The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-05
SHORT PATENT SERMON.

In compliance with the resquest OF Pickwick,
Jr.I will discourse to-day upon this text:
e- "Iandsome is as handsome does"
My hearers-there is good deal Of length and
breadth to the meaning of the word handsome.
Like blanket, it is as broad as is long, and not
halt as transparent to thousands II is connected
with actions as well as objects; with behavior as
well as looks; with deeds well as words; with
examples as well as precepts. don't think that
comelness OF form or OF feature can be measured
by any standard III t will be universally acknowl.
edged; what appears TO one as beautiful as the
emblems Of truth and holiness, may seem TO an
other as ugly as Elm tempting saint with SHIN
plaster. The monkey that married the baboon's
sister, no doubt thought her possessed of superior
personal charms and she, in all apish probability,
saw something in her lovers face, that secured
her undivided attachmCnt-tdok a double clnch
on her afections-absorbed her whole soul-aDd
all that sort o thing, as my friend Milton says
"She never told her love-" but then there was
that something in her lovely and expressive face,
which showed how warm were the waters of feel
ing at the fountain, and how her heart longed to
become part and parcel Of the pluck of digni-
fied'and noble looking baboon. Such is the power
of imaginary beauty. A mother almost always
thinks her young ones handsomer than anybody's
else; while, at the same time, they may be repul-
sive enough in feature TO keep the mumps, measles,
whoopng cough, fever and ague, and every other
respectable disease at reasonable distance. The
T,J; to oflrnra about the s1u
who pounds his corn in his wi:wam, and whose
complexion looks as if tanned by moonshne, than
he would in the Ioveliest lily skin ever exhibited
in the gay circle of fashion and refinement The
Ethiopian thinks that the beauty of human flesh
lies in its blackness. The lady Of his choice is to
him like a pair of boots to a gentleman-the
blacker the better: He was indeed a poet and
philosopher who said that, in the West Indies the
lightning was very handsome and the thunder
most beautiful.
NY friends-as says my text ''handsome is as
handsome does" In geneoruS acts, charitable
deeds and virtuous examples there Is moral
beauty that shines as respenden amid the darkness
of vice and the corruption of the world as fire.
flies in grave yard, or pair Of cats eyes in
coal-hole. The handsomeness of the heart is to
be priced far above the fairness of the outward
person; and the bosom that heaves with warm and
philanthropic emotions, is treasury OF oveIlness
in itself A young minister-no matter how plain
he really is-always looks handsome to the ladies;
because he is gentle in spirit, pure in precept,
sincere in profession, clrcumspect in practice, and
impregnated with the ethereal essence Of divine
love. He wouldn't ruffle feather on an angels
wing, pluck flower from Paradise to the detri-
ment Of Its charms, kill musquito, tread upon
worm, or breathes syllable that might tarnsh the
fair fame of fellow mortal; therefore he is con-
sidered handsome
Young man you behold your image in mirror,
pronounce yourself good looking, and imagine
that YOU are bound to shine wherever you go; but
you can't do il unless your beauty is more than
skin deep. II must penetrate into tho interior.
You must be handsome all the way from the head
to the heart You must do the handsome al all
times, and under all circumstances, or, like bad
egg washed with gold, you won't "go down.
BY treating and speaking disparagingly Of your
scquaintances-by assuming silly airs and thrust
ing yourself too forward in company, and with
the ladies especially exhibiting foppishness and
puppyism-and by making fool of yourself in
divers wsys-you will spoil all your beauty; and