During the revolutions which have overturned Europe, many specimens of the great masters, that had been kept from age to age in the cabinets of the prince and the noble, have found their way to this country. Our artists, too, have such facilities for going abroad, that they may be found studying in the galleries of Italy, France, and Germany; in the cathedrals of Spain; seated on the prostrate columns of the Parthenon, the pride and glory of Athens; among the newly disclosed sculptures of Nineveh; or amid the once mysterious glories of Egypt, the splendid temples of Karnac and Luxor. A taste for the higher efforts in painting and sculpture depends in part upon the cultivation of the imagination. It is that which must give life and reality to the representations of the painter and sculptor. Drawing is a fashionable accomplishment for young ladies. Unfortunately, it is seldom anything more than the mechanical ability to draw a brush over theorems cut by the teacher, or at best to copy with cold correctness; or, it may be, to paint sprawling Cupids and glaring rosebuds, to decorate an album. When the art is taught as it should be, it improves the taste for fine pictures, and for nature; and quickens the perception of beauty in all its infinite variety. Although many may derive pleasure from drawing, few will become artists. Painting is an art, however, in which young ladies who have genius may excel, and which, indeed, they may practise as a profession. There are numerous examples for the encouragement of female artists, from Angelica Kauffmann to the lady miniature-painters, whose beautiful works ornament our exhibition rooms. And so few are the ways in our country in which females can gain an honourable independence, that this one is worthy of particular attention. But to all ladies who have a taste for this graceful occupation of their time, we would recommend the practice of drawing from nature, and both sketching and painting in the open air. Nothing will teach the art at once so well, or so pleasantly and healthfully. A knowledge of the rise and progress of architecture ought to be acquired by every well-informed lady. She ought to be familiar, not only with the established orders, but with the more common terms of the art, to enjoy fully the descriptions of travellers, and the minute views of buildings in engraved representations. From ignorance on this subject, much that is interesting in all modern tours and sketches must be unintelligible. The pleasure derived from seeing a fine building, too, will be greatly enhanced by knowing something of the style in which it is built. The simple, chaste Doric, the graceful Ionic, the more elaborate and beautiful Corinthian, stand unrivalled models down to the present day. The Romans claim two orders, the Tuscan and Composite; but they are only alterations and additions to the Ionic and Corinthian, and far from being improvements. Then the different medieval styles: the solemn and imposing Norman, the light and graceful early English, the rich Decorated, and the elaborate, magnificent, Perpendicular, or Tudor, styles so perfectly suited to the solemn grandeur of the cathedral and the church; the mingled style of St. Peter's and St. Paul's; the beautiful ecclesiastical buildings of Sir Christopher Wren; and the many splendid specimens of modern architecture;-all these furnish a wide world of taste, that will richly reward the home-student as well as the traveller. Music.—While the ear is sensible to melody, and the voice capable of producing it, music will remain, to every “nation, kindred, and people," a source of exquisite pleasure. Let those, then, who are gifted with genius for this divine art, cultivate it as they should every other good gift; not as a means of gratifying vanity, but of contributing to human happiness. Surely it is a glorious privilege which the few possess, to be able to thrill with delight, or to solemnize to deep devotion, or to rouse to enthusiasm-a privilege for which they should be grateful to Him who made the air susceptible of such infinite variety of pleasing sounds, and gave the power to call them forth. But a fondness for music is so universal, the danger is, that young ladies will devote too much time to its acquisition. Those who have no genius must sacrifice years, and, after all, give little pleasure by their mere mechanical performance. But fashion wills it, and who dares to dispute the despot? Her martyrs at the piano and the harp we may pity, but cannot rescue. Are they not wasting there the energies given them for other and nobler purposes? Can they not confer happiness in other ways, less costly and more enduring? What an immense amount of good might be done, if all the hours wasted in the vain attempt to become skilled in music were devoted to the cause of philanthropy ! It is pleasing to observe that a better taste in music characterizes the present day. Instead of those displays of brilliant execution which astonished without giving pleasure, we have more of the sentiment of music. Singing, too, has greatly improved; in lieu of the unintelligible jargon which might, for all the auditors could tell, be the language of Affghanistan, we now have the benefit of the words, which it is to be presumed the authors intended should be heard. Even the punctuation and the emphasis of the language can be preserved, without injuring the expression of the music "married to immortal verse." The beauty of sacred melody is also appreciated as it has rarely been before; and its importance as a part of Divine service is receiving a degree of attention now, which is calculated to confer a new dignity on this noble gift, thus consecrated to the highest purposes; and even in the social circle to profit while it pleases. 99 66 But, fair readers, let those of you, whose musical talents can thus afford pleasure, yield to solicitation without affected reluctance. Who is not tired of the excuses reiterated in every drawing-room, "bad cold," "out of voice," "only sing a little," never play in company," &c.? In fact, it is almost considered a want of modesty to play in company, until you have exhausted everybody's patience in urgent entreaties. All who understand human nature will confess there is much more true delicacy and modesty in the young lady, who, dreading to be so long the object of exclusive attention, yields to entreaty without all this coquetish delay. We would only add, be not displeased if there are persons in society still so barbarous as to prefer animated intellectual conversation, where there is harmony of mind produced by variety, to all but the most exquisite music. CHAPTER XII. PHYSICAL EDUCATION. "Dearly earned is the volume's wealth, MRS. HALE. It has been thought vulgar to possess health-rude health; not that any one would acknowledge herself so ridiculously absurd, yet the old adage in this case is true-" Actions speak louder than words." It is generally believed that beautiful, fragile beings, too delicate to meet the first rude blast without shrinking, are the most interesting to those arbiters whose taste is all-decisive on this matter. Man, strong and robust, likes to be the defender and protector of the weak; he likes, too, that his superiority should be felt and acknowledged. The natural delicacy and weakness of the other sex are thus fostered. That it should be so, is owing to a refined state of society, which has its many advantages, and this one, among its evils. But the arduous, imperative duties that in life's progress devolve upon woman, call for physical, as well as mental vigour. To hover round the couch of sickness, and smooth the pillow of the dying; to bear patiently with the querulous impatience of the aged, and the petulance of childhood; to lead into the right path the boisterous waywardness of youth; and to soothe, by unwearied kindness, tempers rendered harsh and irritable by intercourse with a cold, unfeeling world;—are not these a part of her humble ministry? It seems prepos terous to urge the necessity of health; yet when we consider the many ways in which it is heedlessly injured, we may infer that it is considered of little importance. Want of exercise at one time, and too violent exertion at another; exposure to cold and dampness; imprudence in dress and diet; all these conspire to impair the constitution, and produce premature old age. Want of Exercise.-Perhaps you have no regular system with regard to this, and spend whole days in languid inactivity. Occupied with reading and needlework, days pass without any more exercise than is necessary to take you from one room to another. Your reluctance to move demonstrates the vis inertia of matter; the slightest labour becomes an intolerable burden. Beware! the monster dyspepsia is beckoning you for one of his sallow, meagre train. Escape for your life! Regular, active exercise, is indispensable. Walking, riding, and in a rainy day, or on other days if it be possible, active employment within doors. If your situation precludes the necessity for assisting in keeping the house in order, you can fill the flower-vases, tastefully arrange the furniture, put the books in their places, keep your own room in the neatest possible order, and find many other things to give you employment, not entirely sedentary. "Exercise is not only useful in adding to the symmetry of the form, but also in lighting up and invigorating the spark by which that form is animated and beautified." It is a wonderful promoter of cheerfulness. In the country, the care of a garden, and the delightful walks that abound, offer inducements to exercise scarcely to be resisted; in town, the change from habitual inactivity to fatiguing effort is exceedingly injurious. Standing for two or three hours in a crowded party, or dancing a whole evening, is frequently attended with fatal consequences. Coming into the air, after being heated in this manner, has often induced consumption. Alas! how many can trace this fell disease to the ball-room : "Away! away! there is danger here, A terrible phantom is bending near; |