The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-03-03

What is more worthy the contempla-
ton of humane mind than the specta-
Gle Of pretty young woman! 1t is the
least selfish of all pleasures. BY learn
ing we seek to elevate ourselves above
our fellows; by philosophy, to console
ourselves for the past and to fortify our
selves for the future; by religion (as it is
commonly practiced), to make ourselves
respectable in this world and comfort
able in the world to come. But he who
stands rapt in the fascination of girls
beauty enjoys the possession by another
of what he can never have himself, ad
mits his inferiority and generously ex-
ults in the existence of goodness for its
own sake. The sole drawback is the
risk he runs of falling in love-that is, Of
wishing to restrict to himself blessing
designed TO rejoice mankind at large.
It might seem pity that such girl
as Beatrix Randolph should be SO situ-
ated rs not to have it in her power to
confer upon every one the unsel6sh
qualification whereof we speak. But to
be rare and difficult,of access are among
the conditions of mortal loveliness. In
noother way, perhaps, could the heavenly
aroma be preserved: and were we to be-
come cs1lous to beauty. as we do to pain.
life would have nothing left to promise
us. On the other hand. dullness is
negative, delight positive, and u single
day of glorious sunshine compensates
for whole blank week of lifeless tand-
scape and leaden sky.
But Beatrix. though delightful tD look
upon, was not beauty in the abstract
she was first of all distinct and con-
crete human person. 1t is fitting, there
fore, 10 consider not SO much the loss the
world sustained by her seclusion, as its
effect upon herself. Certainly she was
not Of a temperament naturally inclined
to solitude. She was quick to feel
emotions Of allkinds, and apt and simple
in the expression of them. Her proper
tions. both Of the soul and the body.
were symmetrical and active: as she
moved easily and sweetly. 80 was she
sweetly and easily moved. Her life, in
spite Of its circumscribed conditions
showed an instructive love of largeness
and variety, and herein she was helped
by generous and lively imagina-
ton. She could not read story
or watch the sun rise without engender-
ing in her mind a thousand fresh ideas
Of the possibilities of existence. And
her body was in suck fine harmony with
her spirit that you could see stirring
thought turn to roses in her cheeks. or
When she came forth in the moroing
from her maiden chamber. having put
on, let us say, fresh. white gown, Just
crisp enough to whisper as she stepped.
and u pink or u blue ribbon las fancy
might dictate) at her throat and on her
hair, and her figure elastic and alert
with the wholesome vigor Of nineteen
years, and . mouth that laughed
fragrance and music, and large brown
eyes, which besides being as beautiful ~
possible In themselves were rendered
yet more 20 by being few shades dark
Or than her rippled hair and
and hands that were white wonders Of
warm hexibility and tapering softness;
when this exquisite young American
girl, In short-type OF the most charm
ing and most intelligent womanhood in
the world-came dawning like Aurora
out Of tho room in which shs had beea
dreaming visions only less lovely than
hsrself, II did seem - II the Golden Age
were now about 70 begin. and ~ II moth
Ing false or impure were henceforward
possible She explained. without utter-
Ing . word. why the grass In spring
u 20 dsliciously green. the ~
Of 20 tender blue, why birds
ang and water u trsnspsrent why