Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-18
From the Ladies Book for February.
TASTE.
ny MRS. LYDIA II. slGovpNEY,


"Our taste declines with our morris, said
philosopher Of other days. Is tso1 IL
what points may it be admitted as a erterioa
Of merit
"Taste," says finc writer, "is Of all Ma.
lures gifts, the most easily felt, yet the ~ o.,
difficult to Define" Without attempting i,s
metaphysical analysis, we will only notice
some Of ismore Common effects, as exhibited
in our sex. Its notifications, when visible
!" drcss. furniture, "r 'h~ .rrang~"'o or
hous shold, seem often like an instructive
diseornment Of dcleacy, propriety, or adar.
tation, which though not entitled 10 rank 50
high as the severe conclusions Of an aecursts
Judgment; are, in woman, neither unimpor.
tant attainments or ,rifling indexes of char
actcr. When manifested in graceful move
mcnt and manner, elegance Of language, or
correct appreciation Of the fine arts, it serves
as sort Of historical trait, proving either tho
influence Of refined society, an accomplished
education, or such means If improvement
as are seldom accessible IN solitude and OBJ
scurity. 1t aids in asecrtaining the drama
in which The individual has moved, or tho use
made Of opportunities, or that inherent
strength Of the self-,augh., which, vanquish-
ing obstacles, scizes the fruits, without tho
usual labor Of culture.
Taste, when drawn into strong sympathy
with the beauties Of nature, takes the form
Of an emotion, which extends to the verge Of
life, and has been seen glowing, even amid
The icy atmosphere Of death. Combined
with vivid Imagination, it colors like 4
passion-tint, the whole Of existence; and IL
surrounding scenes arc devoid Of ITS favoritc
objects, peoples for itself, world Of idea!
beauty. Many instances nigh, be adduced.
where it has softcned asperi,y Of temper, and
by refining scnsibili,y, contributed to tho
growth Of the affections.
Are we right then, IN considering Taste,
as the nice perception Of intellect, ere it b..
comes perverted the appetite which rejects
gross aliment, and prefers ethereal food II
so, it may be Justly numbered among the in
dica,ions Of mental health. Tho WI lsar are
not capable Of its pleasures, the vicious have
depraved its purity. The mcrcenary and
the miser take pains to suppress it. Hoard
ed gold monopolzes their devotion. Milton
in pourtraying Mammon, says that before no
fell from bliss, his eyes and thoughts
Were Away. downward bent admiIine moro
| The riches al Heaven's pavement, tIodden GOLD,
Than augh divine or holy"
Dark passion and debasing crimes, desrrcv
the fine edge Of tho soul. and cat into il, like
corroding canker. Assuming therefore, that
pure taste, is one Of the tests Of a health
ful moral condition, we shall prize il, not on.
y as a source Of pleasure, but as an adjunct
to virtue, an ally of religion. Shall va no.
then, seek to multiply the objects, which it
is Legitimate to admired Snail We not famil.
iarizc our children with the harmony Of col.
or, the melody Of sound, the symmetry Of
architecture, the delights Of eloqucnce, and
the charm ofpoctryi The fragant flower.
the whitening harvest, the outrageous grove
the solemn mountain, the mighty cataract,
are they not all teachers! or text books in tho
hand Of the Great Tcaeherl
T Err they not, therefore, who call Taste a
mcrctricious appendagc, which it is proper
to decry, or praiseworthy to dispense with
The railroad machinery Of jarring world, :
bridging the abysses, and tunnclins the rocks
of political ambition, her steamboats, rushing
to the thousand marts Of wealth, silence with
their roaring tunnels, its still, small voice. But
let II be heard BY those who mediate a, ev.
entide, when the rose closes its sweet hps,
and the tired babe is lulIed on the breast OF
its mother. Let !, be companion to those,
who IN the morning prime walk forth, amid
the dewy fields, loving the beauty Of the lily,
which Onipotcnce stopped to clo,he and from
whose snowy petals, tho Redccmer of man
laugh, listening mu!ttudes, the lesson Of
living faith.