The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-12-07

A woman convict who was little re-
moved from fend in disposition was
brought to tears and gentle and loving
character by picture that hung on the
prison wall.
Cherries novels and squalid surround.
ings have damned many Door soul pris
oned by them. With the sense Of beau.
ty fed and kept alive they could have
never gone astray An exposition usu.
ally sings the triumph of physical prov.
ess. For the first time perhaps in our
entire history, in celebrating our prog.
ress the aesthetic has completely domi-
mated the physical The one overwhelm-
ing impression Of the Columbian exposi.
ton is the exaltation Of beauty.
And this in a city where we had least |
expected it. This in city noted for its |
insane rush and roar of business. This
in city noted for beef and pork, rail. |
roads and SCOT, wind and cheek. And
such a vision of beauty as the gods Of
ancient Greece never dreamed-a vision
that the longer we look the more it sur.
prises and overwhelms us.
WE ARE LED CAPTIVE.
When all else fades from memory, this
glimpse Of the fairyland Of song and
story, the vision OF heaven from pro
phetic souls, with its conquering con-
sciousness of beauty, will remain.
We may forget the machinery, the ex.
hibits and the queer faces and costumes
of the Midway paisance, but we will
never forget the flash Of light on natures
face as we saw her clasped in the arms
of q divine art when for the first time
we walked into the Court Of Honor, saw
| the white palaces mirrored on the bosom
of the lagoon, and through the rainbow
| over the spray Of the electric fountain
| gazed on the emerald background Of the
lake cleaning beyond the fluted columns
and arches of the peristylel This will
| abide. AS long as the heart beats we
will cherish itas a vision from God.
| Third-Because in the splendor of this
achievement we see new evidence of the
boundless capacities Of the human SOUL
| We did not dream it possible, and it is
before our eyes, this miracle of beauty,
and it came from the imperial soul of
mani Did the highest reach of poetic i'm
agination ever dare TO dream for fanCy's
page anything half so vast and beautiful
for the abode of man? And here it is
crystallized in matter-a throbbing, liv-
ing reality
| What a revelation to us of the mystery
and glory of the human soul. 1t over.
whelms us with surprise. We did not
believe man capable of it, much less oul
everyday, hurrying, busy American man
Our faith in man is too small. We
must lift up our heads and believe the
noblest things Of him. How little W.
know of the future of the ragamuffin il
the streets, because we cannot know tn,
treasures hidden in his soul.
THE GLORIOUS POSSIBILITIES.
Apoor, young schoolteacher once pre-
sumed to address u famous Virginiai
beauty. But he was rejected. Hi
prospects" We're considered very poor
and yet his name was Salmon p. Chase
and he became chief justice of the so
preme court of the United States. Hi
treasures were within. Who can glag
the future by this high Standard
The power and glory of man lies jus
here in this inner capacity of achieve
ment. Here in the imperial will of maj
we touch an original creative energy
, God has reproduced himself Man
king of creation because of this thron
chamber within the soul. Bird an,
, beast perch upon his minarets or croucl
on pedestal and bridge to do him HON
age. The sea gives up its secrets at hi
command.
The floating forces of nature ALLOW
themselves to be harnessed to his char
lots to do his bidding.
| And all because man, with the magi
key Of thought, has power to open tn
gates Of the infinite and eternal. Her
the worlds real battles are fought. Her
the worlds real work is done. Here COW
|, ards run Gnd the brave die. Here tn
sluggard glumbers, and the noble bea
the burdens of the world.
This power to recreate the world, peo
pie it with beauty and fill it with har
mony is the endowment primal of tn
, race. To tho we pin our faith. We be
lieve in man because we believe in God
after whose image he was formed. TIL
future can have no limitations becaus
of this impelling power to aspire. Whel
we languish, this voice. within cries
"Onward! Upward! Higherl Nor
lightp until at last, with eager feet w
shall press within the holy of holes O
the most high God.
We cannot be satisfied until we res
thus in the bosom of God. Hitherto ou
noblest poems have been unsung, on
noblest orations unspoken, our highes
dreams unrealized. The soul has Tough
in its cage bound with the shackles of
clumsy body. AT last we begin +
breathe soul into matter and make tn
physical throb with the spirit. HereiI
we see the coming glory Of the Lord il
flesh and blood.
HOW SOON IT PASSED AWAY.
With the feeling of surprise and jo
experienced when the vision of beaut
first greeted our eyes came the sadden
ing thought that all this must soon pei
Sh.
But, after all, what of it2 1t is bette
30. Hammers are busy now .demolish
ing these magnificent dreams of art
The grass will soon grow where the
stood in matchless grace and splendoI
But they shall live againI The million
who saw them will cherish in their soul
the vision. Those buildings and ground
will live again In snow white marbl
and smiling landscape in a thousan,
cities and towns where men were one
content with dirt and ugliness.
Out of the soul of man came this celes
tial vision. Let them demolish it. /
4 a.. IL IL