The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-03-12
GENIUS, AND WHAT
CONSTITUTES IT
An Inmate Gives his Views as to What
is Required to Make a "Simon Pure"
Genius, and Incidentally Advances
Mighty Good Advice
By Book Worm''

To be genius and let the world
know it, or to feel that you are
genius aud be content to be recog-
nized by only few. are two differ
ent versions of the subject. Some
men will tell you. there are many
wise heads, or in fact, wise heads of
all professions, among the down.
and outs of today.
Among the laboring classes of our
large cities and even among the
tramps and petty pilferers beating
their way around tie country. They
will even 90 50 far as to recite old
embalmed stories of men who have
stepped into the limelight of public
ity for day only. and have showed
their efficient knowledge of some
one subject, receiving high
honors for their sayings or deeds Of
valor, only to dispose of them aim
lessly and return to the class of
recognizable down-and-outs from
which they came.
They will tell of the great speeches
OF some empty pocketed agitator
who collects crowd at the street
corners and hurls anarchy and nom
patriotism into the minds of true
Americans. But, are these men
geniuses? Can a man who wishes
to succeed remain in his own she'll
and only at intervals dispose of
little already circulated knowledge,
be called genius? If so. pray what
should we call those men who have
elevated the world in science and
placed us in position to do what
the Wise Men of Old would call
witchcraft and sorcery? What
should we call them? There is no
title higher than a genius and yet
even though they are the real gent
uses of the world we allow some ap-
spoken individuals to share the
honors of the title with them.
The Real Genius
A man who is recognized as being
a genius by literate and educated
people, is one who tells what he
knows when he knows it, and does
what he knows how to do, at all
times. He must not be content to
keep any knowledge that he pos
sesses to himself, like a miser keeps
his gold and only at intervals hint
and make unapprec1able statesments
to few who happen to be in his
own life of unrecognized disreputa-
bility. He must seek to have his
knowledge: if it be knowledge that
he possesses, to reach out and APP
pear before the eyes of the people.
and then when he has them on
his wire. keep them there by i'm
proving his speech or art. whatever
it may be, and in that way he can
gradually ascend to real. honorable
title of being a genius.
The Cookbook says, Seek and
you shall find, ask and IT shall be
given" So, if you and l wish to
reach out and above those who are
willing to only half believe In our
ability and yet not help us to be
recognized as being what we our
selves believe we are; we must seek
to show our efficient knowledge to
the great multitudes and then we
can be the proud possessors of the
real title genius.
If you have little piece to speak
or little act to accomplish. Now,
is the time to speak or accomplish
it and if it be eligible to become
recognized as step. in your
ascent toward becoming a genius,
the world will acclaim and you will
feel that peace of mind and heart
which goes to show that you are
endeavoring to become a ge"iu be-
fore the great worlds eye. Not
alone your own.