Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-11-02
The use Of the Beautiful.

The ministry Of beauty is undoubtedly
the most cuIiUrng and refining OF any OF
the many influences that touch US through
our outer senses. The revelations and
inspirations of religion, acting directly uP-
on The soul, NAV be purer and holler; yet
are never, think, fully and perfectly de-
yeloped until touched by the magic wand
of Beauty, the soul awskes 10 The unuI-
terable glory that envelops all things OF
His creating. Alas that there are so
many blind Christians. For, let man
be never so devoul, never so sincere. new
er so consecraled, if bis soul does not
noun, and soar; il il does moi break out
into thanksgiving and admiration at sight
of the lavish beauty ol earth, and sea and
sky-His iDimitabIe pancrsma-Ihen bis
religion is all root; buried firmly enough.
may be, in the dark and damp, but mis-
sing The fair perfection Of leaf and bios
soming.
Men have been very slow to learn the
use Of the beautiful. A thing, 10 recon-
mend ilself TO their notice, must be Of
some immediate practical use. II must
be worth so much in dollars and cents.
And go they 60 through the world seeing
only its potato pstces and stock exchsn-
ges. 10 order 10 be practical and enter
prising, need one shut his soul TO all the
sweet influences Of Nature! When wea-
ry and troubled, may she not soothe him
with her cool touch on his heated pulses
and may not her dainty blossoms hold
in their fair ch9llices ihe sweet waters Of
some kindly Lelhe | think so. |
think Nature is rare healer, only We
have not yet learned the true use Of her
everlasting balms.
love 10 think that all this rare wealth
OF blossoming, this royal tint OF bilIowy
ether, this ma,chless concord Of sweet
sounds, this delicious freshness and ira
GRANGE of chsngelul gales, is the silver
lining TO the heavy cloud Of care, and tial
and suffering that overhangs the world.
"a thing of beauty is JOY forever" |
think there is use-a real, practical use
in beauty. The heart that IS open TO lis
pure Influences, that is filled with lis
sweet intoxication, is insenslbly made
richer and fainter. II makes life broader
and fuller, increasing its eOjoymenIs, and
if sorrow comes. it lures from It's dark
shadow By its tender, re.Gul ministries.
1t is real and enduring, too, despite lis
ephemeral seeming. The fitting scent
of rose and fem on the dewy up lands, the
cbangelul clouds that glorily the western
heavens, The cool, sweet shadow Of the
solemn wood, and the soft murmur Of sill
very waters, do not die on field, or Ky,
or shore. They linger in the heart thro'
long, .dreary winters, gladdening It's gloom
with their remembered sweetness; and
art and poetry take up the beautiful re-
fran, and reproduce it in hundreds of new
forms of loveljness, TO charm the eye and
delight the heart. Not that the homeller
or more practical side of life is TO be de-
spised, but that both be cultured side by
side, ma'ing and ioniDg each other; so
that blossom and fruit, each in It's beaut-
ful completeness, shall crown with wealth
and beauty the full measure of The perfec.
lile-a life purified by communion with
all that is pure and beautiful, and made
tender and earnest by bearing with our
fellows the common Sorrows and burdens
of common lot.