St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-09-26
THE WORLD INVISIBLE.
l,e ST. Landry Democrat,

For the st. Landry Democrat.
It has been said that " Imagination is the half
of life": but to some of us, metninks ii is the
whole of life. Is it not George Eliot who tells
lis that Visions are the creators and feeders
OF the mind. 1t is the seer and the dreamer
of dreams who, after all, makes the most dis
tinct impress OH human life, provided that the
idealist is sufficiently in touch with human
sympathies to closely relate his dreams TO ac-
tnal demands; to bridge over by thought and
vision the gulf between the practical need and
the possible supply.
10 the dreamy-eyed dweller in this world in
visible and out of sight, life is seen through d
golden haze, and the dull grey level of the
commonplace is relieved and frightened by the
fair flowers of Hope and the stately palms OF
Ambition. 1t is only when the glamour fades,
and awakening from his dream Of glorious pos
siblities, he attempts to realize them. that the
chilling probabilities OF life make themselves
felt ms something very real and tangible. I'M
beautified by cnchantment. 1t the dreamer is
or the true sort, however, he will not be dis
mayed. but will strive earnestly, faithfully and
t,erseVeringly to achieve sucgeSS--hoding fast
Go his IDEAL to that divine purpose which is at
some moment revealed to every soul. Thus it
ID that the world has been enriched by the rare
gifts of sculpture and painting-that q CanUva
aud yalesquez have been possible. And i'll
the realm OF Literatu we have an eminent eX-
ample inf Tennyson, whose life has been one
long dream, in company with Arthur and his
Knfghts-that fair Order Of the Table Round
and perfumed by the DEMONSTRATING, golden
petaled Lotus Flowers.
There 10 no denying 8nat an 1ntcllcctuai ln-
tcrest of any sort dignifies life-inakes it bet
ter worth living: for mental activity is the
kecnest of all possible lifelong pleasures, and
q safeguard against a multitude Of evils.
To the dreamer who strives resolutely to re-
,,lize his ideal. there is IA grandeur OF thought
possible which can never come to the eUarser
minds whose standard for the Judging OF any
achievement is based solely upon the ene0Hr-
agement that is measured in money Bot for
the dweller In Imagination Street there is en-
ioyment of the snbtlcst kinda feast for the
eyes IN the beautiful buildings of fancy, those
castles built in the swaying ether-and mel
ody for the ears i'll the song that the stars sang
together in the fair, dewy Morn Of creation.
when he enters this enchanted realm, the petty
worries OF this life, ITS trials and temptations,
it's difficulties and its disappointment are left
behind and forgotten; and though the struc-
ture therein reared may not prove habitable,
vet who has the heart TO discourage the build
er--wh0 among us would awaken the dreamer?
For surely TO none save tue clierisher of ideals
is life Mt all satisfactory: and what though no
attainment, however perfect, can equal the
intangible suggestion in the brain of the ere
;itor, is not the clean, pure joy of creation a
recompense and u eompensation-blotting out
all things else us with bright veil wrought of
the fresh Inists seen in the hours Of the early
slay-dawns A NJ. HrMRLE.