Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-03-19

ropean powers. Hitherto she has psrmltteu HnS-
land and Russia to divide the spo!ls Of Asia with
ont opposition but hereafter she will interfere
either to prevent aggressions or to claim lions
share. So runs the --latest from Europe
BEAUTY.
\ strange subject for an clitoral-yet could VIC
do Justice to this attractive theme, it might elicit
ne much attention and useful reflection, rs any
subject to which We could direct the mind of the
reader The good old fashion of treating sub
ject, is to give in the first place, its definition;
but in this case it must be dispensed with, as
every person who essays to treat this subject,
furnishes different one. The main point of dis
pute however, is-whether beauty, abstractly
considered, consists in certain properties in ex-
ternal objects or in certain qualities of the mind?
Without pausing to solve this question, which
legitmatcly belongs to the metaphysician, we
proceed cursory, to notice the ubquty and pre-
valcnce of beauty in the outward world, and the
adaptation of mind, in normal state, to such e1-
ternal phenomena. In the second place. we wish
to impress upon our readers the advantages OF
cultivating taste for the beautiful; the benefits
of which are too often ignored by so-caled prac-
teal md narrow minded men. As to the univer-
salty of beauty, whether considered as proper
ty of matter or n condition of mind, we have but
to 'knit up' for moment s'the ravelled sleavc Of
care" and cast our eye around us, to witness the
presence of this prevailing element. Perhaps we
will find it blooming out in the gorgeous tints Of
the rosc blushiug in the softer hues Of the mod
est violet. "half hidden from the eye," or glowing
on the radiant brow of lovely woman. 1t may be
seen in the triumphant display of art-in the
Madonna or chseled Venus de Alilici in the COP
ceptions of Raphael or Angelo; and the landscapes
of Claude Lorraine. 1t spreads its bright wings
over the ocean when the waves wear their tiara Of
stars and the moon presses her pale lips on the
soothcd and gentle pillows 1t CLEANS out from
each tiny flower, each sparkling stream, each
morning sunburst or mellow sunset. Wherever
God has set signet therei is Beauty!
But there is another species of beauty, which,
though more shadowy and impalpable, exerts per-
haps, n more potent influence over the mind and
heart of the looker-on, than the lovely phenomena
of the universe we alude to beauty of con-
duct or moral beauty. Would it not be we'll if
the taste for the beautiful were more assiduousy
cultivated, and that it were made rule Of con-
duct, a monitor of pronriety, constant regulator
of our intercourse with the world? What o fas-
cnatng systom might be built upon this fOunda-
ton Suppose for moment, the effect of close
and dilligent study, high appreciation of, AID
devoted attachment to-. the beautiful. The de-
votee would then be an ardent admirer Of his God
dcss in whatever phase she might manifest her
self He would not only cherish for the floweret
! the mantling check of woman, the pleasant and
varicgated landscape, poets love and poets
reverence but he would likewise appreciate that
propriety of conduct which so much adorns hu-
manity, that gracefulness and suavity of manners,
the austere beauty of morality, and that lofter
phase of loveness-"The beauty of holiness"
Such thoughts rise in our mind whenever we
witness nm exhibition of rudeness or boorishness.
|
God, ohscuring all his ''original brightness" and
staggering about the streets "with brick in his
hat (as might have been witnessed in Yorkville
last wcek), we involuntarily wish that he could
behold himself; to travesty Burns.
80 wad some power the giftie gle him,
To see MmseI as others see him.
There is in such spectacle something so repul-
sye to the sight, so offensive to correct taste, that
sn,acks so loudly of the brute, that we feel the
strongest temperance lecture which could be made
to him, would be to draw n representation of the
incbriate to amuse his sober hours. We would
suggest to the "Dry Council" the proprcty Of
having an ambrotype taken of every man found
drunk in the streets of Yorkville, and then ex-
hibiting them in some conspicuous place, like
string of rats or blind puppies exposed for sale in
Pekin-as the most powerful promoter Of good
order and gentemanly manners. There was no
little wisdom in the custom among the Spartans OF
intoxicating their slaves in order to disgust their
children at such beastly spectacle. The differ
ence between drunk and sober man is the differ
ence between Miranda and Caliban-between
Heaven and He'll So wide is the contrast, that
we have often wondered how any one could so
brutalize himself. 1t can only be done by pro-
cess of nduration, of nhumani=ation, by which
every flower of the heart is crushed out and all
appreciation of the beautiful lost.
But what shall we say of those who persist in
making and selling this mutilator of all that is at-
tractive or fascinating in humanity: 1t is not
enough to sketch them while here on earth, enjoy
ing their ll-gotten gains-somc ambrotypist
should shadow forth their prospective contortons
nmid the indescribable horrors of ''the home of
the damned
But it is not only to the inebriate, we would
prescribe a cultivation of the taste for the beau
tiful it would be found source Of pleasure and
profit to men in all the avocations of life. 1t
would enable the farmer to adorn his premises
with taste and elegance. 1t would teach him to
spare the natural groves, and We would no longer
witness the barbarous custom of destroying beau
tirul shades, to plant in their place sickly and
drooping exotics. In word, it would teach him,
almost without expense, to cas-: around home
Establishment, which would be perennial foun-
tain of innocence and joy. 1t would teach con-
ductors on railroads, to answer polite interroga-
tories in n courteous manner, instead Of assuming
the Dir of millionaire and the impertinence of
coxcomb.
1t would restrain attornies from asking errele-