The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-10-05
WHOLE NO. 232.
PAINTINGS. on rnsawALls

Beactifal paintinEs in . room are we'll
springs OF pleasure; attractive 20 the eye,
refining g the mind, end cheerful compan.
ioos when ali - storm and Loneliness without.
| we'll remember lsndscaps thas hung IN
my chamber, when | We = child-a castle
on the banks Of swift flowing river;
the rocks jatsing up around, Jagged and
wild, and large trees scattered here and
there. Many morning before | arose have
lgaxed on that painting, while VISIONS Of
romance fitted through my childish brain,
leading me OF to distant lands, to vine clad
Italy and sunny France, and Fngland's feu-
dal towers countries that had just come 70
hight through the sssistance Of my geo.
graphr. Thus the rough picture becans
useful, awaking in the nainc thirst for
knouledgs Of NE countries on vhosc rives
banks sucA massive structures we're stand.
lag, aod the manner and habits OF the people
who dwell therein. And many Atime since
While reading tales Of olden days, With
smii> have thought Of my old castle, which
! used :, imagine Was the homo OF some
faif heroiss> who would stand gazing out IN
the silver mC>nlighs Of q GUNNER eve, and
listen 70 she sons and guitar Of her trouba-
again lwould fancy A>me invasion Of hostiss
armies, the lord who awels there Mould
gather all the neighboring t>aantry within ito
thick walls, and laugh 1t rse attacks Of
those who vaialy s.rovc 10 layN IN ruins.
NIwere asked what were the oobeets the
love OF which hkened US most to tns Di.
vine, l should answer, poetry, painting And
music; for they all awaken delight in the
soul, and afford enjoyment that passes not
away with the present hour bat fingers iu
memory and 10 treasured a. fond memen-
to linking Us to other happy days. How
pleasant to contemplate the fair landscape
portrayed BY the artist hand, until We fancy
ourselves roaming through the sunny fields
and resting in the cool shadows Of tho
spreading trees. We can almost sec tho
graceful motion Of the leaves as tho rust
ling boughs are swayed by tho soft wind,
making such music to the car in the sulsry
summer. time, speaking in soothing, mys-
terious language Of nature. We hear tho
low murmer Of tho ripping stream that
winds through the valley, and enter into the
wishful anxiety Of the fisherman in that
sheltered cove. Afar of through the vista
Of tremulous light and shade, the sunset sky
is painted with lines that equal the curtains
ed couch Of the day god in all save the ever.
changing form and shade 20 matchlcss in
nature's paintings.
Let US cultivase this love Of the beautiful
in art as well as in nature; for il dwells in
the mind Of thee lid, and 10 one OF the first
faculties developed in the pure soul Of in-
fancy; as We sec in the joyous greeting with
which he halls each new book Of prints. And
a love for art 10 nearly always sure to keep
him from low, dcbasing associations; the
young mind fed by refining influences such
a. noble women should gather around her,
will shrn with disgust the vulgar compau-
ions who are rude, profans and intemper-
ate. II young ladies would lay aside por-
ton of the money they spend in dress, and
invest it in choice books, and good paintings
to hang in their rooms, they would derive
more pleasure from them in hours Of soil.
tuds than they can experience from the 70.
lection of silk and satin in their mirrors
When il rainy day should keep them within
doors, and disperse the fair weather beams
that, like Butterflies, fly only in the sunshine,
they would have something to enliven the
dresriness within; thoughts and ideas Of the
gifted minds who have given as their lives
and experience in books, and ever-smiling
scenes, blooming in verdure at all seasons
portrayed by the hand OF the artist, and con.
ceived by his genius.