In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually livein the white light of publicity. ¶Whether the leadership be vestedin a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever atwork. ¶In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and thepunishment are always the same. ¶The reward is widespread recognition;the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. ¶When a man’swork becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a targetfor the shafts of the envious few. ¶If his work be merely mediocre, hewill be left severely alone—if he achieve a masterpiece, it will set a milliontongues a wagging. ¶Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue atthe artist who produces a commonplace painting. ¶Whatsoever youwrite, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass orto slander you, unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius.¶Long, long, after a great work, or a good work has been done, those whoare disappointed or envious, continue to cry out that it can not be done.¶Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our ownWhistler as a mountebank, long after the big world had acclaimed himits greatest artistic genius. ¶Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worshipat the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom hehad dethroned and displaced, argued angrily that he was no musician atall. ¶The little world continued to protest that Fulton could neverbuild a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river banks to seehis boat steam by. ¶The leader is assailed because he is a leader, andthe effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. ¶Failingto equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy—butonly confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives tosupplant. ¶There is nothing new in this. ¶It is as old as the worldand as old as the human passions—envy, fear, greed, ambition, and thedesire to surpass. ¶And it all avails nothing. ¶If the leader trulyleads, he remains—the leader. ¶Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman,each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels throughthe ages. ¶That which is good or great makes itself known, no matterhow loud the clamor of denial. ¶That which deserves to live—lives.