The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-06-28


a pile of Aberdeen gran:se high eaoagh |
fer king and eulogies enough to en-
narrass ssraph. Oh, man of large
wealth, instead of leaving to the whim
of Others your monumental commemo-
ration and epitap phology, to be looked
at when people are going to and fro at
the burial Of others, build right down
in the heart of our great city, or the city
where you live, an immense free read
ing room, or free musical conservatory
or a free art gallery, the inches for
sculpture and the walls abloom with
the rise and fall of nations, and lessons
of courage for the disheartened and rest
for the weary, and life for the dead;
and $50 years from now you will be
welding influences in this world for
good. How much better than white
marble, that chills you If you put your
hand on it when you touch it in the
cemetery, would be monument in
colors, in beaming eyes, in living pos
session, in splendors which under the
chandelier would be glowing add warm,
and looked at by strollirg groups with
catalogue in hand on the January night
when the metropolis where the body
sleeps is all showed under.
The tower of David was hung with
1000 dented shields of battle, but you,
oh man of wealth, may have grander
tower named after you, one that shall
be hung not with the symbols Of earn
age, but with the victories Of that art
which was so long ago recognized in my
text as pheasant pictures. Oh, the
power Of pictures, Icaunot deride, as
some have done, Cardinal Mazarln who,
when told that he must die, took his
last walk through the art gallery Of his
palace saying: Must l quit all this?
Look at that Titan Look at that
Corroggio! Look at that deluge of
Caracei! Farewell, dear pictures,
As the day of the lord Of hosts, ac
cording to this text, will scrutinize the
pictures, | implore all parents to see
that in their households they have
neither in book nor newspaper nor on
canvas anything that will deprave. Pic
lures are no longer the exclusive posses
sion of the aftluent. There is not re-
spectacle home in these cities that has
not specimens or woodcut or steel en-
craving, if not of painting, and your
whole family will feel the moral uplift-
ing or depression. Have nothing on
your wall or in books that will familiar
ize the young with scenes Of cruelty
and was sail; have onl y those sketches
made by artists in elevated moods and
none Of Those scenes that seem the pro-
duct of artistic delirium tremens. Pic
lures are not only strong buta univ"r
sal language. The human race is {,
vided into almost as many languages as
there are nations, but the pictures Z as
speak to people Of all tongues. Eola} uk
many have hoped, with little reason,
would become worldwide langusse:
but the pictorial is always worldwide
language, and printers types have no
emphasis compared with it. We say
that children are fond of pictures; but
notice any man when he takes up a
book, and you will see that the first
thing that he looks at is the pictures.
Have only those in your house that ap-
peal to the better nature. One engrav-
ing has sometimes decided an eternal
destiny. Under the title Of fine arts
there have come here from France
class of pictures which elaborate argu-
ment has tried to prove irreproachable.
They would disgrace barroom, and
they need to be confscated. Your
children will carry the pictures Of their
fathers house with them clear on to the
grave, and, passing that marble pillar,
will take them through eternity.
Furthermore, let all reforuers and all
Sabbath school teachers and all Chris
tian workers realize that, if they would
be effective for good, they must make
pictures, if notify chalk on blackboards
or kindergarten designs or by pencil on
canvas, then by words. Arguments are
soon forgotten, but pictures, whether in
language or in colors, are what produce
stronger effects. Christ was always tell
ing what a thing was like, and his ser
mon on the mount was great picture
gallery, beginning with sketch Of a
"city on hill that cannot be hid, " and
ending with tempest beating against
two houses, one on the rock and the
other on the sand. The parable of the
prodigol son, picture; parable of the
sower, who went forth to SOW, a pict-re;
parable of the unmerciful servant, a
picture; parable of the ten virgins,
picture; parable of the talents, a picture.
The world wants pictures, and the appe-
tite begins with the child, who consents
to 60 early to bed if the mother will sit
beside him and rehearsc story, which
is only a picture.
When we see how much has been ac-
complished in secular directions by pic
acknowledgements tragedies, pic
ture; Victor Hugo's writings, all pic
lures; John Ruskin's and Tennyson's
and Longfellow, works, all pictures
why not enlist, as far as possible, for
our churches and schools and reforma-
tory work and evangelistic endeavor the
power OF thOugnt tnat can De put 1nIO
word pictures, if not pictures in color?
Yea, why not all young men draw for
themselves on paper, with pen or pen
Gil, their coming career, of virtue if
they prefer that, of vice if they prefer
that? After making the picture, put
it on the wall or paste it on the fy leaf
Of some favorjte book, that you may
have it before you. I read of man
who had been executed for murder, and
the jailer found afterwaad picture
made on the wall of the cell by the as
sassin's own hand, picture Of fight
Of stairs. Oa the lowest step he had
written, "Disobedience to parents; on
the second, Sabbath breaking" on the
third, drunkenness and gambling;;"