You must permit me to discriminate between Beethoven and la Catalani:
to one belongs the immortal crown of genius and of martyrdom, to the
other innumerable five-franc pieces; one we can pay in coin, but the
world remains throughout all time a debtor to the other. Each day
increases our debt to Moliere, but Baron's comedies have been
overpaid."
"I think you make the prerogative of ideas too exclusive," said Ernest
de La Briere, in a quiet and melodious voice, which formed a sudden
contrast to the peremptory tones of the poet, whose flexible organ had
abandoned its caressing notes for the strident and magisterial voice
of the rostrum. "Genius must be estimated according to its utility;
and Parmentier, who brought potatoes into general use, Jacquart, the
inventor of silk looms; Papin, who first discovered the elastic
quality of steam, are men of genius, to whom statues will some day be
erected. They have changed, or they will change in a certain sense,
the face of the State. It is in that sense that Desplein will always
be considered a man of genius by thinkers; they see him attended by a
generation of sufferers whose pains are stifled by his hand.
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