Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-09-09

specimens by hundreds, and there is a notable
feature here that you will not notice to the
same extent elsewhere-the residence of the
simple citizen is often as beautiful and purely
artistic as the palace of the proudest noble
No other city possesses such school of archi-
tectural art that can be so happily adapted, SO
practically applied to domestic purposes, and il
we desired types of all that is beautiful in art,
suitable to our modern wants in the erection and
construction Of our buildings, the entire extent
of my most practical observation, land my dear
friends they have been quite extensive, would
most unquestionably direct your attention and
your earnest consideration to all those Venetian
examples that have so favorably and lastingly
impressed me and appealed to my humble taste
in such matters. Will you excuse me for a
slight depression here, for some practical ideas
have just suggested themselves, which may be
only connected with my subject by a weak link
in the chain Of my impressions and general OBJ
servations regarding the text of this article,
| Venice. | think we can always fully justify
| ourselves in appropriating anything aad every
| thing that is truly beautiful, both in art and
| nature, to enhance and increase all our COM
forts In life. Then, why not, if we have the
means and propose to make homes for our
selves and our families, if We wish to build sub
stantial houses, have an eye to their erterndl
beauty as we'll as to their internal arrangement
and comfort 1t is true enough that this is
both matter of means and taste, but good
taste will generally discover and be able to Sc
cure the necessary requisites even at some sac
rifce in some other department, or in some other
respect of ways and means," which our atten-
ton had not been previously called to. Is this
idea that so crudely present worthy of any
consideration? | merely name it In my plain,
simple way, as it occurred to me, without an
noylng you with much comment. Apart from
my vocation, am at sea" upon most of those
great ideas that engross the time and attention
of superior minds and cultivated intellects. |
would not know Political economist if [
were to meet him upon any of the streets of
Staunton, aud as to champion of general
REFORM | would not suffer my ''best friend
to introduce me to such fraud-such an impo-
sition upon good society,"" for 1 think be
should be banished, even if his dress coat was
ever so faultless and his white kids unsoiled.
| have not yet told you anything about the
beautiful churches the grand old cathedrals of
fair Venice | will preface my remarks with
one comprehensive assertion-they are exceed
ipgly splendid-they are surprisingly numerous
If you pause-if you stand and look upon them
their appearance and their history will greatly
impress you, and when you enter them and
stroll through their dim aises and peer into
their most sacred chapels and gaze at all those
glorious works of art, in painting and sculpture
and mosaics which devotion, wealth and genius
have contributed from and through time i'm
memorial you will surely be replete with ad-
miration, and will linger long and lovingly amid
that soft and "dim religious light" forgetful
of the outside world, with ell its cares. its tur-
moils and its strife. All that is responsive in
your nature, all your love of the beautiful can
roam here at will.
And here surrounded By profusion Of mar
ble porphyry, a!abaster, agate, jasper, mosa-
les, &c, &c, all remarkable for richness, even
Art itself will deceive you with her countless
charms and she will feel proud and complacent
(for age has not wrinkled her brow or whitened
her locks) at witnessing the acknowledgment
and recognition of all her surprising beauty in
each and every apprecia'ive look that you will
bestow upon her You will FIX your eyes upon
what you will suppose to be the richest aud
most elegant paintings, representing Apostles,
saints and martyrs and the most imposing
scenes 10 Sacred History, when your guide will
tell you that most OF these are mosaics executed
by various masters in the art at different peri
DDS in the past eight centuries, and to-day they
look as fresh and lovely as they did when they
first smiled in their youthful beauty, just from
those poetic, artistic hands, that fashioned them
into shapes and hues of loveliness.
What | have said regarding the churches
anu CatnGUralS OF Henlce, SO lar as aIculteC-
ture, beauty and art are concerned, might also
be truthfuy said about her palaces for in their
praise one cannot say too much. They are
more numerous than the former, possessing
in many instances very great age, and In their
construction and adornment equally as lavish
in expenditure of wealth.
| will not weary your readers by entering into
any details. | scarcely think that this is at all
expected. However interesting it might be to
some, to the general reader it would prove
wearisome, aud, moreover, an ordinary news
paper article is not either ''the time, place and
circumstance for such. The temptation and
desire might be great with me to continue scrib-
bling, but if encouraged and gratifed such
feelings, it would be an exhibition of selfish
ness to annoy my friends, and possibly lose
their kind feeling and friendship by showing
SO little care for their comfort. So with this
humble apology and sacrifice Of self, abruptly
close this communication, with the best wishes
Of OCULAR"
THE Sort OF MEN THAT WOMEN LIKE
BEST.-We know that men naturally shrink
from the attempt to obain companions who are
their superiors; but they will find that really
intelligent women, who possess the most desir
able qualities, are uniformly modest, and hold
their charms in modest estimation.
What Such women most admire in men ia pal.