The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-09-02
IS GENIUS DENSABLE?
BY HARRIET cowLEv.

Whoever Is born with superior mem
tai powers must pay a penalty. Such
persons are not satisfied to work In a
common field. They struggle for
higher one 10 which admittance Ii de-
MED them until their fitness for It Ii
recognized. And how many a mute
inglorious Milton" has lived and died
without any such recognition while his
untalented brother has won high po-
sition. The same Is often true.of one
who loves madly. The very intensity
. of his person robs him Of his GOODNESS.
He frets and fumes while a rival I'M
moved by sentiment lays siege TO the
maiden and wins her by regular ap.
proacbes.
When John Gregory went to college
he expected to lead his fellow students
as he had led his schoolmates and aft
erward TO lead the world as he had
led his university associates. The
only other being he loved except him
self was Bertha Avery. and he loved
her far better than himself. II was
Bertha who was accountable for her
lovers self admiration. She recognized
his superior endowments and ca!lrd
his attention TO them. Therefore he.
believing that through them he would
win and hold her love. came 10 set
great store by them.
John was graduated nj the head of
his class. Not only this. but he was
the college literary light OF his time.
editor Of the university magazine and
winner OF all the prizes given for es-
says. Indeed. SO marked was his sue
cess as n college scribbler that he de-
termined 10 enter the field OF litera-
ture. He was never quite sure that
Bertha ioved him-indeed. she had
never told him that she did-and he
did not expect to make the conquest OF
her heart I'LL he could lay a laurel
wreath ut her feet.
John entered his chosen field encour-
aged by all. There was no doubt that
he had very superior literary faculties.
He entered the editorial service Of a
magazine for an income. proposing to
write out Of Office hours. He soon con-
cluded that TO win the success he COW
eted he must furnish something in an
original vein. To swim in the great
ocean OF the commonplace did not
please him. The first important story
he wrote was a satire on certain fads
OF the day. He had resolved not to
embarrass his employers by offering
them any OF his work. so he sent his
satire TO another magazine. II was re-
turned with the Endorsement that II
| was too good for the class OF readers
of that particular magazine.
Meanwhile as editor he was accept
Ing stories Of one jefferson Spangler.
Tbey were not 10 be considered as
within the realms Of literature. but
they seemed 10 please people who had
little or no literary taste. Spaugler
was n connection OF Bertha Avery's.
and she had introduced him TO John,
asking him TO help one Of whose liter
AIRY ability she had poor opinion. but
who was very ''amIable. deserving
fellow" John published some OF the
young mans productions partly to fa-
yor Bertha and partly because they
helped to widen the circle Of the mag
azine. At least so thought the editor In
chief and owner
While John was experimenting with
different novelties TO attract the atten-
ton OF the public TO his work be main
tained a sort Of indefinite understand.
ing with Miss Avery. lie would not
ask for her til be had met the coveted
success. lie always had something
under way or finished which be hoped
would make the expected bit. Bertha
encouraged him 10 push on and he
would eventually reap the reward OF
his perseverance. But. though many
OF his works were recognized BY
few as scintiIlatIons ~ genius. only
those OF which be himself had an In
different opinion found their way Into
print One or two stories OF marked
originality were published and attract
cd some favorable comment. but not
enough 10 Ok the attention Of the pub.
lie on the writer.
Meanwhile jefferson spangler was
blowing In the field Of mediocrity. In
time he published novel which met
with moderate success. John Greg
DRY. surprised. read u. or all Of Il he
could force himself 10 read. and won.
dered. But what was bis chagrin
when the owners OF the magazine with
which he was connected told him that
the next issue would contain a like
ness and notice OF the new literary
light and that they had decided to
boom" him.
While Gregory had been trying to
|iash In upon the public by brilliant
iroke. humble spangler had been
lowly crawling up upon u. lie pos
lesscd homely faculty Of postraying
be common events entering into the
Ives Of ordinary people. Having
reached point where capital conclud.
I'd that Il could make his work profita-
bic. he had nothing more to do but
WELD bis pen. Capital did the rest.
Within a few years publishers were
competing for his next novel and Of.
fering him fancy royalties for II.
The next chapter in John Grcgory's