Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-06-14
REFLECTIONS FOR r,.E SEASON.
WORKS OF NATURE AND ART.

When We compare the works IF nature with
those Of art, we find that the former infinitely
surpass the latter. And when we consider that
the works OF art are merely limitations from ma
tGre, there can be no doubt entertained on the
subject. The nearer an artist approaches to
nature the more perfect is his work he can
invent nothing that is new and bis most san
gune hopes arc 10 initiate nature, which is rich
and various, wills. the yagcy of art s soon al
an end, and her resources quickly exhausted.
The kingdom Of nature is almost unlimited ;
we may everywhere find t:edsur3s iueXhausti-
bic, AMI stores without end he. NJ 'Eutest OBJ
jects are worthy of observation and whether
We examine a stone, plant, or an animal, we
shall find that they contain beauties witch cap
tiyate, and periectiuns which aston.,h. The
works Of art, on the contrary, are soon ex-
hlu,led: if we scrutinize them with Tie eve Of
critical nicely we discover faults which we did
NJ, expect, and imperections which we did not
imagine our admiration ceases, and we turn
from them without delight
The works Of art, and the prou1est monu-
meuts Of human skill, are moudrring in the
dust, while these Of nature continue ia the viGor
OF youth and the freshness OF beauty. The ad
vantage Ct the latter in structure, over the
former, Is not less evident; whoever compares
the mechanism oi he most ingenious machine
with that of pnimals Will be amaced with the
one, WA..-. lie considers tho other as Il mere
| blub,e, or toy. To take the human body as an
example; how wonderfully is il organized =
! The perfect aud regular structure OF the mus
ces, each one aG,alraJly adapted to its parlicu-
lar use ; the circulation OF the blood the com.
pIicated variety OF motions the symmetry o
the limbs, and the diversity of the functions
all display the most abundant proofs OF the
works Of an Artiticer, in compari on Of whicl
those Of nan are Of less account than tic dus
in the BALANCE.
Ii would be useless to weary the reader will
more observations to prove a seli-eyident fact
for, though such is the depravty Of human
nature, that our self-love induces u- to prefc
our own productions to those Of another; am
the taste OF sIme men is so yitiated that the
are dis, oscd TO disregard, and consider with in
difference whatever is not produced by huma
Industry and human ingenuity; few would b
: found 20 hardy as to expose their folly, an
, eyiuce their total GestItulun of feeling, by a-
seriiug the puny efforts Of art to be superior I
! the rolling Of the billows, the clouG-capt noun
tains, aud the smiling vCrdure of tie Vaey
together with all those stupendous and beautl,
2 works that the eVer-varying face OF nature Coz
tinua!y presents the study Of which yielc
0 delight aud joy lneil'tb'e. Whilst ii eXpau,
3 the mind it renders the heart susceptible Of IA
e those feelings which raise the Ggnlty of luna
- nature, and advance II nearer to that Dem
e who is the Source oi all mercy and goudneS.
a whom the more we contemplate the more "
desire 70 initiate ; aud the more we initiate II
n more !tted we become Tor the blessed realms
!, peace, and the practice of "vory virtue.
;. SEEDS taken from a warm, dry clima
d have been found most pr1duCliye whe