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Show I Vrhen iirneniilny described &T O 1 . R It f that tiresome Xew Zealand- Kelative Ments ct er standing on the o GeniuS and Talent London bridge and viewing By LINDSAY SWIFT tJie wreck of empire, he I 1 omitted to state that this ' , I traveler of the future would tad on the parapets two worthies discussing the relative merits of pemus and talent. This problem will continife to hold the boards long after the protective tariff and capital punishment haoe ceased to be subjects for debate. "What are these two qualSies or possessions of human mind? Bulwer called talent "doing something better than others," and that, will answer very well. If there were not an immense amount of talent in the world there would not be so much success, and the movement of life would bo backward, not forward. Yw; must not minimize the importance of talent. But what is genius? Ij it the highest degree of talent; or is it something some-thing wholly distinct a special gift to certain rare individuals? Does it partake in a measure of the divine or creative power, or is it a survival of that fiercer primitive energy so necessary to the survival of man or ouiuuu iv iieu me was oniy a .iepentte struggle to exist nt all. Mr. Henry Adams, in his remark-able '-'Lei tor to the American Teach, ers of History," speaks of (he eocene lemur as probably the most energetic creature that ever came into being, and man has probably lost a large measure meas-ure of the original force such an animal possessed. Certain it, is that when we think of the greatest intelligences that ever lived we name some of the ancients out of all proportion lo the moderns. Perhaps it would not be going too far lo say that Aristotle and Julius Caesar were the greatest individuals Ibis planet has produced, it seems to be true that with the enormous increase of human efficiency and of applied talent that the appearance of indubitable genius of the highest order becomes rarer. But we may, I think, dismiss any consideration of these marvelous personalities of every age. Their position is fi.vod and unassailable. 'There is also an every-day genius-tlic unusual capacity displayed in our common life, that is well worth our at ten! ion. Most of us go along evenly day after day, accepting the fruits, of the past, but not letting our wits work lo better things, or to introduce any new tone into human conditions. I A very simple instance of the application of this quality of genius into ordinary affairs is shown by that simple little invention suggested by Ben Franklin on one of bis several voyages across (lie Atlantic. The ship's cook wanted to make pea soup, but could find no way to grind up the peas to a suitable consistency. "Put a ten-pound shot in (he pot," said the marvelous Benjamin, "and the molion of the vessel will grind the peas." Simple enough, when a man liko Franklin has first thought of if. J Now the man of talent will take up thnse wonderfully simple, yet potentially great ideas and will improve upon them, introduce them to the world, and will do what the gen- , . ius often cannot do -make money facCtt V out of his ability and skill. - |