The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-08-11

i
mEALITY.
No ideal OF the mind is q vain and useles
thing. The most substantial pracficalnes
10 often found In these bright tmaeinings
and they serve our needy nature far beyont
the range Of common utility. If the inter
ests OF our higher beings are TO settle th'
relations Of all objects 60 us then indeed, i
cannot be doubted that the sunshine ant
rain as they form the bow OF Gods promiss
in the sky, the .dew-drop as it holds tn.
ornament in its bosom, the violet as Il
peeps forth modestly from the ground, Oh
any other of the myriad beauties Of the uni
verse, may contribute as much TO the rea
| advancement OF the human race, as the more
practical means that promote mere physi-
cal good.
Man is much more than a creature OF
| flesh. He cannot live by bread alone
There are therefore golden seasons for the
soul-harvests gathered not into barns
vines that yield no purple fruits and yet lay
their summer foliage oyer richer gifts"
To its largest extent nature seeksNto serve
the mind as well as the body, offering alike
to its perceptions and its tastes the privil-
eye of communion with whatever is fair and
noble in creation. She is the benefcent
parent of the ideal and the real and though
we distinguish them by different names,
yet in their final purpose and meaning they
are one, in revealing whence they come
and whittier they tend to lead US.
Nature will be localized. She is not ma
ture unless idealized. Every man who
finds ompanionship and Joy in natural OBJ
jects, is an idealist- He becomes an idealist
by the act that raises nature above the bar
rem idea Of machinery, and conforms it to a
spiritual purpose. It isa process of thought to
which all mind has an instructive tendency.
Children show it; every period Of life is full
oftG. AT no age can the literal forms of
nature satisfy the wants of the spirit. If
the child's toy were toy only, il would be
nj IF N n
over which that enraptured youth poures,
were nothing but a romance, it would soon
be cast aside. True to its own laws, the
creative mind uses all things as materials
for constructing its handiwork, improves
what it acquires; ennobles as it gathers
them from the vast open field which Is
spread around it.
Is this ideality the birth-right of the poet
only Z? is it the chosen heritage of the few
who are honored with the selected gifts of
genius Let US not so think Ideality has
lis seat in the soul. Viewed in its connec-
tons with the intellect, it differs widely in
individuals. man may be an idealist and
yet never write a poem. He may be desti-
tute of genius and even of talent and. yet
have a soul full of beauty and blessedness.
1t IS not poetry nor art. Wiser than scolas-
tic lore, profOunder than argument, shaper
than logic, it sees and grasps the pearl in
deep waters while others are sporting on
the sparkling surface. 1t listens to the uu-
sacred melodies. needless of those strains
that captivate the grosser ears of the null
titudes.
Ideality is closely connected with our
moral sensibilities, and it makes an earnest
appeal to our convictions of duty. AL
though the sense of duty is distinct from the
love of the beautiful and rests on its own
deeply laid foundation in the sterner quail
ties of our character, yet the habit of mind
that converses with the most refined forms
of of
thugs, is most admirably fitted to intensity
our moral sentiments and elevate onr feel
ings of devotion Goodness loses half its
charm if it is the goodness of mere duty
The Journalist may go through his routine
of duties, and the conscientious man may
observe the commandments bat it is the
privilege of him who enters into the ideal
of Christian excellence to read the Sermon
on the Mount and the Farwell Discourses of
Christ as they were spoken, and to take the
broad compass OF their meaning to his
awakened heart.
Reduce life to the estimate of logic and
what is it worth All of us must have a bet
ter world than the actual world around US,
and hence the kindness of nature provides
the farreaching avenues of thought and fan
cy, through which the spirit makes its es-
cape and luxuriates in the boundlessness of
its domains. The reality within is stronger
than the reality without, and by fancy's
creative energy the bright visions of ideal
III
dreamy impracticable thing. Tried by
Just standard it is the most practical ele-
ment in human experience. for it is nothing
less than the immortal mini adjusting it
self to those objects which lie above the
yicissitudes of earthly circumstances.
Home is not home unless this ideal spirit
dwells in its midst. 1t has created more
fiction, written more songs, recorded more
biographies, inspired more eloquence, and
even filed large space in the Bible than
Il, 10 Ii h IL
chair, the cradle of infancy, and the couch
of age, the family table, and tho evening
parlor, never weary us with their familiari-
ty. Free from the morbid sentimentalism
which alternates between the excuses of
low and sorrow, we are keenly susceptible
of the transcehdent bliss which is embo-
somed in friendship and love. The aids of
a delusive fancy are not necessary to our
happiness, nor have we to fly to the extrav-
agance of romantic dreams for refuge,
from the sharp contact with the worlds
realities. Give us the power of idealiZing
and we can enjoy fully what is really good
in our present existence and without muir
murings bear its evils, sustained by the
pictures of true felicity TO be enjoyed in
the future.
Let us not suppose, then, that artists and
poets are the only persons interested in the
cultivation of the ideal. It is the want of
our common nature, 1t is that demand for
something more than every day facts which
engross the senses and understanding. Into
all honest, loving hearts Is this spirit
breathed and according to q mans taste,
and temperament it moulds the cast of his
hopes and aspirations. Every one must
idealize something. Contemplated from this
point of view, ideality is an endowment that
we cannot value too highly. For it is sy-
nonymous with the best form of excellence,
and its aim is not merely to present the
purer aspects of intellectual and spiritual
existence, but to reach the Hottest heights
of truth and wisdom.
vALEDICToRY ADDRESSES.
Gentlemen Of the Board Of Trustees
RESPECTED SIRs For myself and for
these, my companions, tender you heart
felt and sincere thanks for all past acts of
favor and kindDess. Not otherwise can-we
do than remember with grateful feelings
those who have devoted so much time and
manifested so much interest in our welfare.
We hope no one of you will ever have occa-
sion to feel that he has been dishonored by
any dishonorable acts of ours or by those OF
any pupil of this school. Through your
labors and influence we have enjoyed great
advantages, educational, moral, and reilg-
ious; and we feel that much may justly be
exnected of US We trust, therefore, we
have so appreciated and improved our priv
ileges that we shall become intelligent.
useful and valuable members of society. and
thus make some return tor that zeal in the
cause of female education, which founded
and for SO many years has sustained our
beloved Institute. Bespeaking In her behalf
the continuance Of that interest so abundant
IL manifested in the past; and In ours, your
kind remembrance and best wishes, we
close to you this our valedictory address.
And you we thank for your paternal care,
your faithful counsels. and affectionate in
structions. You have opened before as
-4nks Fill