The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-06
Selections from the Christian NGiglb0r
The Face--.A History-.-An Index.

Every face history! Not interest
ing, perhaps, but yet telling its story.
Our features come to us by inheritance,
partly by physical relations, largely by
mental conditions. It is said that
among the Greeks mothers were sur
rounded by the beautiful, were kept IN
an atmosphere of the beautiful in art.
Forms of beauty were on every side
here the eye rested on a noble counte-
nance in marble, there on visible ideal
of high imagination. What wonder
the Greeks as nation were models OF
beauty.
AS one regards the countenances
about him in every day life what OF
history do they reveal. Those faces
that show beauty of feature and are
the exponent of beautiful (inherited)
soul within are a delight to the eye
and the heart. All is sweet accord be-
tween the soul and its outer manifesto
ton. More of history is read in that
face which shows conflict. Says John
Bascom in his 4Esthetics, LAS mems
career is or should be prolonged re-
sistance, a persistent toll, as crime and
obstacles are to be surmounted, temp
tstious to be overcome. and dangers to
be met, nothing but will can take a
firm stand or push determined ad'
vance. So conscious Is a man every
moment of the need of strength, and,
above all, of the strength which can
say No to passion, that will is ever felt
to be the very frame work of character,
and we care not if it occasionally lie on
tho surface in massive ribbed strength.
Symmetrical and stalwart virtue is too
much to be often anticipated, and the
feeble appearance of single graces' like
the putting forth of early flowers
amid frosts and snow, brings pleas
ure." Those faces then which show
massive ribbed strength" are faces
with grand history, faces which bear
the imprint of nobly won battles with
hidden evil, faces which may light up
into highest beauty.
These faces of ours tell such tales up
on us. 1t may be an imperial counte-
nance but for a sardonic mouth, or
loose hung lips, a turn of the eye
some breech in the outward bravery
which gives the treasonous key to the
citadel within.
The trail of the serpent is over it all,
is the thought which comes like
blighting wind upon the heart. But
even while we consider the work mar
red by sin comes the glorious hope
the hope given by Christianity alone
there is remedy-there is bloom OF
beauty given by God-He restores us
to our lost estate, to His image. Christ
which strengtheneth US fights for US
He overcomes for us. Not the least
blessed thought which comes of this
hope is the belief that we shall live for
ever hereafter in world OF beauty.
Poor thwarted, dulled, impotent lives
ours seem sometimes. Aspirations af-
ter the beautiful ungratified, apprecia-
ton of it stunned almost by long-con-
tinued offences against it, efforts to
produce it falling to the ground by rea-
son of unskilled fingers-everywhere
a battling of the endeavors after beau
ty. Like soul thirsting for water in
the desert Is the demand for the beau
tiful-the craving for qualification is
imperious-it will not down at the bid
ding of reason, nor is it quieted by
logic. Nature opens wide her loving
arms and lavishly spreads forth her
treasures. TRUTH.