Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-04-13


poetic stream, can realize the radiant
beauty of the Easter-tide, when life,
joyous, bouyant, gladstone life, is
painting with it's talismanic power
glorions picture-a picture of such
delicate coloring, perfect technique,
depth of perspective and grace of out
line as no hand of any Michael Angelo
or Raphael could ever trace. A picture
OF such striking realism, of such fanCi-
full idealism, fraught with such infinite
significance, as to be sermon of sur
passing eloquence.
A great artist recently said, "You
can't paint sermon any more than
you can preach picture" but he had
never looked lovingly, laughingly,
longingly, upon this picture of life on
Easter Day, as have you and |. Had
he done 50 he wonld have seen a ser
mon, as the Idiot and the Genial
Gentleman who Occasionally Imbibed"
saw a Musicale and heard Card Par
ty-and such a sermon-a sermon
whose text is Life, its Beauties, its
Joys, its Hopes its Poetry;
Again the fower-sbo6t cleaves the clod
Again the grass-spear greens the sod,
Again buds dot the willow rod.
The sap released within the tree
Is like prisoned bird set free,
And mounteth upward buoyantly
Once more at purple evening dream,
The tender voiced, enamoured stream,
Unto the rush renews its theme.
How packed with meaning this new birth
OF all the growing things of earth,
Life sprnging after death and dearth
Thou Soul that still doth blindy grope,
Hath not this in its vernal scope,
Some radiant resurrection hope?
And listen What are those Joyous
words that swell, and echo, and rever-
berate, until you hear them no more,
save as they fill and fall, like waves of
sound over all this deified embodiment
of light, and life, and love? 'Tis in
the delicate green of the scintillating
leaf, on every waving blade of grass,
in the ETHEREAL beauty of every flower,
its kisses of dew like jewels sparkle
on the roses lips, the lilies wag their
gold tongues with its fragrant gossip
ing-this story of light, and life, and
love. IT'S the joyous anthem which
Nature sings on Easter Day, with the
voices of tree and flower, of sunny
skies and laughing waters, like low
fountains stealing forth in the midst
O roses, or the soft sweet accent of an
angels whisper, in the bright joyous
dream of sleeping innocence
All, this Resurrection Dawn is one
of light, and life, and love! The sun
in its coming opens the mighty chorus
Look! Listen above the hill his
dawning light appears, awaking into
rosy life the Swallowed earth, while
darkling clouds, born of the fleeing
night, blush in their consciousness of
coming day. Then from the voices of
Natures choir bursts melody of rap
tured song, heartfelt hymn of praise
and alteration, spontaneous Sympho-
ny of Joy, that starts in glad express
sion of triumphant hearts, and ming
ling with the sweet reverberations of
ripping streams and the Day-gods ra-
dance, arises the warbling song of
joyous birds in glad hosannas to the
splendant sky. Far, 10, radiant light
o'erspreads the earth; wondrous glo-
ry halls the newborn day! The Sun
appears in fulgency sublime Cod S
symbol of resurrected life-and earth
in exulting JOY peals forth in glad an
tiphonal accord, The Lord is risen!
Hallelujah, praise the Lord
Let us catch that joyous strain; let's
echo that gladstone song of Natures
triumph; Glory to God in the highest
peace on earth, good will to men!''