The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-02-01
Never Acquired With Ease

never acquired Win Ease
After listening to beautiful violin solo render
ed on Christmas day. it occurred to that the time is
ripe for few remarks upon that unknown quantity
commonly referred to as talent" 1t may be that
some of you wishing that you had musical tai
ent" and that it would enable you play the violin
we'll as the young who rendered the solo.
If our premise is correct. give your serious atten.
ton to the following paragraphs which intended
to open eyes in regard to the foolish ideas PEG.
pie have concerning The Talented
As someone has said, Talent requires cultiva-
ton that only be enjoyed by those who pay the
price" We know this to be true People with no
outward sign of talent have often told us they did
not understand the talented. They considered them
fortunate folks. who by favor of the gods, liv
ed charmingly and easily; just drifting through
life of sunshine and flowers. We know this idea to
be gross mistake They are unaware of the long.
dark and hard years of study, sef-denia and resist
ance from the outside and within
The cultivation of talent calls for iron purpose;
it is not self-perfectine thing. An almost grim
obstinacy is required from the outset if it is to be
urged from flower to fruit, ripening to harvest.
Parents friends conventions, even itself may
be it's foes. To succeed you must not only have
founding spirit we'll.
great many people have talent. but they
pay the price of cutivating it. That is to say,
they have not character enough to deny themselves
few seemingly pleasures that conflict with their
studies They cannot keep their talent alive be-
cause they do have faith in their ability to 90
ahead and do what must be done before they
JOY the fruits of their labor They are in hurry,
they want to learn at once-quick
There is no royal road to musical education.
If you want to become musician mot horn blow
cry you must study music, you must think music,
live music and try to advance little each day; to
take advantage of every chance to learn. If you
live to be ninety years old and spend eighty of it in
studying music you will still be able to learn
each day about your profession.
Now while you are envious of this young mans
violin playing just stop and think about the time he
has spent in learning and in the cultivation of his
talent. While you out in vacant lot,
playing "one-'o-cat," he was at home running
through his exercises; while you were chasing
around at night he was home learning his scales;
while you were hanging around some pool
hail. he was putting in overtime his studies; and
now while he is accomplished viollnist and plays
his violin the stage, you sit out front wishing
that you could take his place. Who knows, but
what you might have become just as good in some
profession, if you had only put your spare time in
study instead of running the streets. Whenever
you see some other fellow being who is a celebrated
musician. famous author, a noted lawyer, do not
envy him without giving backward glance over
your own life Again we say, that it requires
clear, creative mind brave and astounding spirit
and serious purpose to cultivate talent Think it
over-Ex.