The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-06-28
coLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, June %; 1865.
Scenery Of the Lever and Middle
Country

satisfy the pencil Of Claude. The view
from Taylor's Hill affords You succession
Of scenes along the lexington heights that
would pro6tably employ the pencil. of any
painter, however excellent or fanciful. But
60 10 the top of the new Capitol aud sur
vey the exquisite amphtheatre of tree
and rock, aud river-the. grand hedge of
pines beyond, skirting the whole horizon;
the exquisite and gcutle slopeso OF hill aud
valley between, only needing herds aud
cottages, and villas and an occasional mill
seat, to be worthy of thebest efforts Of the
pastoral muse, whether in song or picture.
And now that the prospect is that we are
to become farming peop'e, and destined
to supersede staple culture with thorough
tillage, all these scenes will be made to
come out before the eye, and commend
themselves gratefully TO the mind. We
shall ,len have a dense popu!alion-al,
whens-and every hill-slope will have its
villa, and every scene its painter; aud the
sheep will dot the hills, aud broad roads
will wind. through vallies thick set with
green herbage, and we shall realize all the
beauties of the lovelest English land
scapes, nor will the dead levels of our
low country be deficient in their attrac.
tion to the eye, taste and fancy. 1t ie the
conm"n practice to dlsparage il; but there
Is neither sense, nor Judgment, nor justice,
iu 80 doing. The truth Is. few OF our peo-
pie are trained ia any school which
teaches beauty per Sc aud tor its own sake
In this respect, our eyes are but little tu-
tored by auy schooling. Every in
the prospect depends upon the condition
and education Of the mud which surveys
it. Wa are told of m'serables WHO w,l!
travel from Dan to Beersheoa and see no
thing. The mind, and the sort of prepa-
ration and training through which it has
gone, Is the usual medium for making the
survey. 10 the eye that looks only for
ATTRACTIONS In form, our sceuery must
always be uni inl ressive. But il is full Of
will reward close study. 1t depends for
It's effect upon the exquisite grada,ions Of
shade and color, the nice blending O tints.
the harmony of its transitions, and, if We
may so phrase it, certain delicate inten-
sity of life. 1t does not impose upon You,
at glance, like the scenery of the North
or OR own back country. Its great def
cheney is IN form. There are no stupen'
cous enincnces- frowning heights,
that, rising up like giants, stretch them
selves with their grey heads into the
clouds, compelling the admiration of men,
and seeming to challenge that of the gods
Our rivers rul. not through Lodges of bald
rock, that threatens 4nomently to tumble
headiong upon the Kissing steamboat as it
glides beneath. Our hills DO not cluster
together, bald and Gesolate locking groups,
as If seeking alliance against the assaults
Of winter. Our outlines are neither star
.tling nor imposing, but they are persuasive
aud grateful. They do not strike you ut Il
giance, but 1t Will please you in tims to
study them Nay, they Will reward study,
when the object which depends for lis
effect upon mere outline will provoke
none. After all, our vast rocky or noun
tain pictures are very cold aud cteerless.
They strike YOU with awe, but they invite
no sympalhies. They demand your won.
der, but they yield and expect no love
You see al; their possessions at glance
you feel that there is nothing in reserve
Beyond the grand, bald outline, they have
no treasures. They move you at the frs,
sight, but seldom reward second; and the
mind ut len I'll becomes discouraged and
sad in their contemplation. and terms from
them to the crowded city, as if seeking
hu":an association and relief. But tie
effect il far otAerw isc Of our Southern