Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1881 — Genins and Easiness. [ARTICLE]

Genins and Easiness.

About as foolish a notion as can lodge itself in the head of a young man is the idea that he is a genius, and, therefore, industry is not necessary to his success. The example of Sheridan, who united in himself the endowments of three extraordinary men, being a wit, a dramatist and an orator, is not infrequently mentioned as supporting this notion. Sheridan was a genius, and he was lazy. His indolence, however, together with his dissipated and prodigal habits — the three are natural associates — weighted him so heavily in life’s race that it was only now and then he appeared among the foremost. He never reached the goal. Even these appearances were due to spurts of hard work, to which he was spurred by the necessities of the occasion or the protests of friends. “ You know I am an ignoramus,” he would say to political associates, when they urged him to make a speech on some important measure before the House of Commons, “but instruct me, and I'll do my best” They would cram him with information, which his quick intellect mastered and arranged. Then he would prepare a speech, writing the more brilliant parts two or three times over.

The greatest speech of his life was that which he delivered in the House of Commons, against Warren Hastings, on the question whether he should be impeached for his conduct while Governor General of India. The best orators and critics placed it above all ancient and modern speeches. Logan, one of Hastings’ defenders, said to a friend, after Sheridan had spoken for an hour: “All this is declamatory assertion without proof. ” “A wonderful oration 1” he muttered, when the orator had consumed another hour. “Mr. Hastings has acted very unjustifiably,” was his confession at the end of the third hour. The fourth hour drew from him the indignant assertion, “Mr. Hastings is a most atrocious criminal!” The orator went on, and, just as he was concluding—he spoke five and a half hours—Logan exclaimed, “Of all monsters, the most enormous is Warren Hastings 1 ” It is not strange that Pitt, at the conclusion of the speech, moved an adjournment to give the House time “to collect its reason.” Of course, it was the product of a genius who was a natural orator. But genius had been hard at work for days, preparing with elaborate care even the pettiest details of the wonderful oration. Sheridan, though habitually lazy, could, in special emergencies, toil like a cart-horse drawing a load up hill. He had, at times, “the capacity for infinite pains-taking,” which is Carlyle’s definition of genius. If young men will add this idea to their notion of genius, it will do them no harm to think themselves members of that endowed class. — Youth's Companion.