American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-02-22
LANCASTER OHIO, THURSDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 49, 1855

DEAUTY.-1et any one lOOk around at
the numerous fond couples Of his acquain-
tance who are peacefully smiling in each
others faces, in defiance of realities, and
the common verdict of mankind, and he
must acknowledge that beauty is but a
name, and ugliness but chimera. In eff
feet there are no such things. Poetry,
and novels and romances have made GER
tain combination of auburn hair, blue
eyes, Greek noses, and pearl teeth, to be
an indispensable part of the material Of
true love; but in the commerce of the liv-
ing world this is sheer nonsense. Depend
upon it,that in spite Of arbitrary standards,
there is no one so ugly who has not his
oglings, his amorous looks, and anguish
ing smiles-and that somebody or other
has the heart to relish and return them
Nay, beauty itself chooses ugliness for its
mate, without thinking it ugly. Look at
Mr.. and Mrs. P. How balsamic is
such union to us that are ugly. We
mean not to utter word in disparagement
of beauty, but we see no harm in extend
ing its empire by multiplying its attributes.
A man may have a just sense of all that is
essentially, and by universal assent, most
l)vely-and yet, under some inexplicable
illusion, fix his own final choice upon fea
lures that no one thinksagreeable but him
self. He may make his quotations from
twenty established belles-drink to the tyr
amy Of all the reigning toasts-apd then
60 and surrender up his soul forever to a
mouth awry, and teeth divinely not in
rows. This is as it should be. By such
by laws as these, nature elcits harmony
from the jaring elements of the world;
thus, amidst all her seeming inequalities
and inconsistencies, by series of kindly
compensations, she assimilates all condi-
tions, ond provides means for making every
one contented and happy.
The PIRATE AND THE DovE.-The fol-
lowing is related by Audubon, the cele-
brated traveller and ornithologist:
"A man who was once pirate, assured
me that, at times, while at certain wells
dug in the burning, shelly sands of a well
known key, which must be nameless, the
soft and melancholy notes Of the dove a
woke in his breast feelings which had long
slumbered, melted his heart to repentance
and caused him to linger at the spot in {
stale ofmind which he only who compares
the wIetchedness of guilt within him with
the holiness of former innocence, can truly
feel. He said he never left the place with
out increasing fears of futurity, associated
as he was, although believe by force
with band of the most desperate villains
that ever annoyed the coast of Florida
So deeply moved was he BY the note ofany
bird, and especially those of the dove, til,
only soothing sounds he ever heard during
his life of horrors, that through these plain
tive notes and them alone, he was indeed
to escape from his vessel, abandon hi
> turbulent companions, and return to fam
lily deploring his absence. After payin:
, a hasty visit to these wells and listen one
: more to the cooling ofthe Zenaida dove, h
: poured out his soul in supplcation for mer
y = cy, and once more became what one ha
= q said to be the noblest work of Coda
! honest man. His escape was effected a
y y mid difficulties and dangers, but no dar
Il ger seemed to be comparable with the dar
y ger of living in violation of human an
~ divine laws; and he now lives in peace
y :, the midst of friends.
VI