Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-08-10
Miscellaneous.
Written for the SENTINEL.
THE READING OF POETRY.


is suitable only for romantic young ladies
to whom the duties Of real life are un-
pleasant awakenings from dream like
existence, or for cfeminate young gentle
men incapable Of manly exertion and de-
voted to the worship of a sunAower or lily.
Sensible people VIC are told, have no
time to contemplate the beauties of
gorgeous sunrise, or to go into ecstacies
over n dew-besprinkled daisy. SO every
feeling Of delight at the lovely scenes
spread all around US, every glad song
that bursts from an appreciative heart.
must be sternly suppressed. Though
the doctrine appears rather repulsive
when thus expounded, it is, neverthe-
less, held by many excellent people.
With them VIC humbly beg leave to
to differ. AS 1t seems to us, poetry is
great power for good. and may be made
still more effective. IL cannot, indeed,
intruct in the art OF amassing glittcrinK
heaps of pelf, but il may aid 10 chasten-
ing and elevating that beside which fine
gold is as dust, and diamonds as pebbles
on the sea-shore. True wisdom realizes
that the highest ends Of life ara not to
be attained by sordid struggle for
money nor by reckless participation in
the whirl Of gayety. A noble character
is like noble oak. Many things are
essential to the trees full developments.
If the wind must shrek through it, and
the rain beat upon it, il its branches
must be manacled with ice and shrouded
in snow, that it may be made hardy
and able to brave the storm, not less
necessary are tho golden sunshine and
gentle showers which weave its emerald
robe. Thus il is with character. Harsh
and mild, soft and rough, light and
shadow. must be mingled Among the
mellowing agents is poetry. 1t no more
conduces to weakness of character, how
ever, than the moonlight tends to de-
prive the oak of its strength
To discover every effect Of poetry on
the mind and heart, would battle the
acutest metaphysician. Who shall es-
innate the value Of single stanza con-
tanning sublime thought rendered oil
the more grand by splendid imagery ?
Perhaps, when the warm blood Of youth
was gushing in tho veins, it was learned,
and fred the soul with lofty resolves
which bore their maker on till be
became on Freedoms browning slope
The pillar Of q nations hope,
The centre Of worlds desirer'
Or the influence on life may be less dis
tinct and more subdued, like that rest
full beauty which limpid rivulet adds
to II landscape A few pathetic lines
that bring tears to the eyes, refine the
feelings, and place US 10 such sympathy
with our fellow creatures, that their sor-
row becomes our sorrow, and their JOY
our joy. No one eau read that loving
tribute Of the English Laureate to his
dead friend, or the exquisite verses OF
our own sweet poet who so recently
passed
Beyond the veil Of that blue sky,
Where Gods subimcst secrets lie"
without having the affections purified
and the whole soul exalted.
Poetry, moreover, opens TO our view
an almost infinite humber Of beauties to
which our eyes would otherwise be holden.
A rosc-tinted cloud, dropping fern, a
pink sea-shell, which would scarcely DO
noticed are invested with charm as
pleasant as il is delicate. The love Of
Nature thus inspired will not fail 10
point US TO Him who set the stars 10
their orbits, and lowered the lilies of
the field with loneliness and grace. "A
mathematician without religion" says
Burns, sis probable character an ir-
religious poet is monster"
AS means OF conveying truth in an
attractive form, poetry is unequsled.
The mind is filed with pleasing images.
each Of which is associated with some
good principle. The effect of such i'm
pressions is never lost. Often. when
'those that look out Of the windows be
darkoncd," the sound Of few words
linked with dear memories Of the past
will gently steal over the spirit like
the strains Of long forgotten melody.
Such considerations as these should make
us reluctant TO condemn very choice
portion Of literature, a portion which
decks nobility with flowers, which pol
ishes tho mind, cultivates the magma
ton and helps to strengthen all that is
good. all that is holy in the human soul.
Poetry is no silly maiden, whose brain
is filed with sickly sentiments and weak
conceits, whose gaudy attire is . union
of flaming color and tawdry ornaments;
but lovely goddess, fairer than the
most beauteous vision that ever enchant-
cd a Greek sculptor. robed in snowy
white which is the emblem Of her in
ward purity. and worthy of the proud
est gifts that genius can lavish at her
feet. LEE DAVIS LoDoE.