1.  THE HIGHEST STYLE OF BEAUTY.—­The highest style of beauty to be found in nature pertains to the human form, as animated and lighted up by the intelligence within.  It is the expression of the soul that constitutes this superior beauty.  It is that which looks out of the eye, which sits in calm majesty on the brow, lurks on the lip, smiles on the cheek, is set forth in the chiselled lines and features of the countenance, in the general contour of figure and form, in the movement, and gesture, and tone; it is this looking out of the invisible spirit that dwells within, this manifestation of the higher nature, that we admire and love; this constitutes to us the beauty of our species.

2.  BEAUTY WHICH PERISHES NOT.—­There is a beauty which perishes not.  It is such as the angels wear.  It forms the washed white robes of the saints.  It wreathes the countenance of every doer of good.  It adorns every honest face.  It shines in the virtuous life.  It molds the hands of charity.  It sweetens the voice of sympathy.  It sparkles on the brow of wisdom.  It flashes in the eye of love.  It breathes in the spirit of piety.  It is the beauty of the heaven of heavens.  It is that which may grow by the hand of culture in every human soul.  It is the flower of the spirit which blossoms on the tree of life.  Every soul may plant and nurture it in its own garden, in its own Eden.

3.  WE MAY ALL BE BEAUTIFUL.—­This is the capacity of beauty that God has given to the human soul, and this the beauty placed within the reach of all.  We may all be beautiful.  Though our forms may be uncomely and our features not the prettiest, our spirits may be beautiful.  And this inward beauty always shines through.  A beautiful heart will flash out in the eye.  A lovely soul will glow in the face.  A sweet spirit will tune the voice, wreathe the countenance in charms.  Oh, there is a power in interior beauty that melts the hardest heart!

4.  WOMAN THE MOST PERFECT TYPE OF BEAUTY.—­Woman, by common consent, we regard as the most perfect type of beauty on earth.  To her we ascribe the highest charms belonging to this wonderful element so profusely mingled in all God’s works.  Her form is molded and finished in exquisite delicacy of perfection.  The earth gives us no form more perfect, no features more symmetrical, no style more chaste, no movements more graceful, no finish more complete; so that our artists ever have and ever will regard the woman-form of humanity as the most perfect earthly type of beauty.  This form is most perfect and symmetrical in the youth of womanhood; so that the youthful woman is earth’s queen of beauty.  This is true, not only by the common consent of mankind, but also by the strictest rules of scientific criticism.