Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-04-27
If I Was Only Beautiful.

This is the cry that is ehoing from thu
hearts Of thousands of men and womea al
over the land. Very few will say il
aloud, or even acknowledge it if toe
question be put to them. They will ex
claim pooh | never did care for mere
beauty of person beauty is only Skin
deep" and then they 60 off into raphso
dies over the beauty of the mind. beauty
of behavior, beauty of disposition, etc
while all the time deep down in their
hearts, is that intense longing for the
bright and glorious beauty of face and
form which charms all beholders, and
wins all hearts. They say softly to them>
selves,
"lf was only beautiful,
How happy | would be;
IQe then be loved by every one,
Who chance to look at me.
would bright eyes were sparkling,
Beneath rish glossy hair;
would my cheeks were blooming,
Beneath rich glossy hair"
Men do not care so much for personal
beauty in themsolees al women do, Cor
they do not depend so much upon it for
their attractiveneSs, but there are few
men Who do not wish to look well, and
very we'll too, and Why not? We are all
born with love of the beautiful. We
love beautiful landscape, a lovely sun,
set, wild romantic scene, pretty scene,
a pretty home, nice luxuriant gardens,
handsome clothes, and last, but not least,
beauty in tie human face divine.
"We praise the beauty of the mind
And yet we ever bow,
To the ruby lips, the graceful form
The fair and lofty brows"
lnview Of all this is it any wonder
that so many are longing for beauty. that
paint, powder, dress and every means of
personal adornment is escorted to, to try
and produce the desired result?
Yet after all, in our choice of friendship
how few are selected with any reference
to their personal charms. We may be
attracted for time by bright eye, a
raven tresS, a rosy cheek, or a golden
lock, but it is the heart, soul and mind,
the individuality of the soul inner sell, that
holds and retains us; therefore while We
use all due care in trying to look as
well as we conyenietly can, Ro should
doubly strive to make Ourselves, our per-
sonality, our ways, our modes of speech
and little everyday actions, worthy of
regard, admiration and respect. We
should also try to be. something and do
something. To cultivate our minds so
that our society shall be of interest and
benefit to others SO that we may have
something which they have not, something
which we ean give and bestow upon our
fellows. We arc all selfish, self is to
centre around which we EACH one revolye.
We ride, walk, talk, eat, visit, word and
play to crafty self. If | can amuse,
interest, or instruct myself more in one
persons society than in another's, | shall
inevitably choose that one for special
friend. We select our associates for what
they can give US! There, / am sure
you mistake" crivs some criti5; "For just
across the street in a little hut. lives
Mrs. Moore, she has no gift of intellect
no physical beauty, no worldly goods
no nothing; and yet all the town are her
friends All! you dent perceive the
wonderful talsman she owns the charm
that wins all hearts which come within
her sphere, she has something better than
mere gift, better than beauty, better
than II mine of gold. And this is, warm
sympathetic heart. She feels for you
and with you, and enters into the deepest
and most secret recesses of your spirit,
She rejoices when you are glad, and
soothes when you weep, she doubles your
pleasure by sharing them and divides
your sorrows by her warm interest in you
so that she seems almost part of your
self, and this is why all hearts go out to
her. The world is full of compensations
and if you are deprived of one thing it
only remains for you to make the most
aud the best of some other good which
you can obtain aud which once yours,
you may ever find more real enjoyment
in its possession than you would have
done in that which you SO intensely de
sire. Don't waste your life trying for
impossibilities, when there arc SO many
possibilities which are within your grasp
only waiting for you to lay hold of them.
If you cannot have gold take silver, if
silver be not yours be content with copper
or even iron, fer there is good ii every
thing if we only determine to extract and
enjoy it. Happiness is everywhere. The
heart always sings with JOY if We keep
sound body and healthy mind gambler
hns M rinht 10 q nlana In snA,nI u