The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-06-14

We know not whether realism formed q
part, we do know that it has not lived.
But OF idealism what monuments we
have ia the productions of Homer! They
tell the story of that which satisfies.
they alone indicate the trend of early
Greek literature; they are largely it's
history.
In our " language the same holds
true. Those names which stand out like
the pyramids of Egypt and defy the
storms Of ages are Chaucer, Shakespeare,
Spenser, Browning. Men whose minds
had almost infinite power to comprehend
the mysterious aud TO work among vast
harmonies.
The Platonian PHILOSOPHY hat we are
as frogs living at the bottom of a pond
below the lighter, brighter medium
the atmosphere-and held below the
world of ideal beauty and absolute
truth, released only in death to rise
above into the then realities which are
as native to us, is as true as it is beauti-
full. 1t is this rising above the surface
OF life into the better clearer life above
which makes our literature the most
ponderous monument of our possession.
That which embodies the highest con-
ception OF the good, the true and the
beautiful will continue to influence
mankind till its day is far spent. Real
ism may have a work to do at present
and for the present, but the work of
idealism is not only for the present but
for all the ages to ONE
Gay Pye.
WoMANHooD AS PORTRAYED BY GEORGE
ELIOT.
Profound as the distances of space,
im~penetrable as the veil that hides the
future, inscrutable as the laws of des-
tiny, more incomprehensible than all of
these is human character. to one pos
sess,ng no clue to, its Interpretation.
Mans features, instead of rejecting the
hidden soul, more often bar the way.
Actions signify little; we mould our
outward lives in compliance with the
demands of custom. Perverted from
the use designed by their Giver. words
become implements for concealing in.
stead of revealing thought.
But despite closed avenues, the most
holy of holes of the human heart has
been penetrated. An eye has gazed up.
IN the qualities that are the very woot
and warp Of the innermost being. The
hand of George Eliot has taken up
these fbers and woven from them a
fabric of character common to all man.
kind.
The most charming child that meets
us in fiction is the little maid who
played about the old mill on the Floss
and most adorable is that maid grown
to womanhood. She is most undeniably
weak, inconsistent, impulsive; she il
pobly unselfish, loving, sympathetic
The claims and rights of others bind he
more closely than any other law; bu'
fate and human power have placed heI
where she seems to have disregarded al
! these. Shall she enter the Paradis.
Stephen opens, and taste the Joys wruns
from the crushed hearts of others.
} Here, beside the mighty river that hal
hurried her almost beyond her control
the answer must be given. Deep love
! and pity for Stephen, remorseful an
, guish for the wrong already done, tn,
! demands of her own heart, all divide he
strength, rend her soul. A bitter strug
gle, but not one moments wavering o
, Maggie's will, and she has conquered
guided and strengthened by one nobl
thought, my sin will not be on my heat
, alone A faulty character is Maggie
/, because a human character, but so Iowa
: BILE and life-like we feel that our cen
sure will wound her, that our love AM
sympathy will cheer her.
! Gwendolen Harleth is accomplishe,
and beautiful, but her nature is shaI
I low and vain, her ambitions selfish an
q worldly. In their qualification she find
> not the anticipated triumph, but temp
= tation and torture. And now her mul
derous though. is outwardly realized
the hated husband is hidden by tn
water; but Gwendolen feels herseI
marked with the brand of Cain. Relie
ion is an inspiring unknown to he
No moral hold remains, save her fait
9 in the goodness and strength Of DAME
Derunda. Her pallid face, her tren
bling lips and anguished eyes touc
every fiber Of compassion in his breas
: as she.pours out TO him. as the very in
9 carnation 81 her conscience, the broke
: tale of her struggle against evil thought
This ~tortnring remofse was the one ga,
ing quaiity-the beginning of the sell
9 disapproval that lead to q new life. O
Z the brink Of the terrible chasm OF gull
her soul was born, as was Donatello
. by the Roman abyss.
In lofty dignity, nobility, and loyin
: self Sacrifices. ROm0la -salrnasses all IN