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Show H It's Work That Counts Hi y-1 MBRSON divides the intellects of men into HI p the discerning and creative, and illustrates Hg by saying: j "Perhaps if we should meet Shakespeare, we H should not bo conscious of any steep inferiority; H no; but of a great equality only that ho pos- H sessed a -strange skill of using, classifying, his H facts, which we lacked. But notwithstanding our H utter incapacity to produce anything like "Ham- H let" and "Othello," see the perfect reception this Hn Wit) and immense knowledge of life and liquid B eloquence- And in us all." B "Which is but another way of saying that the H man who has a quick appreciation of anything m beautiful in knowledge or in literature, could, 1 , were he to try hard enough, acquire a way to give j it expression in words. That is true, but the H manner of expression depends upon other facul- 1 ties. When Daniel Webster was in his last hours H on earth, he opened his eyes, looked around, and said: "I still live." When tho old New Hamp- shire farmer went home from Boston, and in re- H ; sponse to his wife's inquiry what Mr. Webster's M last words were, replied: "Ho opened his eyes, M looked around, and said: 'I ain't dead yet.'" The H two ways of expressing tho same thought, mark i the difference between tho immortal and the H, earthly, and there is a dividing line between the Hj two tfoat can never be crossed in this world, I though possibly in full health the old farmer would have enjoyed a grand presentation of ( "Othello" as much as would have Mr. Webster. H( Two artists havo congenial tastes, they are H educated alike. One, in addition to his artistic Hg temperament, has a mechanical hand, the other B has not; the one paints pictures that charm man- H kind; tho other can never give expression to his H thoughts on canvas, and paints only daubs. Again, WM both may have genius, both may have a natural H mechanical gift, but one has no clear Idea of col- H ors. They both have clear ideas of what they H desire to produce, the one can nover give full ex- H presslon to his thought, while the other can take H the other's picture, and by adding a tint here, H softening down and shading another part, In an M hour produce in full the thought that was In the 1 first artist's mind when he painted the picture. Hjl by those ew touches transforming the whole pic- H ture and making something which is a delight. M But the solid facts of literature and or all 1 forms of knowledge nearly all men can acquire, K if they are but persistent and industrious enough. IH Tt Is. in this intellectual energy that most men ' break down. And often, too, on the very verge of H accomplishment. H i The same Emerson says: "Let him Intend his H mind without respite, without rest, in one dlrec- K ; tlon. His best heed, long time avails him noth-L Bf ing. Yet thoughts are flitting before him. W 1 all but apprehend, we dimly forbode the truth. Wte '1 say, T will walk abroad, and the truth will take 'i form and clearance to me. Wo go forth, but H I cannot find It. It seems as If we heeded only the Kf stillness and composed attitude of the library tBk 1 seize the thought. But we come in, and are a! far from It as at first. Then, In a moment, and unannounced, tho truth appears." That experience is in every writer's, in every orator's life. A thought, half formed, dances before be-fore the eyes of his mind, but he cannot reduce it to form and give it expression. He works upon it, he says, "I will go out, take a walk, and it will come to me," he tries that and falls, he returns to his study, it seems as far away and intangible as ever, when suddenly it unfolds in perfect form before him. Every newspaper editor who has gone through a long array of exchanges and found no thought that helps him, but has In mind the fact that a certain space must bo filled for next day, struggles strug-gles for an opening In his work, and lo! at last It comes to him, and he cannot write fast enough to keep up with his thoughts. The secret behind all is that man must work without ceasing, no matter what his calling. Labor is tho omnipotent thing, and when wooed enough, it brings its reward, and it is as sweet as Is tho betrothel kiss of tho fair girl who, after long wooing, finally gives full fealty to her lover. |