means at their
command for the development of their
heaven-born endowments they are lost
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