Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-11-14
THE OLD VOLUNTEER PERIOD.

"A poem read by the editor OF the Baltimore
| Jade tCTtteT at the DelmonicO banquet Of thu
chiefs otnre departments OF me United state e
! New York ethyl
"Times change and we change with them.
Most nttingly may keep this truth in view;
| You, OF your own experience, may contrast
{ Present achievement with the vanished past
The faded glores Of the old regime
/ " itfi all the trtumphs OF this age Of steam.
FOR all Of you. through many s by-gone year
1 Wore the Insignia OF the volunteer;
/ And as you turn 70 those dePartec days,
I n ell may you say in teTse Flrgflian phrase
Not IN the boast fol ESyle that seekk Epplausel
All which saw, and part Of which WA"
! Many leader in that emulous strife
/ Now leass in business or in social life,
! Now shows in church or state, In art or trade
I The stuff OF which good citizensa are made;
/ SHOWS that the inspiration which we praise
= rings from the lessons Of the earlier days.
TIoss earlier days. Traditi m claims then
They serve the psge OF history TO endow;
Their shadowy forms, their curious memories
| Like fsncifuI creations Of q dream.
i How far removed from Us, yet cen to-day
/ The lingering remnant scarce has passed
away!
| The days OF modern chivRIry; the time
R-d-shirted heroes reveled IN theif prime,
/ All Ike Hibernian warriors, day or night,
OaIy al peace IN skirmish or in light,
Bswling through trumpet Jump her out
Or hosrsely shouting, "sykesy. take de butt. .
Their favorite type, the gladiator Nose;
I tense IN action, lsmbiike 10 repose;
Never - proud. 80 eager, or so keen
As when prepared 10 run with Tive machine;
ever 50 happy as amid the msze
or curling smoke, or salsmandrine blaze.
Neveafo grand in all that makes men grand
As wifsn ne plunges through the fiery brand,
lnhales the CO fagraiion's sitting breath,
Rsscues the infant from impending death,
Flies Il gwn the ladder and, secure from harm,
Restores the bulden 10 its mothers arm.
We think Of Nose as one with jaunty air,
VITA uprolled trou legs and vell-soaped
VITA smoothly craped and fashionable plug
Tilted awTy up)h ms slanIing mug,
Wit smile sard mic and with pose OfraTre,
showing the teeth that hold the upturned
cigar.
Bat LET the alarm he'll sound the warning call,
let the red blaze flash from the burning wei /,
AID the rough diamond, now TRANSPORTED,
CLOVIS,
While through his veins the blood of giants
Ready dare the hight, to leap the abyss
what can q demI-gOd do more than this?
But what, lis asked, of that left handed boon,
saturday night or sunday afternoon?
What OF the plotters spelling for u fight
With torch iliumed s0ine cabin to ignite,
Some barn TO doom to sacrinelal fire,
To maiden rivalry and kindle ire?
Well, what of these Did nos old Joshua blight
With fire he city of the CanRsnite?
what prompted Troy's destruction? Whose
the blame
That fair Persspolis was swept with fame?
To sshes who did ruthlessly condemn
sardis an Carthage and Jerusalem:
Bu' yal bnllie~, worse than beasts of prey?
Nero and Titus what where such as these
But rufiiaus bent on their atrocities?
Carthage mus be d. stroyed," old Cato said
Better were such incendiaries dead.
Besi Ie these Lucifers of olden days
N Sc was a saint, with ali his vulgar ways;
Though he we're rude, and void OF outward
He gave to charity warm nesting place;
And kiDdlier heart bis crimson shirt con-
Than their imperial purp,e e'er revealed.
Linked with one virtue and thousand
crimes
What was the mission of its armored knights
Beyond adventure, tournan ents, or fights?
WHAT It's pretense but human life 10 save,
Ana, falling that, cheap glory and the grave'
What more, what less than this, except in
And humber fashion, was the nremans aim?
nylDg spanner or a bTtckbat's glance
May be less elegant than polished lance,
and belt ard hat, though decked with lus-
trous Dress,
Less classical than helmet or cuirass;
But like ambition prompted them alike
To rsise tie fallen or the foe TO strike;
Yet while the one, in fair and open field,
Met bis antagonist with sword and shield,
Urged by the wal ing smiles of ladies fair
ADd by the applause OF courts, to do ard
care
TIE fireman reused, perhaps at dead of night,
hurTl' hsli-dre sed TO scenes OF Wild alright,
IwiXt cold at zero and the furnR &c glare
VI fierce flames roaring in the icy air,
And fought the fire iend till the topping wall
Buried the martyr in its crushing fail.
Who can forget how, when the nations life
Was all GU poured in fratric idal strife,
He proved himself the brHveSt OF he braveP-
Ready to give, his life he freely gave;
A ia, whether wearing bnJternut or blue,
Ea ch TO his flag and his convictions true
The sge of steam, majestic N its might,
With darkening vail may curtain him from |
sight,
But while upon the tablet OF the brain
our cherished memories of ham remain,
Let rs TO his remembered f. ults be blind,
And TO his virtues be ex eeding kind.