The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-10
Ths POWER of Beauty.

The cultirator of the soil that Is moi
susceptible of the power of beauty, may
be classed as Shakespeare classes those
who arc not moved by music. We have
| met those who only cultivated the crops
for the sake of mammon who saw no
beauty in the opening bud no beauty
in the expanding grain no beauty in
the glistening dew; no beauty in the
changing clouds no beauty in the gay
habiliments of earth, that did not minis
ter to wealthor power, and we havearoid-
ed such men, for we need no Shakespeare
to tell us they are not to be trusted. For
what are all the grasses and grains cloth
ed in beauty For what are all the
flowers blent in beauty's dyes? For
what are all the fruits cast in bbssaty's
mould For what does she rainbow
mingie all of beauty's colofs ? For
what does the evening cloud assume its
thousand shapes? Now frowning in dark
battlements; now changing in bright glo-
ries; now falling, to the rapt gazer, in
the mellow twilight away. What but to
lead us from the cares and perplexities
of life to contemplate something here of
Heaven. That there is an innate power
in beauty to influence for the good of
mankind, let the expec.ant mother tell
What but nature teaches her to veil her
face when ugliness presents itself p
What but nature teaches her to give her
whole soul to beauty? Would parents
train their children to revere beauty,
there would be more of virtue in the
world. Begin with the little beauties of
nature, the little flowers. A child train
ed to appreciate the beauty of flowers,
will be worshipper of God; for all Of
Gods true worshippers find beauty in
all his works. The world is full of nat
ural beauty, and yet wealth is employing
art to initiate it. The horticulturist
moves and lives in beauty. Even now,
when all the bright flowers, fruits, and
foliage have withered and gone, there is
beauty in the leafiess tree. Behold how
the liquid sap is making solid wood
Behold the mission of the flower the
perfect seed, with its germ of life and
beauty, awaits but the genial breath of
spring to burst its prison cell, and clo.he
with fresh beauties the bosom of its
mother earth. And what mission has
horticulture to develop. The thousand
beauties that else might go unheeded. she
brings to the light and gaze of beauty's
worshipper. Associations of beauty i'm
youth as indelibly stamp the soul as light
from the sun stamps the face of nature.
Let us then give our children beauty !;
first the unbought, priceless beauty of
virtue next the free beauties of ma
ture next the beauty of music, that
they may realize the beauty of life
Who that habitually looks upon the trees,
now in this sober winter, but feels the
power of beauty even In death. The
autumn and winter forests are one grand
kaleidoscope, ever changing, ever new.
What holy pleasure thrills the heart
when in communion with natures great
spirit I! OH! the power of beauty! come
from the crowded city, and learn its in
fluence. Not on the pent up stage; not
in the busy mart. but in the quiet coun-
try, where 10 fantastic art has marred
the fair proportions of Gods handiwork,
where
Each tree shat lifts iss arms in air
Scrins bending. as if in silent prayer"
Come, and learn the power of beauty.