Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-08-13


theory?'
81 have spoken to her very often, y
said Mcdonald, "and I think English
is Hebrew to her; but my theory Of
beauty crosses at least one corner of
your argument, my friend believe
that the original type of every human
being could be made beautiful without
in any essential particular destroying
the visible identity
"And YOU think that little woman 5
face could be made beautifully"
q know it."
"Try it, then. Here is your copy Of
Titian's Bella, all finished but the
face. Make an apothesis portrait of
your neighbOr, and, while it harmonizes
with the body of Titian's beauty, still
leave it recognizable as the portrait, and
I'll give in to your theories-believing
in all other miracles, if you like, at the
same imei"
Ingarde laughed, as he went back to
his own picture, and Mcdonald, after
sitting few minutes lost in revere,
turned his easel so as to get painter S
view of his female neighbor. He thought
she colored slightly a. he fixed his eyes
upon her; bur, if SO, she apparently
became very soon unconscious of his
gaze, and he was soon absorbed himself
in the task to which his friend had so
mockingly challenged him.
Excuse me- dear reader, while with
two epistles build bridge over which
Won can cross a chasm OF a month i'll my
story.
To CREME MCDoyALD-Sir: | am
intrusted with a delicate commission,
which | knew not how to broach to Won
except by simple proposal. Will you
forgive my abrupt levity, if l inform
Won. without further preface, that the
Countess Nyschriem, a Polish lady of
high birth and ample fortune, does you
the honor to propose for your hand. If
you AT. disengaged and your affections
are not irrevocably given to another,
can conceive no sufficient obstacle TO
your acceptance of the brilliant connec-
ton. The Countess is 22, and not beau-
tiful, it must in fairness be said: but she
has high qualities both of heal and
heart, and is worthy any mans respect
and affection.
An answer is requested in the course
of tomorrow, addressed to "The Count
Hanswald, Minister of His Majesty the
King of Prussia" l have the honor,
ETC.. etc. HANSwALD.
McDonald's answer was as follows:
To His E,celency, Hanswald, etc, etc.
You will pardon me that 1 have taken
two days to consider the extraordinary
proposition made me in your letter. The
subject, since it is to be entertained "a
moment, requires, perhaps, stall further
rcflection-but my reply shall be definite
and as prompt as I can bring myself to
be in matter so important.
My first impulse was to return your
letter, declining the honor you woulddo
me, and thanking the lady for the com
pliment of her choice. My first reflcc-
ton was the relief and happiness which
an independence would bring to moth
er and two sisters-dependent now on the
precarious profits of my pencil. And 1
first consented to ponder the matter
with this view, and 1 now consent to
marry (frankly) for this advantage. But
still / have condition to propose.
In the studies I have had the oppor-
tunity to make of the happiness Of I'M
aginative men in matrimony have Oh
served that their two worlds of fact and
fancy were seldom under the control Of
one mistress. 1t must be very extraor-
binary woman, of course, who, with the
sweet domestic qualities needed forcom-
mon life, possesses at the same time the
elevation and spirituality necessary for
the ideal Of the poet and painter. And
l am not certain, i'll any case, whether
the romance of some secret passion. fe |
and pursued in the imagination only, BE-
not the inseparable necessity of a poetic
nature. For the imagination is incapa-
BILE of being chained, and it is at once
lisenchanted and set roaming b. the
very position and certainty which are
the charms of matrimony. Whether ex-
elusive devotion of all the faculties of
mind and body he the fidelity exacted
in marriage is a question every woman
should consider before making a hus-
band Of an imaginative man. As have
not seen the Countess l can generalize
on tine subject without Offense: and she
is the best Judge whether she can chain
nv fancy as well as nv affections, or
Weld TO an imaginative mistress the de-
voiiou of 81 predominant a quality of
nv nature. can only promise her tho
constsncy of a husband.
This inevitable license Is allowed my
ideal world and its ,lcv"tinns. that Is {"
.,v, lett entirely ~ myself | hn rraI.