Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-27
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BEAUTY AND BRAINS.
The Alliance eOrIntcllcrtual Power and
Physical Symmetry.

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The Alliance eorIntclIcrtuaI Power and
Physical symmetry.
from the London Globe.l
1t is acircumstance which must frequen-
tly have struck the observation of the
general student that intellectual power
and physical symmetry are often closely
allied in the same person ; indeed, that
this is a rule contradicted by but few
authentic exceptions. The mentally
ungifted and physically unnoticeable ma
iority of mortals may inveigh against this
ordinance as shamefully one-sided law
ishness on the part of Providence ; or
they may seek consolation in that dictum
of nameless philosopher which dispar-
ages beauty as being "only skin-deep' (;
or they may reflect that neither genius
nor beauty is brevet of happiness, and
remember how often both have walked to-
gether "with anguish, hand in hand, the
downward slope to DEATH and rejoice
that the fates have not thus marked them
for misfortune. But the truth remains
that, as a general rule, the fashion of the
>outer casket of great intelligence is pret-
ty generally of design worthy of the
treasure it contains and that men upon
whom destiny has bestowed genius have,
as a rule, been additionally favored by
the gift of outward comeliness. More es-
pecially has this been the case with those
whose bent has been in favor of poetry or
of the fine arts, as a glance through any
collection of portraits or an hour spent in
such company will be sufficient to prove.
Fate has rarely been generous to them IN
other respects the lot of poet or artist is
oftener than not bitter one, with but
little comfort, except that which may be
supposed to spring from the knowledge of
the possession OF powers denied to 'the
common lag Of people ; but in this one
direction the shrewish stepmother Of
genius has been wonderfully kindly.
Beauty unaccompanied by any superabun-
dance of brain is common enough the
treasure house of art is rich in forms and
faces whose loveliness is their one hold
upon remembrance but among the love
iiest there are those beneath which some
deathlcas name in art or song has place.
A brief and casual glance through our
mental picture gallery is sufficient to
prove this thesis. Michael Angeles face,
before the symmetry of his nose was
spoiled by the fist of his jealous brother
artist, must have been of type of beauty
as superb and uncommon as was his gen.
ius. Dante, folbidding as his grim lips
and cavernous eyes may make him, pos
sessed countennnce truly remarkable
for its rugged majesty and Shakspere,
the Intellectual monarch of the world, had
few equals indeed in personal comeliness.
Andrea del Sarto, "the faultness painter,
possessed face as tlawless as his art
and where among the countless dreams OF
manly beauty which painters have EN-
bodied for us shall we find face compar-
ed to that which smiles so regally beneath
the looped sombrero of Peter Paul Rub-
ems Milton, before personal misfortune
Ind furrowcd the smooth forehead beneath
the flowing locks, was as celebrated
throughout Europe for his beauty as fol
his genius and learning Shelley, Goethe,
Schiller Spenser, beaumont, his collabor'
ator Fletcher, and Camoens despite the
soldiers scar which marred the poets
face). were all handsome men. Byron :
beauty went near to becoming proverblal
and of his enemy, Southey, he is record
ed TO hate said that ito have his head anC
shoulders one might almost have wished
to have written his Sapphics an utter
auce i'll which the satire was propaOlN
less sincere than the praise. or Homer
Z. person we have no authentic record, bu
, the sculptured head which is accepted as
, his rortnit ia one of the noblest legacle'
of art, and serves to show how deep
seated is the instinct which causes us t.
associate SO closely mental power Will
l physical perfection.
3 There are few rules without exceptions
| nor is this by by any means singular IL
having none. People far less Learned
q than Macaulays schOolboy could heal