Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-07-07

subjects of portraiture. And l feel
SURG that there can be no excuse for
barrenness in the fairgrounds of land
scapes from the want OF material.
1t is the want of industry, or the
want of real love for weed-like plants.
that occasions such meager or conven-
tional pictures. 1t is seldom that we
see plants rendered, as Landsecr or
Rosa Bonheur render animals, with
an enthusiasm OF love that never tires /;
that never can enough repeat them.
If our right hand had been endowed
with cunning, we believe that the hum
bier growths Of the field should occupy
much of its skill. But one must love
well to paint well IL man does not
respect plant, if it exerts upon him
no positive and plcasurable influence,
he is unfit to represent it. A nurse
that does not love children can never
take good care of them; and an artist
that does not love what are called
weeds. cannot do them Justice. Some
ridiculc has been thrown upon our
young artists for painting grasses so
much. That they paint them at all is
their praise; and that they confne
themselves to so few, and repeat their
work so often, as if there were but
half dozen species in the world fit
for admiration, is their real fault! In
stead of but few striking and effective
plants. in any direction, growing abun-
dainty, there are so many that one
might well be embarrassed by riches.
There is the dock family. None
can be less portentious or more meri-
torious. What if it does grow in dank
and shaded places? What breadth
of leaf the burdock exhibits. what Wig
or Of health, what an oak like spread
of branches, when its blossom stem is
fully extended! There, too is the rel.
ishful horse-radish, of broad and long
palm. The elecampane is another
plant Of generous leaf. Laying aside
all prejudices, who can deny great mer-
it, as a robust and vigorous plant, to
the skunk cabbage? What if its odol
is an indisputablc fact? Art. in this
respect, has the advantage of Nature
In picture its peculiar and delicat,
green would he beautiful, without the
least odor.
Among upright plants the milkwced
is notable. Not for its grace, but for
it's full habit and generous bearing
The thistles, the brier family, the
sedges, the cat tail, the water -plantair
family, the bindweed, the wOodbint
and the blackberry, both upright and
creeping, than which. in early leaf, il
blossom or in fruit at every stage
nothing can be more graceful and beau
tiful--these all deserve careful study
The MULLEN need hardly be mentioned
as it figures in pictures already. Blu,
what would be more exquisite than the
spray of asparagus, if we'll rendered
There, too, is the golden rod, the aster
the iron-wced, (vernonia. the smart
weed, the tcasel, and hundred NOR,
admirable chiefly for ornamental
designs and decorative patterns, but
likewise, fit elements for the fore
grounds of landscapes. 1t is WORTHY
of notice that the plants most valuabl,
for culture OH our continent are thos
which are most beautiful for ornament
al design. viz: wheat, rye and barley
the Indian corn, the cotton and tobac
co plants, the grapes and the grape
The potatoe. poor hcmely fellow. ha
no merit except in blossom; but almos
} all the plants which form the stapl
crops arc universally beloved of artists
1t is amusing to read the description
of weeds in agricultural books. Edi
tors are bound to look upon weed
only in relation to farming. If
thing be prolific. tenacious of life, an
voracious of food, no matter hoy
graceful its form or comely it's bios
som, it is hated, and all the ugl
names of vocabulary are heaped on it
But that should not prevent the ADM
ration of those who have no crops T.
tend. A pestilent weed may yet b
exquisltely ornamental.
We are quite sure that it is the art
ist's fault if he is deficient in succu
lent foliage, in herbaceous riches, i
all graceful stems and twining vine.
/. Instead Of destitution Of such ele
ments, our low, wet meadows, on
hedges and hill-sides are full Of them
1t requires only diligence in 6ndin
and industry in representing them I
make every landscape artists portfoli
rich in vegetable tressures.- Beechel
Slavery in its Mildest Form.
+. 1t is claimed that in the District {
! lColumbia and the adjacent norton