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Article BROTHERLY LOVE. ← Page 9 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brotherly Love.
ing eye and quivering lip , and her look of sympathy , hoiv fondly his uncouth image ivas shrined in the affections of that young and lovely maiden , who ivould have made any sacrifice to secure his happiness .
Alfred commenced his address amid profound silence . His voice ivas clear , sonorous and musical . He had not uttered a half a dozen sentences before it ivas evident that he was endued with rare eloquence . He asserted , that he fully concurred in the proposition enunciated by the preceding speaker , that nothing was beautiful that ivas not useful , but he denied the justice of the limitations assigned to utility . He maintained that
whatever produced an agreeable emotion in the mind , ivas intrinsically useful , whether excited by the fragrance of a flower , the warbling of a bird , tho meandering of a rivulet , or the twinkling of a star . He demonstrated the fallacy of regarding as useful what had reference to the requirements of material existence , or to the gratification of the animal senses , inasmuch
as man was a compound being , made up ol soul and body , both of which craved for food , ivhich , if not supplied , ivould leave the human being imperfect in its enjoyments . He enlisted the local scenery and the objects by which the assembly were immediately surrounded , in behalf of his arguments . He illustrated his views by reference to the beautiful objects in the vicinity ; the vine clad hills , amid ivhich the sun sunk ivith such
magnificence , tinting every acclivity wdth floods of radiance ; the winding stream that mirrored back the'glories of the skies , day and night , ivhose banks ivere fringed with flowers , and ivhose murmuring fell softly on the ear , like the voice of some spirit uttering its musical plaint in a language that seemed intelligible to some subtle sense or faculty with which the human mind was stored . He then adverted to the pleasures of the
imagination in general , and the enjoyment to be derived from the works of the poet and . the artist . He asked them to look around tlie sacred edifice where they were assembled , and gaze for one instant on the works of the painter which adorned its walls . Coidd they , he inquired , behold those monuments of genius into which the artist had . infused his oivn conceptions
of beauty and sensibility , ivhich portrayed so vividly some of the chief episodes in the life of the Eedeemer ; and those followers , whose fidelity neither suffering nor death could destroy , Avithout having a more lively conception of the sacred subjects which they depicted and animated , and made more vivid objects of sense and affection ? It is not our business to criticise the merits of this florid and
nnpasssioned address . It is sufficient to state that it was most effective ; and when the young orator concluded , one simultaneous shout of applause burst from the multitude over whose imagination he had flung that spell
ivhich eloquence rarely fails to exercise in a popular assembly . Upon the ears af Simon that applause fell like drops of molten lead , but no look or gesture revealed his feelings to the general scrutiny that was directed towards him , as'if to read the sentiments which this display of incontestible excellence excited in Ms bosom . - No other candidate appearing ¦ the mayor consulted ivith his brother magistrates , and then desired Alfred ' . to stand forward . The latter haying ' eompliedj the worthy magistrate announced thai-he had : been imauimously
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brotherly Love.
ing eye and quivering lip , and her look of sympathy , hoiv fondly his uncouth image ivas shrined in the affections of that young and lovely maiden , who ivould have made any sacrifice to secure his happiness .
Alfred commenced his address amid profound silence . His voice ivas clear , sonorous and musical . He had not uttered a half a dozen sentences before it ivas evident that he was endued with rare eloquence . He asserted , that he fully concurred in the proposition enunciated by the preceding speaker , that nothing was beautiful that ivas not useful , but he denied the justice of the limitations assigned to utility . He maintained that
whatever produced an agreeable emotion in the mind , ivas intrinsically useful , whether excited by the fragrance of a flower , the warbling of a bird , tho meandering of a rivulet , or the twinkling of a star . He demonstrated the fallacy of regarding as useful what had reference to the requirements of material existence , or to the gratification of the animal senses , inasmuch
as man was a compound being , made up ol soul and body , both of which craved for food , ivhich , if not supplied , ivould leave the human being imperfect in its enjoyments . He enlisted the local scenery and the objects by which the assembly were immediately surrounded , in behalf of his arguments . He illustrated his views by reference to the beautiful objects in the vicinity ; the vine clad hills , amid ivhich the sun sunk ivith such
magnificence , tinting every acclivity wdth floods of radiance ; the winding stream that mirrored back the'glories of the skies , day and night , ivhose banks ivere fringed with flowers , and ivhose murmuring fell softly on the ear , like the voice of some spirit uttering its musical plaint in a language that seemed intelligible to some subtle sense or faculty with which the human mind was stored . He then adverted to the pleasures of the
imagination in general , and the enjoyment to be derived from the works of the poet and . the artist . He asked them to look around tlie sacred edifice where they were assembled , and gaze for one instant on the works of the painter which adorned its walls . Coidd they , he inquired , behold those monuments of genius into which the artist had . infused his oivn conceptions
of beauty and sensibility , ivhich portrayed so vividly some of the chief episodes in the life of the Eedeemer ; and those followers , whose fidelity neither suffering nor death could destroy , Avithout having a more lively conception of the sacred subjects which they depicted and animated , and made more vivid objects of sense and affection ? It is not our business to criticise the merits of this florid and
nnpasssioned address . It is sufficient to state that it was most effective ; and when the young orator concluded , one simultaneous shout of applause burst from the multitude over whose imagination he had flung that spell
ivhich eloquence rarely fails to exercise in a popular assembly . Upon the ears af Simon that applause fell like drops of molten lead , but no look or gesture revealed his feelings to the general scrutiny that was directed towards him , as'if to read the sentiments which this display of incontestible excellence excited in Ms bosom . - No other candidate appearing ¦ the mayor consulted ivith his brother magistrates , and then desired Alfred ' . to stand forward . The latter haying ' eompliedj the worthy magistrate announced thai-he had : been imauimously