The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-18
BEAUTY AND UCLlNEss'

The best reflections on beauty ana its
opposite were made long ago and are Ia
miliar. The good-looking boy was adj
vised TO live I'D to his good looks, and the
bor,elv vounc woman was told to make
her LONELINESS beautiful by amiaoiilty
and virtue. And the general maxim is:
Pretty is as pretty does
It is wonderful TO remark to what an
extent beauty is the result Of association.
When the soldier announced to Macbeth
that "Birnam Wood was coming to Dun
shame" he cried: Fellow, ayaunt! L
cannot brook thy sight. This news hath
made thee a most ugly man. The bearer
of i'll news hath ever an unwelcome ONCE
And the companion and associate OF Ill
luck and modification can never ria him
self of his unpleasant aspect but by an
overwhelming lustre of quite n different
kind. or by a strong, high seasoning OF
virtue and true devotion in sharing ca
lamity or sorrow, the mantle OF black
and purple and of Respondent gold. Moral
excellence will forever hallow and beau
tify the direst ugliness Of fortune and
brighten the deepest shades Of darkness
with divine light.
Beauty, outside of mere association and
on its own merits, plays high part in
divine providence. Wisdom and power,
eternal and almighty. appear in all the
works Of nature; but beauty is the very
character and quality of goodness and
wisdom. the grace of creation, natures
manifestation Of praise TO the Father of
All. The good and true wear the beauti-
full as n robe of glory. All the works of
the Supreme Architect. in their secretest
formations and in their grandest perfec-
lions. are beautiful and praise their
author and declare his glory. Beauty
and harmony tell of a general tendency
and course of things, tending 10 a grand
consummation. that some look for as the
kingdom of Heaven, others as the reign
of law. Wherever the touch of nature
appears there is promise and beauty.
With the general world and over the
face of things the Office Of beauty is to
tighten. to brighten, to cheer, 70 ami
mate. to tell of the true and the good.
The glorious armament is the outspread
proclamation calling our race to high
honor
The sham and show and pretence of
beauty is the mockery of truth and good
ness and of all that is valuable. Prosti-
tuted, desecrated, dishonored and false,
out of its Office, it points to depths Of
wretchedness.
1t is no small responsibility that is on
men and women, not only to admire, but
to revere beauty. And wherever it be-
longs the responsibility is that its accom-
paniments shall be in keeping, that the
good and true shall go with it. The
words of the wise man about the jewel
of gold were only natural if behind that
fair countenance he found only common,
idle thoughts, and if from the lips he
heard still commoler words. Grace and
loneliness without suggests only grace
within, and charms seem almost diabolic
when they mislead-when they are not
the outgiyings and very language of love
illness Of soul We are all prepared to
sympathize with the man who, when
his lady was charged with being CO
quette, indicated her as follows:
"Aien tell n mine n hundred fathoms deep
BY certain signs that near the surface lie.
Are flesh and blood more fallble than clay?
Take but her face, there's not feature ont
But vCuches for the mood. Require you
more?
Her limbs and body give you proof on proof.
II these convince you not. essay her voice,
IT'S OF the stop BELTS the melting mood.
There's naught without but with her sex
consists
Pronouncing her its pattern passing rich,
Aud can she lack the heart, the want OF
which
Would turn such afluence 10 poverty?
Prove nature but niggard after all
Where she should seem more beautiful.
She has heart, sirs. and heart to love"
On the other hand, the homeliest coun-
tenance is all the more grand as it proves
TO be but the outside of a great and no
bic soul. When fortune means TO men
most good she looks upon them with
threatening look. When LONELINESS is
beautifed by virtue then beauty becomes
grandeur. The deformites of the cocoon
are made to cover the greater glories Of
the butterfly. 1t is sown in dishonor, it
is raised in glory.