The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-27
What Is Bcautiful?

Does 1t oXist in the atmosphere we
breathe? Is 1t found in the sand which
we tread under foot? Do we sec It?
Can 1t be touched? Is it in the sense
Of feeling? Docs it break in rapture
upon the car?
TO all of these queries we can give
an Affirmative reply. We love tho
bright mild days of spring, and as we
inhalc the pure sweet air of lovely
spring morning, in the enjoyment of
health and strength, given us by u kind
and loving Father, wo instinctively cx-
claim what beautiful day. Walking
along from day to day, whcthrv It be
on the streets Of the city, or across
the fields and meadows, vcrdant with
tho livery Of spring, or yet over hill
and dale, among tho flowers, brigh,
and fresh, giving forth their fragrance
and beauty, SO mild and sweet, we are
reminded that they have sprung out OF
the sands of mother earth, and this the
beauty of the sands. We see, wo feel, We
hear, We touch, many things SO plcusing
to our inmost soul, that impcls rs to cx-
claim, how beautiful!
Yet 1t I'LL does not answer tho qucs-
tion, what is beautiful? There is a
beauty more grand, more noble, which
commands conception, SO high, SO
noble, so grand, aye, SO beautiful, that
mans weak, contracted mind cannot
truly encompass it, nor fully do Justice
to the subject. We love, we admire
tho beauties of nature, alike, when at
carly morn we behold tho "Day God"
springing up from his eastern couch,
lighting up the world, shedding JOY
and gladness in and about our homes,
and after having done his days work,
We guZe with silent awe us he slowly
sinks in majestic splcndor behind the
western horizon, leaving his golden
rays painted against cloudlcss sky;
then in rapture our admiration gives
vent to our pcnt-up feelings in the
words show bcautiful'!
But behind all these things comes in
tho thought, where is the origin Of all?
All material things must have had Il
beginning, and naturally must have an
end. Even time itself shall cease, when
at the Divine commando
"rhc Angel shall stand with one foot
on land and one on sea-.
EXclaims, in accents loud and clear,
Time was, but time shall he no more"
All things being but tran$itory, this
world "ilccting shows, upon which
man comes up like Il hover, which is
here to-day and is gone tomorrow, we
must look beyond this transitory sphere
if we would know "whut is beautiful"
This lovely "Eustcr morn" recalls to
our minds that most glorious of all
events, that assured us that "it is not
all OF death to die
When the Angel uttered the blessed
words, Gle is riscn," man was con-
v,nccd Of the immortality Of the soul,
and hope Of eternity.
Here, then, and only here, can we
find solution and learn, "Whnt is
beautiful" We see II pretty face which
calls forth words of admiration and
praise, yet we sec not the real beauty,
the soul alone is beautiful, for soon IL
must leave its tenement Of clay for an
eternity of happiness or voc. Search
then the volume of sacred truth, there
you'll find The way, the truth, the life,
there shines the light SO bright, SO
beautiful, from IL loving SavioW's brow
bidding us "Comc," "WhOsocver will,
let him come"
Finally, to sum it up, the question
can be answered in II few words, What
is beautiful? a dying Saviour's love,
Il risen Lords mercy and compassion.
Hear the agonizing cry from the cross,
"It is finished" Having conquered
death, and risen, in accents Of mercy
and love, He speaks to his sorrowing
servants, "Bc not afraid, it is l." There
is no beauty that can surpass it, and
wcll might we cxclaim in joyful ac-
cents, this is bcautiful!
HARRIS L/7HH WATER|