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Show THROUGH A fersiaris Eyes By JEAN NEWTON WHAT IS ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT? brings, for tlfe pleasure and Joy the worker derives from it. To my mind it is not true that those of us ' who happen to have this privilege have the right also to expect from others more than the usual give anrt take nor to be excused, on the ground of "artistic temperament.'' i from the ordinary amenities or ob ligations which are reciprocal with all of us. What is "artistic temperament"? Is it a gift for creative work, or Is it a cloak for selfishness, laziness, and a lack of self-control? . 1933, Bell Syndicate. WNU Service THE English writer, Mr. St. John Adcock, tells the story of a young artist who excused his poor physique, which he made no effort to improve, with the remark, "A highly sensitive and artistic temperament tem-perament invariably goes with bad health." "Strange, then, what a healthy specimen Browning was and Shakespeare, Shake-speare, and MIchaelangelo!" replies re-plies Mr. Adcock, adding: "Frankly, I think we are too ready to confuse artistic temperament with things that have nothing to do with It I How many of Us have thought that when people tried to excuse all sorts of weaknesses and failings by their license as "artists"! It is not only a delicate consti ; tution that has long been mistakenl associated with the artistic temper anient. How about a disinclination or "inability" to work except un der special inspiration? How aboul the parasitical attitude that the world or the ordinary, prosair members of a family owe a Hviup to the "artist" and leisure to pursue his sacred art? How about a gen oral feeling of contemptuousness 01 at -least superiority over the mun dane wo'rld which justifies its exisi ence-by-means other than following the muses? . - This covering a multitude of sin-with sin-with the "artistic temperament" is something that is rightly debunke i It is true that certain kinds of crea tive work requires a greater degiv. of concentration and an .opportunit y for greater detachment from routitu matters than work which is in self., routine. -Lt -Is also, true that such work Is a privilege and a bless ; in" for the--greater satisfaction it j |