The Portland daily press., 1875-07-13
The POETS Moral.

The Bowdoin College class of 1926 is fortu-
nate in that it numbers among its living
members a poet who can sing, at its fiftieth
reunion, its memories in a fitting and lofty
strain. Mr.. Longfellow's verse is naturally
of a retrospective cast. He finds it good to
walk often in the picture-gallery of his mem
ory. His lines, though not infrequently
tinged with melancholy, are ever informed
with the spirit of hope and cheerfulness. 1t
was to be expected that an old man, revisit
ing the spot where he watched his armor
while eagerly awaiting the day that was to
bring the title and the spurs, would, as mem
ories crowded thickly upon him, fall into a
strain of regret over his lost youth and pro-
nounce threnody as he recalled the pensive
splendor Of the long-vanished summers. But
Mr.. Longfellow's cheerful philosophy guards
his song from sinking into dirge. Though
the Bowdoin commencement poem shows in
dications ofa great heart-a ache as the author
recalls the names against which Death has
set his asterisk, and touch of sadness at the
thought of the four years. sojourn under the
pines, it breathes the noblest effort and the
loftiest aspiration. Our "reminiscences, it is
true, are colored by our moods. If we seek
sadness, it comes "dark as the Nun in the
Penseroso;" if we seek cheerfulness, only the
happiest aspect of the past, deepened by an
enchantment of color, presents itself. Mr..
Longfellow, secure in the calm honors of his
age, can well afford to let memory "a-Maying
go,' 10 coDjure up only the rosiest recollec-
tions. Yet he stands at the end of road he
will never travel again, and his happiest rem
iniscences are darkened by the encroaching
shadows of fifty years. So words of cheer
from an old man just going off the stage of
action. to the young men just stepping upon
1t, are the more praiseworthy because of their
unexpectedness.
The moral of the poem-for like the fable
it teaches something-may be summed up
in that German maxim of worth, ''Keep true
to the dreams of your youth" 1t has ever
been fashion to laugh at the boys high
flown hopes and fantastic aspirations. Mock
cry at the Illusions of youth is one of the
stock jokes of the world. Often these aspi-
rations are wild and extravagant, and utterly
beyond capacity to fulfill. Often the boy
finds his schemes impracticable in the light of
later experience. His illusions are over
thrown. He discovers that ''there are few
prophets in the world, few sublimely beautil
full women, few heroes" But he is surely,
ais S..-elarisling high ideal and
a lofty aim. This is the lesson WHICH CnfIs-'
tianity inculcates, which Mr.. Longfellow
preached to the young men who sat before
him. He bade them God-speed as they
buckled on their armor to go forth, like
young giants refreshed with new wine, to
the old conflict with the world and the devil,
and he exhorted them to keep true to their
youthful ideals and aspirations. In the COM
mon chance of life some must fall by the
way-side, some who seek the laurel will only
find the cypress, but all may, like Addison's
Cato, deserve success if they do not COM
mand it. Perhaps the poet had his own
class in mind. If so, it would be gratifying
to know how many of them held to the
ideals formed in the old domicis, and if sue
cess crowned the steadfast.
The youth looks forward to manhood as
"island poets look across the sea, believing
that the whole world beyond is blest Araby
of Spices" Let him follow up the search
with hope and high courage and strong. en-
deavor, and he will bring to port some freight
at least of value, and worthy his life voyage.