Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-28
The Frost on the Window


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IL a beautiful sight 10 genius at play. saw
such sight the other night, and Il convinced me
would have done II had needed to be con-
vinced that Edisons definition OF genius nothins
but hard work.. stick-to-lt-iveness and common
sense" II utterly wrong and only be regarded az
a modest disclaimer
The incident occurred on a railroad train. It was
a cold night and the frosted windows resembled
squares OF sparkling white paper. Just ahead OF
was little boy who might have been 10 years OLD.
though he looked tiny for TO- Notwithstanding tho
big spectaces that he wore.
lie facing me. seated with his father and
younger brother. The whtened glass caught his a.
tention. and dreamy look into his eyes. an5
then. slowly. his right hand lifted and poised be-
fore the pane. One could idea shaping itself
in his mind
Then his forefinger touched the glass and left
mark meaningless for all but himself Several rapid
strokes followed. making other marks all equally
unntelgible to an onlooker. Sometimes the slender
little finger hesitated and remained poised for half
minute moving this way and that in the air As If
measure were being taken mentally. Then It would
fall with decision and a sharply defined black line
spot. would appear.
II several minutes before few swift co-or-
dnating strokes suddenly revealed the plan that had
from the beginning been in the boys mind, and now
everybody around sat up and took notice.
On the frosty background stood forth a human
face striking, expressive true TO nature, grinnng.
humorous csrtcature IN which the exaggeration OF
the lines only such experienced artist would
have used, so that the whole effect the pas
sengers who had been looking smiles and mods
Of appreciation, admiration and astonishment Wits
pers ran around. delighted chuckIes heard necks
were craned, people got up to look from across the
aisle.
In word, genius had suddenly proclaimed It's
presence I'm that prosac places had after its manner
applied its magic TO the first materials that came 70
hand and Immediately medocrity bowed TO It on all
sides There were two intelligent-iooking Cinnamon
on the opposite side Of the and their delight
pleasant to SEQ. Genius all lines ap-
peas to universal human nature. oud Confucius him
self would have smiled and spplauded IL he had been
there.
Meanwhile the boy Of the admiration
he was awaking; his attention absorbed In what
no doing. and he doing Il because he couldn't
help It. spark of divine creative fire that made
Rubens. Rembrandt. Raphael Teuiers n Michael
Angelo. Hogarth. burning In him. and 1t turned
the cold rhine into picture that made the spectators
forget the chill air and drew them together in tho
coy warmth of human sympathy,
OF course the little artist must have had instruc-
onthe certainty of his strokes attested that but 4
was equally clear that the force operating born
In his soul. free gift nature and not the
result OF ''stickto-itiveness" simple hard work.
For genius all work Din its line) - play, and all play
Is work
After while he drew another no less effective
picture beside tho first and half an hour he
was the same unconscious master in that car exer.
csing mysterious power over all minds Then the
him on with his little overcoat and he disappeared
from many admrng eyes in the outer darkness
Immediately afterward slouchng young fellow,
with half-burned cigarette hanging from the corner
OF his mouth and an air Of "up-to-date' mpudencc
and unintelgence, Topped himself into the seat that
the boy had occupied cast uncomprchending glance
at the drawings on the window flung his head drunk
emily against IT, and with swoop Of his oblterated
the creation OF genius
II is better that genius should be a gift and not
an requirements. world full Of nothing but geniuses
would be uncomfortable. II not uninhabiahie All men
are created equal in their right llfe liberty and
tho pursuit OF happiness; but they are not equally
gifted Yet all have gifts of kind ana the secret
OF happiness Is to find out what your particular gift
is and then develop II 10 the utmost
You may have talent, II not genius and talent
which Is peculiarly subject the benign influence
OF hard work. often leads greater success (of
the Kind that is most widely esteemed in this world
than genius can attain So when you see genius don't
let II awaken envy In SOUL take your ehara
In its gift by enjoying It's achievements
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