I said: “You must see that there is the tendency in all of us to make of life a work of art, to live a complete, beautiful life.”
“I know some people,” said Virginia, “whose lives do not seem to me in the least artistic.”
“That may be,” I answered, “but the tendency is there to make of life a complete expression.”
“That isn’t all I mean,” said Marian. “I want to know what is meant by the artistic temperament.”
“It is in great part,” I said, “a fiction and a false generalization. Many experts have not the artistic temperament, and many not-artists have it. As for artists going astray more often than others, if that be true—which I doubt—there’s a good reason for it. Artists are always very sensitive—naturally—and so, unless they are very strong-willed, too, they will be more easily swayed by outside events and their impressions.”
“I don’t believe every one has genius,” Virginia said. “I know some people who are perfectly stupid, and don’t understand anything.”
“That is scarcely possible,” I answered, “if they are human beings.”
“Do you mean to say,” asked Henry, “that you know any utterly selfish person?”
“Yes,” she answered; “or, at least, people who are not interested in anything worth while outside themselves; people who can walk through an art gallery and not look at the pictures; who love nothing beautiful.”
“I may be one of those,” said Ruth, “for I do not care for pictures.”
“One’s genius might not be developed in that particular direction,” I said; “none of us are developed in all directions. But grant, at least, Virginia, that your most stupid people have undeveloped genius which might be awakened.”
“Because if you don’t,” I answered, “I shall think your understanding of those people is very limited. Genius does not necessarily show itself in relation to art, to the sense of beauty. Genius is in the understanding a man must have to be a man. How could he have any relations with his fellows, any intercourse without some understanding?
“But there is one essential difference between the genius of the looker-on and the genius of the artist; it is that the artist creates, that he must have talent. No matter how much genius a man may have, if he does not or cannot express his genius, he is not an artist.”