THE IRISH PENNY JOURNAL.
| Number 36. | SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1841. | Volume I. |
THE OLD BRIDGE OF MILTOWN, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
We have already taken occasion more than once to expressour admiration of the beautiful and varied scenery which surroundsour city on all sides, and which presents such an endlessvariety in its general character and individual features asno other city that we are acquainted with in the empire possessesin any thing like an equal degree. Other cities may have sceneryin their immediate vicinity of some one or two classes ofhigher beauty or grandeur than we can boast of; but it is theproud distinction of our metropolis that there is no class ofscenery whatsoever of which its citizens have not the mostcharacteristic examples within their reach of enjoyment by awalk or drive of an hour or two; and yet, strange to say, theyare not enjoyed or even appreciated. Some suburb of fashionableresort is indeed visited by them, but not on account of anypicturesque beauty it may possess, but simply because it is fashionable,and allows us to get into a crowd—as our delightfulMusard concerts are attended by the multitude less for the musicthan to see and be seen, and where we too often show ourwant of good taste by being listless or silent when we ought toapplaud, and express loudly our approbation at some capriciousextravagance of the performer that we ought to condemn.The truth is, that in every thing appertaining to taste we areas yet like children, and have very much to learn before wecan emancipate ourselves from the trammels of vulgar fashion,and become qualified to enjoy those pure and refined pleasuresconsequent upon a just perception of the beautiful in art andnature. Till this power is acquired, our green pastoral vallies,our rocky cliffs, mountain glens, and shining rivers, as well asour exhibitions of the Fine Arts, and that pure portion of ourliterature which disdains to pander to the prejudices of sect orparty, must remain less appreciated at home than abroad, andbe less known to ourselves than to strangers who visit us, andwho in this respect are often infinitely our superiors. It is nofault of ours, however, that we are thus defective in the cultivationof those higher qualities of mind which would so muchconduce to our happiness; the causes which have producedsuch a result are sufficiently obvious to every reflecting mind,and do not require that we should name or more distinctlyallude to them. But we have reason to be inspired withcheerful hope that they will not very long continue in operation.Temperance and education are making giant stridesamongst us; and when we look at our various institutions forthe promotion of science, art, and mechanics, all in activeoperation, and aided by the growth of a national literature, wecan scarcely hesitate to feel assured that the arts of civilizedlife are taking a firm root in our country, and will be followedby their attendant blessings.
But it may be asked, What have these remarks to do withMiltown Bridge, the subject of our prefixed woodcut? Ouranswer is, that in presenting our readers with one of the[Pg 282]innumerable picturesque scenes which are found along thecourses of our three rivers, the Liffey, the Dodder, and theTolka, all of which abound in features of the most beautifulpastoral landscapes, we have naturally been led into sucha trai