Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-01-04
Communicated.
TIE UTILITY OF BEAUTY.
4" y thing of Beauty Is. a joy forever"

'''''oH az Cttdteu thlngS are tending the
apex of all perfection the glorious aspi-
ration Of Nature aud Art. Yet who can
define It's meaning, or who determine
what particular faculties Of the mind il is
designed TO granfy2 Surely no, that Of
sight alone; if so, the wax apple, which
IS often so perfect that the EYE canrot dis
tinguish il from the natural one, would Be
just as gratifying to our ideal of the beau
ufu! US the REAL one. But the original
quality of usefulness cannot be supplied
by any other. IL Nature, that is most
beautiful which contributes 10 the gratif-
cation OF the greatest number of our de-
sires; and in Art, that is most beautiful
which best initiates Nature the artificial
apple Is beautiful SO far as 1t possesses the
constituents Of the natural All things
are beautiful which show fitness of design,
and as there is design in all created
things, there is beauty in all, which is seen
only by the true philosopher. He search
es for Truth in all things, and IN the mu-
nificence of Wisdom sees the perpetual
hreathings of the living Con permeating
all forms and objects around him, and pro-
nounces a benediction upon the dove aud
TIE reptlle7 the rose and the thorn, because
he observes IN each the Beauty OF appro-
pirate Use:
q For Beauty hideth everywhere that Reason 5
child may seek her.
And having found the gem of price, may set II
in Gods crown"
Truly there are many objects in them
selves, when viewed abstraclly and superb
cially, crude, irregular and uncomeIy but
there turks within q hidden Use, an un-
told Beauty, and the mind may find pleas
ure Ia variety, order in change, and har-
mony in seeming discord. The artist con-
siders the proper ana harmonious blend
ing of light and shadow one Of the es-
senlial points in the painting of land
scape, and the different degrees of Beau
ty and perp> tual contrasts only render
Natures scenery mere attractive. Prob
ably the rose Is the most symmetrical in
form, er1its the sweetest odor, and is IN
every way the queen of flowers, but if we
saw nothing but roses, we should scarcely
appreciate its Beauty.
The b.ack-bird should not be despised
because 1t cannot sing as sweejly as the
nightingale, neither should the poppy be
crushed because its fragrance is not so
agreeable as that Of some other Of its Ao-
raj sisters; for each possesses q Beauty
all its own, and forms an indispensable
link in the continuous chain Of cause and
effect.
The Crea: Erchi.ect of Nature has
shown throughout the endless variety of
His works that it was not beneath His
Wisdom TO combine Beauty with Utility.
There is Beauty in the sprouting bulb
and IN It's developm Ut from bud 10 bios
som, from flower 10 fruit, and Beauty III
the decomposing of vegetation, as it pass
es to the support of something higher in
The order of Nature.
There IS Beauty in the murmuring
stream, in the placid axes magnificent
mirror Of the heavens, in the oceans
grand cabinet Of pearls and sparkling
gems, in the foaming cataract aud in the
varied hues Of its ascending spray -
Beauty in the foyked hgh,ning's ftfm
glare, and grandeur in the muitering
thunder Of heaven - Beauty In the palace
enlbellshed with refined and artistic taste.
and located in the wealthy and rnagniG-
cent metropolis, and Beauty in the rude
wigwam buried in the deep solitude Of
the forest - Beauty in mountain and val
ley, hill and dale, woodland and prairie, ali
clad in varied habilimenis - Beauty in
the clear, fathomIess sky, bending ever
ALL, and the gorgeous sun, with its gilt
tering concourse 6 planets, each being a
sun Of Itself, followed by a train of mag
nifioont orbs,
Planets, suns, and adamantiEe spheres.
Wheeling unshaken through the void immense,
Beauty in the immortal spirit, the crown
ing development OF all nataral existence.
Even the unfortunate child OF Passion,
besoued, clothed in tauered garments, rev
. cling in sensualily most reyoiting to The
, harmonial child of VIRTUE, Possesses
some enobling traits, some promptings tc
generous acts, some deeds Of integrity
which foreshadow the Beauty cf Highel
Existence, and has within him the germ
J Of an Arch Angel, which the deeds o
! gen,teness and .ove. and genial rays from
the glorious orb of Wisdom, wocld great
ly assist IN unfol1ing.
:, The wild, unlet-ered. red man Of tn