Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-04

TOE VALUE OF BEAUTY.

AT recent agricultural meeting in
Pennsylvania it was discussed whether It
was worth while, from monetary point
oEview, to ornament farm grounds. It
is remarkable that, of the great number
OF things discussed, no question seemed
so very interesting. One would think
that such subject needed no discussion;
but when we drive through the country
and see so many farmhouses without
beauty, but absolutely without comfort
and even in defiance of all beauty, as If
cheerless, miserable condition were actu-
ally preferable-it is clear that the ques-
ton was not at all pointless one.
One speaker at that meeting put the
matter in a practical light in this way:
II, ne asked, we are buying apples in the
market, and have two samples before a.
both large, both of equally excellent
flavor, both in fact precisely the same In
every respect except that one is ola green.
uninviting tint, and the other red and rosy
which do we take? Indeed there Is In
every breast love of beauty, and in many
respects it is all we live for. We like
this world because it is beautiful; because
the flowers bloom, the trees grow. and
the birds sing; because our eyes. ears,
and all our senses are pleased; and be-
| cause it Is beauty which lends more than
any other element those charms of life
which so delight us; and, whether we are
conscious Of 1t or not, it enters largely in
all our calculations as to what we shall
buy and what we will own.
To make our homes beautiful should be
one of the objects of our lives. The mere
making money is all very well. 1t is in
deed one of the virtues He who is will
ing to work, and is anxious to make and
to save money by his hard labor, may
have vices; but he is seldom 50 coarsely
bad as the shiftless spendthrift who, while
ridiculing the saving habits of parents or
friends, is yet willing to borrow from OF
spend money for them. But too often
these praiseworthy. frugal. and saving
habits degenerate into rule of life, and
very little happiness or good in any shape
results from the money made. A very
little Of these savings-a very little time
spent on beautiying ones home-put q
new phase on existence; and we really
believe men would live an average of ten
years more than they do if they were to
say once in q while "begone dull care''
in the mere matter Of money-making, and
devote little time each day or so to max
ing sort of Eden of their home and the
surroundings. But it is no. so much of.
the measure that we would speak. There
is actual money in beauty, as the speak
er above said OF a beautiful farm. As
general rule, place in which taste is ex-
hibited, and everything is kept up in nice
style, will bring double that Of one in
which misery and ruin rules complete
1t is to be noted, however, that these pref
ty place are seldom for SALE Those who
cultivate these tasteful habits with the
view of selling their places in consequence
OF improving them, seem to thrive uncon-
sciously in every other way; and in time
come to the conclusion that they can af-
ford it, and may as well enjoy life In the
midst Of beautiful surroundings as to seu
out for other people to enjoy.
Mr.. Dunlap, the able agricultural COR
respondent Of the Chicago Tribune, re-
Gently remarked in a speech at Indianap-
oils, that in Illinois not many years ago
would sell a farm, and it was easy to find
farms for sale now, because the tastes OF
the people are becoming elevated. and
homes are made more attractive than
formerly by the addition Of such things
as make them pleasant. This is precisely
house always pays. 1t pays us in pleasure
as we go along; 1t pays us in good habits,
which brings us money in many incidental
al effect and cheerful contentment it gives
to our families; and, if we want to sell
after all. it will bring in double that ii
would if we had neglected all these
things.