The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1873-01-25
THE BEAUTIFUL


a student of Raphael stood before his
outstretched canvas in his studio, as if
in deep contemplation for subject for
his pencil. Entranced with visions that
fitted before his fancy, he exclaimed
"Ill paint the Beautiful What shall
it be ? I'll paint the noontide with its
splendors :" Again he mused IN
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 3" Is aught more beautiful ?
All, I'll paint fair Mandonna, or the
sweet, innocent child. Jesus - Again
he murmured for q theme sublimer,
grander. - III depict the battle, or the
storm; but stay-could l possibly pic
eure 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 limners skill He paused
in disappointed mood. 4 poetess. un-
lIeFseived, had entered. Nsnoss---TT-Tzv
was stirred with sympathy. She touch
ed her Tyre, and sang
.'what il the BeautifuIe mystery,
Not man, but God alone its depth can sound:
wouldst thou among its vorshippers be found?
Rise on the wings Of Faith where thought is
free,
And thsu shalt know the Beautiful"
The artist, still fondly clinging to his
idea of the Beautiful. responded
" Could you but see the famous picture
of the four Marys weeping over the
dead body of the crucifed Redeemer,
you would acknowledge a realization OF
the Beautiful The human countenapct
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 VI
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 hut there wa,
| never such face as that of the Man ol
| sorrows, whose countenance is as the
shining of the sun IN his strength
There never was such dead counte
nance, for there was not one line of de
cay IN it. In every other face, evi
tempers $and rebeIlious desires have
even after death, left memorials of theil
power; but in the countenance of oul
Lord Jesus there was no sign or trac,
of personal sin; and every exquisite
touch of the fair hand is beautiful,
conceived, and executed by the hand o
the painter. Successfully has he da
guerreotyped God ="
A naturalist, who had listened will
interest, announced himself: Ever,
thing God has created bears the impress
of some deep hidden good Nature i
replete with beauty, far surprising art
The earth is landscape of beauty
whether our eyes turn toward the ic,
North, or the sunny South, visions o
picturesque beauty arise to view. TIL,
green carpet, the towering mountain
the CLASSY waters of cataract, sea, ant
ocean, each reflect varied images o
light and claim our admiration. In tn,
sweet notes of birds, the rumblin.
noise of the waterfall, the murmur o
the sea-shell, or the sighing of tn
breeze, thSre's melody, poesy, divinity
The ocean, the earth, and the heaven
are components of the handiwork of Oh
|
tumn, and winter-each season in sue
cession-gives birth te new develop
ments. The sun in gorgeous splendo
rises, circles the march of day, the
sets in martial grandeur beyond tn
Hesperian horizon. The night-queen
robbed In silver-sheen, followed by
train of sparkling attendants, walks i
beauty and majesty through the angus
heavens. Old ocean, whether in cal1
reposeE9r boisterous tumult, claims
tribute Far down its hidden depth
are gems of purest ray serene. Ho-
bland the soft zephyrs sigh ! But whe
the storm-king drives his chariot owe
the main, and lightnings flame frol
cloud to cloud, is there not grandeU
in the elemental strife? Life is a
beautiful; and there's beauty, tot
when death has set his marble signet c
the brow!" Again the poetess touche
a low, sweet strain
Worship the beautiful in Nature, in though
aud deed,
scorn not earths symbols, for by them alone
Can approach the mystic spirit-home,
Where beauty from mortality is freed.
Seek, seek the Beautiful in Nature! then
There thou wilt find upon her monuments
OF rock, and mountain, records Of events
Most wondrous and prophetic words to men =
J An ambassador from the courts
} heaven heard, and, with heart attme
in modest tones replied All wo
ders of the heavens and muniHcencs