The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-01-30
THE BEAUTIFUL.

A student of Raphael stood before his
outstretched canvas in his studio, as if
in deep contemplation for a subject for
his pencil. Entranced with visions that
fitted before his fancy, he exclaimed ::
T'Tll paint the Beautiful! What shall
it be ? I'll paint the noontide with its
splendors p Again he mused: "Tll
paint the ocean in its anger" Hesitat-
ing to begin his task Or I'll paint
the rosy morning with its golden tresses,
or the modest evening with its coronet
of stars" Here the artist seemed to
dream. SIS aught more beautiful {?
All, I'll paint fair NIandonna. or the
sweet, innocent child, Jesus r' Again
he murmured for a theme sublimer,
grander. Ill depict the battle, or the
storm; but stay-could I possibly pic
ture the mind, with its aspirations yet
clinging to the casket in which it is en-
shrined?" He knew the theme, on
earth most wondrously beautiful, was
beyond the limner's skill. He paused
in disappointed mood. A poetess, un-
perceived, had entered, whose spirit
was stirred with sympathy. She touch
ed her Tyre, and sang
"What is the Beautiful? mystery!
Not man. but God alone its depth can sound;
Wouldst thou among its worshippers be found?
Rise the wings of Faith where thought is
free,
And thou shalt know the Beautiful"
The artist, still fondly clinging to his
idea of the Beautiful, responded {:
Gould you but see the famous picture
of the four Marys weeping over the
dead body of the crucified Redeemer,
you would acknowledge a realization of
the Beautiful. The human countenance
is, to my mind the special enthronement
and pavilion of intelligence-the parade
ground of thought the papyrus where
on the soul writes out her mystic lore
the pillar on which she hangeth up
her writing for the world to read Mys-
terious blending of matter and mind
A sea of mystery There is something
regal in the face of man but there was
never such face as that of the Man of
sorrows, whose countenance is 6 as the
shining of the sun in his strength
There never was such a dead cOunte-
nance, for there was not one line of de-
cay in it. In every other face, evil
tempers and rebeIlious desires have,
even after death, left memorials of their
power but in the countenance of our
Lord Jesus there was no sign or trace
of personal sin; and every exquisite
touch of the fair hand is beautifully
conceived, and executed by the hand of
the painter. Successfully has he da-
guerreotyped God p
A naturalist, who had listened with
interest, announced himself: Every
thing God has created bears the impress
of some deep hidden good. Nature is
replete with beauty, far surprising art.
The earth is a landscape of beatty;
whether our eyes turn toward the icy
North, or the sunny South, visions of
picturesque beauty arise to view. The
green carpet, the towering mountain,
the CLASSY waters of cataract, sea. and
ocean, each reflect varied images of
light, and claim our admiration In the
sweet notes of birds, the rumbling
noise of the waterfall, the murmur of
the sea-shei1, or the sighing of the
breeze, there's melody, poesy, divinity.
The ocean, the earth, and the heavens
are components of the handiwork of the
great Original. Spring, summer, au-
tumn, and winter-each season in sue
cession-gives birth to new develop
ments. The sun in gorgeous splendor
| rises, circles the march of day, then
sets in martial grandeur beyond the
Hesperian horizon. The night-queen,
robbed in silver-sheen, followed by a
train of sparkling attendants. walks in
beauty and majesty through the august
! heavens. Old ocean. whether In calm
repose, or boisterous tumult, claims a
tribute. Far down its hidden depths
| are gems of purest ray serene. How
bland the soft zephyrs sigh But when
the storm-king drives his chariot over
the main, and lightnings flame from
| cloud TO cloud, is there not grandeur
in the elemental strife? Life is all
beautiful; and there's beauty, too,
when death has set his marble signet on
the brow :" Again the poetess touched
a low, sweet strain:
worship the beautiful in Nature, in thought
| and deed.
| soorn not earth's symbols, Tor by them alone
Can approach the mystic sIirit-horne,
| where beauty from mortality is freed.
Seek, seek the Beautiful in nature then
And hf-r
| Of rock, and mountain, ree0rls 81 events
Most wondrous aud prophetic words 10 men -
An ambassador from the courts o
heaven heard, and, with heart attuned
in modest tones replied All won
ders Of the heavens and munificence o