The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-28
TIrfiFMIsN.

make the most offensive things, II not
pleasant, at least endurable. This art
or trick Of poetry is a principle OF good
breeding and eenteel life, and is the un-
mistakable indication Of an amiable heart
and refined nature. The highest Art OF
Poetry rises above mere beauty OF
thought or rhythmic expression, and de-
lights itself I'm the good. the true, and the
beautiful in all the ways Of men, as well
as the works Of God. Blindness to faults
and deafness to accusations, as We'll as
devotion to Truth, characterized the d.
vine man; and charity and courtesy coy
ering transgressions, and hiding defects,
help to give to life divine harmony.
There is plenty OF poetry in everyday
life. And good society exists in a music
and concordance Of IT'S own-linked sweet
ness: the voice Of melody, and a gentle
consideration running through all its
mazes.
The world accepts the proposition.
"Poeta nascitur non nt" Writing hand
somely and saying good things prettily
is a special git, no doub: but the pro-
prletles. dccency, tact and agreeabilities.
that make the poetry Of life, are not only
teachablc and learnable, but they are the
garments, redolent Of myrrh, aloes, and
cassia, required in good society without
which the offender IS cast into outer
darkness. dropped as 4 discordant note.
The poor artist looks 10 immediate
effects. He uses strong colors, and OBJ
ylous. striking commonplaces, II he is
a painter. II he Is a writer. he uses
strong language. he gives narrowing des-
cripdons. offensive details, and startling
sensations. The whole idea Of the in
different operator, whether painter, poet,
musician, actor, preacher or prayer, Is
to stertle. TO excite, 20 stretch the eyes
or I'LL them with tears, to impress the
senses, to play on the nervous and mus
cular system: and this style Of workman
in any department Is an offender against
good taste and breeding and decency.
against the m0desty OF nature. Public
demo rstrations and exhibitions Of our
most sacred feelings, whether Of joy or
grief, are a kind Of sacriege common
and vulgar. They are like show goods
and articles Of trade. Before the public
they lose their virtue and sincerity and
sacredness-an their divineness. They
are known to be cheap. thin and common,
and 20 for nothing. And they are de-
moralizing and bad. because they throw
discredt on everything that is holy and
honorable in us; Just as hypocriles and
ranters and canters throw discredit and
suspicion on true religion.
Euphomism conststs the feelings; re-
CARDS times and seasons and places; t
avoids shocks and sensations; it is the
poetry Of narratives. eliminating the dis
agreeable and covering the offensive with
a mantle Of phllosophic charity; just as
the snow covers the whole face of nature
with its whiteness. and the sun makes
all the ugliness OF the earth beautiful
with its light. II is the magic touch OF
grace and beauty that are manifested in
graceful anG pleasing forms Of expression.
and goodly comely words: it is as the
frankincense dripping from the fingers
Of the beloved. 1t is the manner Of con
versation Of the highest life.
The fashion that makes war on this
Art Of Poetry of high life IS not little
remarkable. Shakespeare talks OF a mad
cap ruffian and a staggering Jack, that
thinks with oaths 10 face the matter out"
Social radicals have their own way Of
degrading social intercourse. Mrs Can
dours, with their free tongues, scatter
ISLANDERS and disagreeabllities. They claim
to be honest and original, and are only
vulgar and cruel. They have run; for
the common world dearly loves SANDER
and does not discriminate. \ bod-faced
and outrageous impudence will draw into
its wake the light, shallow, helmless
craft on the surface Of society, and make
a following; while the decent bow out
and withdraw. Almost any fashion. folly.
or vulgarism may make itself way. and
run q season, when a social rhlnoceros is
found to champion It.
The application Of the principle OF
poetry to the facilitating of business and
identifying social life. is very useful
study. The worst things that happen, and
the ugliest things that exist. have an as
pect, or are susceptible Of a handling.
that make them good out OF evil. We
may. with a little sense, gather honey
from the weed, and make a moral OF the
Devil himself" But this is the very OPP
p0ste Of a common weakness, which
for the sake OF a sensation, calls things
by their very worst names, and ex-
aggerates reports. Notable In this con-
nection is the idiotic commonplace. Jaw
ful" and "awfully," possibly the alb
surdest Of can't The strong and highly
colored word paints are not only a dis
credit to those who use them: but, merely
because they are uttered by human lips,
they have certain effect and mislead and
offend.
ST. Paul was a statesman and phi
losopher. but he was prominently a
gentleman. And his chapter on charity
is not only the most beautiful In metrical
prose that was ever written. but II is the
perfection OF the Art OF Poetry. In com
mon life. Charity vaunteth not Itself,
is not pufftd up. doth not behave Itself
unseemly. thinketh no evil. beleveth all
things. hopeth all things. endureth all
things. keeps Its color and freshness
forever"