Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-21

and barbarous pomp--a royal magnif-
cence, built upon the poorly compensated
labors of the working classes-we would
see in the arts, save in those moro i'm
mediately associated with effeminacy and
luxury, but little or no improvement
upon the past. Still, he who thinks,
would learn the lesson that it is not in
times like these, when the controlling
minds of nation are exclusively en-
ployed in the pursuits Of sensuality, that
Genius loves to explore unknown regions
to discover new treasures to add to the
accumulating wealth of nations. Luxu-
ry has not the nerve SO to dare, so to do.
These belong to an age of manly virtue,
still preserved amid tho enjoyments Of
affiuence. cultivated aud enlightened by
those intellectual attainments which make
the feast of reason and the flow Of soul.
Such an age is found in the third point
Of observation, which might belong to a
sketch of Productive Industry: the Age
of Grecian Glory. Here, indeed, we
would have to pause aye, linger with
admiring wonder, over the achievements
Of mind, exercised in all the arts that
elevate our human nature aud spread
over the associations of life the softening
hues Of intellectual refinement. Here
Genius rose to its noblest, loftiest flights
Here political constitutions for the first
time attained those elements of popular
liberty which, after two thousand years
had passed, found their full expression
in that immortal declaration which as
serts, "All men are born free and equal"
Here Philosophy opened the way for the
incoming Of the more accurate systems
of Bacon, Locke, and Newton. Here
Ethics gave utterance to the most sub
lime principles of morality. Here the
fine arts-Poetry, Painting, and Archi-
tecture--rcached an eminence unrivalled
in the history of man, and left for after
ages models Of excellence which have
guided the sons and daughters of Genius
TO the attainment of their individual
fame. Here, in fine, was that Grecian
glory which was not born to die.
Gladly would the historian of Art
linger here; but when reluctantly he
would pass on to fourth point Of OBJ
servation, he would be called to contem-
plate the influence which the stern and
colossal power of Rome exertcd upon
the brilliant productions of Grecian tie-
MUS and Art. He would see her rude,
uncultivated manners gradually softenn g
under the benign Influences which ema-
mated from conquered Athens; for, slight
ly to alter the verse of Pope,
She conquered Greece, but felt her captive's
charms
Whose Arts victorious, trumphed Ger her
Arms.
Emulating, though never equalling, these
noblest spoils of her victories, he would
see her conqueriug eagles bearing the
blessings Of civilization to those realms
in Northern and Western Europe, the
homes of our ancestors, then in the dark
ness of barharism, and now the most
enlightened and the most powerful por-
tons Of the globe.
Still following down the stream Of
Time, he would have to look upon the
Arts and Sciences overshadowed BY the
dominion of the savage hordes that
swarmed from the Northern hive; then
glance at the efforts Of the superstitous
bigotry Of the false Prophet Of Mecca !;
then, as influenced by the establishment
Of the Feudal system, by the Institutions
Of Chivalry and by the relations between
the East and the West, opened by those
gallant, but disastrous, Christian enter
prises-the Crusades. Again, the over
throw Of the Feudal system and the re-
vival Of learning, would afford another
apd most important epoch in the histo-
ry Of Industry. And in proportion as
its historian heheld the principles Of pup
ular liberty superceding the arbitrary sys-
tens Of the past, and education diffusing
itself among the masses Of mankind
would he be called upon to contemplate
tho progressive Improvement of every
science and of every art--the beautiful
and the useful-which supply the nccessa-
ries, the conveniences, tho ornaments,
and the Injuries Of life.
And still the closing scene-the most
brilliant and the most diversified piano.
rama--wonld remain; and with ono eve
on Europe and the other on America. he
would behold human Genius, in this
nineteenth century, exploring earth, air j.,
and water, for new monuments to mark
the Onuard, triumphant march of the
Productive Industry Of Man.
III.
shall attempt no such sketch as this.
Not /. | have no desire to lose myself
and my hearers in labyrinth to which
that Of ancient Crete would seem m
open thoroughfarc. But glancng at the
whole picture, as it were-taking in, at
view, all its changing and diversified
lines Of progress, | propose to consider
few principles, which, in the hasty
judgment | have given to the matter.
seem to control the industrial action of
mankind.
But before entering upon these gov
erning principles, it will be useful to
contemplate the relation which the differ
ent arts hold to one another. Even
superficial observer of the past and the
present will discover this relationship or
affinity. Like the three Graccs Of an
cient poetry, the arts are sisterhood
Like loving sisters they we're always
found mutually assisting each other. =
Thus We sec aspiring Architecture bear
ing with her 70 her lofty pinnacles Of