YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 161 



I 



posed of five elements. 1st, Propriety: that is, the adaptation 

 of means to an end. The full impression of beauty is never con 

 veyed to the cultivated mind if the eye is shocked at seeing an 

 unsuitableness of form to the purpose in view. 2d, The ellip 

 tical line, or the oval. We make our picture-frames oval be 

 cause that is the most beautiful shape, and so do we our plats 

 of grass and the leading features of a landscape garden, while 

 the female face is never absolutely faultless unless it presents 

 the oval form when viewed in front. The Greeks made the 

 face oval in the Venus, but fuller in the forehead in the Miner 

 va and Jupiter. 3d, Color. The brightest gems are the best, 

 and the greatest luxuriance of tints is lavished by nature, 

 where she makes her loveliest handiwork. 4th, Smoothness of 

 surface. The angular form is not admissible in a connection 

 with the beautiful ; and roughness is merely angularity infinite 

 ly multiplied. 5th, Proportion, or the harmonious arrange 

 ment of parts. All these qualities he* thought combined in the 

 perfected Shorthorn of our time ; and we are bound to respect 

 the beautiful, for we spend at least ten times as much for it as 

 we do for the purely utilitarian. 



Mr. Clay illustrated his remarks with the aid of a large paint 

 ed sketch of one of his Shorthorn cows, which was suspended 

 at the back of the platform. He was loudly applauded on 

 resuming his seat, as also was the announcement by Prof. Por 

 ter that the second lecture would be given to-morrow morn 

 ing. 



Mr. Clay being limited to one hour and a quarter, by agree 

 ment with other lecturers, did not go as fully into the descrip 

 tion of the several breeds as he had desired. 



