Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-04-07

wonlh have them study the principles Of re-
fined taste in the construction Of their farm build =
ings, aud observe The rules for architectural pro
portion aud architectural beauty in ali their cree =
lions, whether it be a wigwain, log.cabn, sta
bic, or even pig-sty. Blu: why should we do
this? Because THESE proportions are not matters
OF arbitrary determination, but they are fixed IN
naturG. The violation of them IL always often .
sivo the Observance of them always gives pleas
ulc. Such ereclions cost no more than holdings
constructed with nH entire disregard to them
Then ngain, in the construction and condition OF
fern implements and vehicles, though | would
not encourage any useless fuery, yet | would
have them made in the best manner and kept in
the best condition. This should be done on the
plainest principles Of economy. An implement,
wagon, or a carriage, that is neatly painted and
vanished, and kept clean, will be so much the
more carefully used. In general, what men most
value, they will most care tor; what they take
most pains to keep, they will take most pains isl
using; what those about you see you value, un
less in cases Of extraordinary perverslty, they will
value. How constantly do we hear expressions,
" 1t is new, don't deiace IL y " 1t is clean, don't
soil it y or "It is dirty, or broken, or old, dont
care for it," Send two children into the street !;
let one he a bare headed, bare footed, ragamulIn
with face which perhaps never had more lhun
one thorough washing, bair that never heard of
any finer comb than his own greasy fingers, and
mouth about which are grnmed in, and suc-
coed in Teef tho remains OF weeks broth o:
poiridy2, uF& nobody would think % giving him
hand 70 help lhroheh my mud. puddle, or over
any gutter unless where they thought he would
be drowned; and this only perhaps because the
admonitions Of conscience might be a little slio Dug.
er than their disgTs TT the sight of him and IL he
should get ran over in The street, you would hear
no other remark than that he was dirty dog aud
might have got out OF the way. On the other
hand, send sweet little girl into the street, look
ing like new blown rose, with the gstenng dew
drops hanging from lis leaves with her neat bon
net without shade upon its lustre, her frock EN-
ulatng the snow-drfl in its wilderness, her unso-
ell stockings Indicating the perfe:Iio Of natures
stauary beneath them, her shoes reficcting the
brightest Polish of aSt, anG, above all, her face as
clean, us fair, as transparent you know her I'M
tainted mind is under all this, and there is not
chimney sweep so low that lie would not give her
the sidewalk, nor u clown, even among the mort
clownsh, who would not, il he dared 10 touch
her, wipe his hands upon his clothes, and with de-
light carry her half mile over the crossings rath.
er thun she should soil, | had almost said, even
the sole OF her slipper. hope You will pardon
the bopIeliness OF my illustration. | wish TO be
understood; and in firing among the crowd, if | |
happen to wound any one trust shall not bring
blood; for my arrows are sent on no hostile mis- |
SION, and they are neither barbed nor poisoned.
would have the windows OF the farmhouse
adorned with flowers, not in rusty, Tin measures
and old black glazed teapois, and glass bottles,
with the necks broken off but in whole aud hand
some flower pots or neatly painted wooden boxes
for thUy really cost nothing | would have the
pla2zas porcles treIised with vines even with !
scarlet runners, It nothing better can be had. | |
would have The door yard filed with flowers and
shrubbery, and the roadside lined with trees here
cIump aud there a single line, minging he var
cites us nature mingles lhem cullivaiing them for
rult, and cullivallng them for mere ornament and
beauty. But this is all, you will tell me, for ap-
2earance sake? Well, is appearance nothing p
Dtd you thInk nothing of appearance when you
chose your wtVea; and nothing of your own ap
pearance when you wished them to confirm the e.
lection? But why should the pleasures OF sight be
so lightly esteemed? Why should they be spo.
ken OF in the language of disdain or indifference
Are they not as RATIONAL as respectable, as vaua-
be ms abundant, as innocent, as ihe pleasures OF
me Other seiirrs? Are they not, indeed, The very
clements OF some OF the most refined pleasures Of
the mind and hearth Has God given us the sense
Of sight, so wonderful, capacions, SO infinitely
varied in its resources and objects tor no purpose
Is appearance nothing? What is more studied
throughout the Creators works? What Obi ect is
there in nature, from the highest to the lowest, an
innate or inannaie, swimming in the sea or in the
sea or in the air, on the surface or buried in the
earth, which is not, upon examination, found 10
he as beautiful as il it were finished for no other
purpose than to he looked at? Take the shell that
lies in the bottom OF the ocean, the bird that bathes
lis wings in Heavens purest light, the flowers
ihnt carpet the earth with their varied splehdor
the gitteing stars that light up tie deep arches of
the skies with an eternal glory take the conbna-
IIon OF The countless elements OF beauty, when
The morning slowly lights up the veil OF night,
and, as ut the dawn of The creation, reveals The
gories Of the visible world, or when spring
breahes upon the EARTH and recalls the dead TO
life, and myiads and myraids of forms of now
beings come forth at her voice take the descend
ing sun as he recines upon his western throne,
and wraps around him the gorgeous robe of an
unrivaled mnlesty; take the perfection Of beau
~ MS seen in nearer but more lranscenGant form,
in man himself in his symmetrical stature, in the
well turned limbs, in the web of unrivaed soft
ness and texture, which cOveis him. in the ns OF
his complexion, in the grace OF his movements, in
the melody of his voice, in the eoquence of the
eye, pouring out the fires OF genius or radiant
with The charms OF the affections, and speak
ing to the soul and will men say that appearance
is nothing, and that The pleasures of the sight are
rot 10 be valued or cultivated say that appear
ance is always to be regarded that cannot rem,
der our homes loo beautiful and attractive. Our
first object should he 10 make our dwellings as
convenient and comfortable us art can make Them;
our second object should be 10 render them to an
equOl extent tasteful and elegant Do what we
Gun, and all we can, shall fall far short Of ri
VoIlirg even the simplest forms and combinations
OF nature.
We should do this on the ground of self inter-
esl. Separate from tho pleasures which we our
selves derive from il, it essentially increases the
value of our estates. The beauty ol u place, The
ornamental trees and shrubs, even the garden
flowers which enbellish it, are always objects Of
attraction 10 purchaser We should do this
from considerations of benevoience. Buildings
erected in good taste and proportions and exhib.
ting refined judgment and skill, and grounds
highly cultivated and embellished, charm the eye
OF The traveller or passer by, aud allow us to i'm
lOunlIlllIlV Iis1,Ip inn n,.r
own stores But there is another influence no. TO
be overlooked Habits of order and nealness
mere personal cleanliness still more the cultivation
OF taste for beauty in ourselves and in every
thing which surrounds us and comes under our
coRrol are in themselves promoters and securities
OF virtue. They become 80 by inspiring self res
pect, and exaltIng our sense OF character. The
Innn who ls known To rasnecI hiInanlf is al,unus