Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXIV, No. 5, May 1849Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXIV, No. 5, May 1849
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Of course this remark is not unqualified, it is not intended that the
natives of Central Africa, or of the inhabited regions around the Poles,
can improve their moral condition, and rise to the same high standard as
may the enlightened nations of Europe or of our own loved country. To
assert such a thing would be preposterous, to expect it ridiculous. Our
resources are not their resources, our advantages not theirs, but there
is implanted in the breast of every man a frame-work and basis, with
which, and upon which, he may build something that shall make him better
than he now is. And the greater his advantages, the vaster the amount of
material furnished him wherewith to work, the more will be expected of
him, and higher and higher will the eyes of men rise, seeking for the
pinnacles of that temple of the mind which they of a right expect him to
rear.
To ensure without fail the meeting of their views, (perchance to surpass
them,) it is not sufficient to seize indiscriminately and pile block
upon block, and stone upon stone. It is not sufficient to heap up a vast
mountain of brick and mortar, jumbled together without taste or
elegance, and then write upon it—This is Parian marble—these are
classic proportions. This will not do, the cheat will be found out, and
Ridicule will mingle her laughter with the shouts and jeers of the
multitude as they mock and scan the shallow attempt at imposition.
What then is to be done?
This—let us seek Taste, let us acquaint ourselves with her, coax her,
court her, make her our own, and we are safe. But we must be sure it is
no impostor, no false being who assumes the name, for there are such,
and they are to be shunned. We must “be sure we are right, then” onward,
right onward.
True taste will teach us to select the choice blocks, the finely grained
and unflawed marble, she will bid us to reject the huge, coarse,
glittering rocks with which some will strive to dazzle our eyes and
mislead our judgment, and cause us to turn aside from those brittle and
perishing kinds which will scarce bear handling.
Having chosen our materials, now let us build. Up go the blocks one
after another, and high the temple grows. Day by day it increases in
height, but why is it men stand and gaze with mortified and disappointed
looks upon the structure? Why do no sounds of encouragement, no
acclamations and shouts of admiration reach the ear? Hear the reason—we
sought Taste—we courted her, we bid her aid us seek our materials, and
teach us how to judge of them. She did so—that done we scorned her aid,
we forgot her, and trusting in ourselves we reared a vast work of folly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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