I have thought an Interesting and
instructive essay might be written on
the defects in the celebrated works of
genius. Not for the mere purpose of
pointing them out, Heaven forbid !"
Dut to snow or now nine consequence
thev are. One mightthink such a lesson
altogether trite and unnecessary ; but
every once in a while the community is
subject 10 tne aisturoanceot some noisy
tyro who has found "defects" in Dante,
or Shakespeare, or Milton, or Michael
Angelo. or Raphael, or some other man
not so famous, Dut wnose artisue per
sonality the world likes, and likes for
good reason. The fact is, that there are
tew or no perfect wonts oi art; anu tne
grander the work in physical and spiri
tual dimensions, and in Its impression
upon mankind, the more apt are defects
to show themselves. In a sense, surely
the mightiest creation we know any
thing about the thing that we call
Creation itself is full of and loaded
down with defects. Minds that dwell
unduly upon the defects, great or small,
in works of art. betray thereby their
own narrowness and lack of power.
The successive generations of gentle
and discriminative souls that we call
"the world" find no stumbling-block
in the defects of genius, and take uo in
terest in those of mediocrity. Scribuer't
Monthl. , ;
A alnsale MMttm Www.
In one of the early comic annuals
there are some amusing lines of Hood's
ibnu-ribinff how a country nurseryman
had made a large sum out of the sale of
iimni little nower wnicn ne wi
rh.n.mrof th"Rhodum Sidus.
i-i.i. rii.rmlnv nuna had proved quite
an attraction to the ladies, and the
flower had become the rage of the sea
son. At lengui permit.
