The Republican journal., 1876-05-11
The IDEAL

| The history OF mankind shows that there
is a continual change in the order Of pre-
| cehence which is given to different virtues.
| 1t IS now admitted that the cultivation of
love for the beautiful is one of the most
ennoblmg OF all efforts for selI-improve-
ment. IN fact, this is the only road by
which some natures are led out of moral
blindness. Good taste, which is but an
other form of good Judgment, will many
times prevent evils being done which
without its interpositiou would have been
easily enough committed And growing
as a part of a refining cultivation is love
for the ideal or imaginary superlative of
excellence. 1t has been well said that
whatever is touched by ideality is SO tar
redeemed from earth but when there is
no touch of it, all is of the earth earthly
PtoportIonate to the growth OF refined
tastes our sympathes expand we acquire
al inner grace, a goodness of heart, a
softened benevolence And in proportion
to the increase Of our love for the beaut-
full, our new refinement shows us Il higher
realm beyond to which we must aspire,
and this forward impulse is but . natural
law manifest III every form of spiritual or
organic lie. Our only happiness is in
hoping and in dreaming, and in growth
and change Thus we know that Tuition
is rot the great and supreme delight
1t falls to rs to see sometimes q lovely
face which approaches very near our
standard Of womanly beauty, but after
familiarity with it, lines Of ugliness ap-
pear,-or perhaps npon acquaintance we
learn to love the possessor. In time per
haps she becomes our wife. We see the
impertections every day, notwithstanding
We try to curb the imagination and en-
deavor to make ourself believe that ii the
old saw that Glove is blind is not true
it at least ought to be. But there meets,
sooner or later, our longing eyes another
face, SO heavenly, with eyes SO iridesceut,
changeful and soulful, that we excia!m,
80, how we could love thee were it not
for one other!n But because Of duty love
has its limitations and it is we'll, toy the
new face would soon lose its charm.
$50 scorn the promise Of the Real;
To seek anu seek and not to lind
Yet cherish still the fair Ideal
III is thy fate, o restless Mind"
Tennyson's dreams or poems Oh the
quest for the Holy Grail are tine pictures
illustrative of aur aspirations for the Ideal
The sacred urn was borne away at the APP
purity and chastity thus we are told it
was carried from sight
"A gentle sound, an awful light,
Three angel, bear the Holy Grail;
With folded feet, in stoles Of white.
Tn sweeping wings they sail"
A few times in life it is allowed us 10
almost find OUR ideal OF beauty in nature
The traveller looking upon Niagara tor the
first time exclains "iiow grand, Aow
glorious.' But his eyes when wandering
from the great pouring flood are soon Of
tended by the wretched structures which
stand close by. 4 few DAYS later and lie
has been wEirled far westward ami as the
sun goes down in gold and purple glory,
he gazes with rapture upon the Fails OF
Yosemite with their adjunct OF surround
ing scenery wonderfully vast inetfaDly
grand The traveller cannot speak now,
but mutely bows tie knee, feeling his own
littlcncss and the actual presence of the
Creator
Is it unreasonable, although Gods soul
is Infinite and ours finite. to attribute to
Him also an eyer-reaching tor The ideal ?
His fashionings OF matter are constantly
changing throughout the universe. bat
under great and ottimes unknowable laws
Nothing is permanent but change is
the truism as Old AS mankind. Perhaps
matter looks not beautiful to the Creator.
but he sees the future possibilities OF form
and beauty. Even the human soul, l,-al
though probably nearer his ideal than
aught else he has created. could it during
this life reach what, according to earthly
Judgment. would he the acme Of purity
and goodness, Yet would it tail 10 satisfy
Him 4. G w