Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-10-26
[for the Civilian and Telegraph.
Beauty.

Yes, there is beauty in this world of ours.
1t is an all pcrvading presence. We can
trace its lineaments in every thing around
us-we can see its impress everywhere.
1t unfolds in the numbcrless flowers of
spring it waves in the branches of the trees
and green blades of grass; it dances in the
ripping ril it sparkes in the silver stream;
it is embodied in the foam-crestcd wave; it
adorns the rugged mountain side; dwclls in
the rude and shapeless mass of rocks, and
haunts the hidden regions of the earth, in
crusting the rough unhewn sides of the cav
ern and glittering in the stalactite suspended
from the roof And into the deep, mysteri-
Gus, unveiled depths of the sea, it dives, for
''Full many a gem of purest ray serene
Tie dark, unf.thomed caves of ocean bear"
1t CLEANS in the ruby tipped shell, SPAR
kles in the diamond and glimmcrs in the
shining pearl.
If We keep our eyes open and our minds
at all attuncd to the harmones of Nature,
how much beauty we can see around us
We can view it in every feature of the land
scape before our eyes; in the smooth, grassy
plain, the sloping hillside, the lofty noun
tain, the waving forest, the flowing river, the
dashing cataract and the swelling ocean,
And if we look above US, upon ''thc spacious
armament on high, with all the blue ETHEREAL
sky" what scene for contemplation Wheth-
er it be when the first rosy glow of morning
spreads over the eastern horizon, or at noon
day when every object is bright in the full
blaze OF the sun, or at evening when his de-
clining beams tinge the clouds with bright
colors of crimson and gold, or at night when
the moon sheds her paler, softer light, and
the stars one after another emerge from the
"bluc etheriar and gradually light up the
firmament until it appears all over spangled
with gltterng orbs. Whether the sky is
clear and unclouded, or the light Geccy clouds
chase each other in quick succession over the
blue vault, giving glmpses here and there
of its colorng, or the dark storm-cloud is
gathering, or the vivid lightning illumines
the bordering-how much beauty can be seem.
And in the succession of seasons, we can
trace it in new and varied forms
There is beauty peculiar to spring when
every thing wakes up to new life-when the
green grass springs up and the plant sends
forth the tender bud. Another to Summer
when the bud has matured into the blossom
and the delicate tints of Spring have merged
into richer, deeper hue. And still another
when Autumn comes, AMI instead of the
blossom we have the golden fruit and Nature
wears her many-hucd garment.
When the flowers all fade away and the
leaves drop from the trees, leaving the for
est barc-whcn winter comes and robs Ma
turc of her bright coois and gay dress, there
is still some beauty to be found.
We see it in the little snow flakes as they
fall and cover the earth with mantle of pure
white; in the iccles as they glitter in the
beams, in the perfect arrangement of the
crystals Oh the window-pane, and in the va
led scenes which are presented. c
But not only throughout Nature can we /
race it, but it is also characteristic of the 2
works Of Art. The Architect carries the
ensc of beauty with him when he erects an .
difice of such harmonious proportions that
We can see it in the symmetry and regularity g
# the structure. l
The Sculptor inspired with great and :,
obe idea, wieds the chise with u dextrous
and and transforms the shapcess marble into
II image of such perfection that beauty can
C traced in every lineament.
And the Artist who in his Imagination sees T
ONE delightful vision, transfers to the canvas y
picture so true to nature, light and shade &
and colors blending 50 finely, r.
'ces, shrubs and flowers, drawn with such
the azure sky with its wreaths of r
eecy clouds, and the setting sun represented 6,
ith such perfection that it seems almost like C,
living scene before us. lie
Truly the eye must be dim and the COM "
rehension dull, of the person who cannot h. h.
e the traces of beauty in all these varied re
rms around us. re
We cannot fail to recognize it daily if we u
i'll but keep our eyes open and our minds ~ ~
ady to receive impressions. Ii
1t has always in whatever form it existed is
whether in Nature, Art or the human IN
atures-becn lauded and admired. Poets m
all ages have immortalized it in verse and :,
ng, and artists have delighted to trace it in
ing colors, whilst nan has everywhere ed
at its shrine. hi
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