Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-25

Give me, q brothers of the Press Of Maine
Your kind attention rs We meet again,
While ! essay To sketch in simple rhyme
That greatest wonder of this wondrous time,
he modern NkwsrtrER,-its scope aud tNw.rs,
Its work and duty in this world of ,,urs
Growth of four centuries of thought and skill
Since that great day, npnn the banks of III,
When Gutenberg, with little thought of fame,
Cary ed ont Ia type his gentle Annals name;
Now spread abroad oer nations far and wide,
Man, many voiced coinpanion teacher, guide,
Fraught with the lore of all the ages past
Each generation wiser than the lnst-
The mightiest kings its warning words attend;
The humbest peasant finds in it a FRIEND
No VIII so CAV, no oracle sage
The sccpered sovereign of the present age.
Up yonder stairs, remote from ,l.ins men,
Behold the sanetum ST 'hs iyp.s and zen.
Two dingy pictures grace the dinger wall,
Twelve ancient cobwebs from the ceiling fall
Tables and chairs stand round in disarrnv
strewn with the various Journals of the day;
The desk with piles of manuscripts o'erspread,
Books and reviews still waiting To be read,
Paste pot and scissors smearcd with inky stains,
Sometimes an editors chief stock of brains,
well-thumbcd Webster lying ON the floor,
And waste basket full and running o'er,-
liither the Master thoughifuily ascends
And to his wonted task assiduous bends
With eye long practccd to reject and choose,
First he collects the budget of the news
Record of what the world has said and done
In the last daily circuit of the sun;
What was the holy text the parson named,
When last his sacred message he proclaintd
What patriot Congressmen conspre to do
TO save their countrv-and their office too:
How speeds red handed war its fcndis work
TwiNt Cross and Crescent, barbarous Russ and Turk
Aud how. Triumphant Oer hi. numerous foes,
The Juggling Jew leads England by the nose
Report of who has died and who has wiyed,
What Cook has said and Edison contrived;
What noble yoaths have won immortal fame
As Nicturs In the latest baseball game;
Whose calf Is born With n stperfiuous leg,
And whose gray hen has laid the biggest egg;
What fashions newest freak the fair obey
In cut and color of their soft array,
Rules for the fan, and patterns for the veil
The inch of bonnet and the yard OF trail;
What crime has met within cold prison wallis
The due desert for which stern justice calls
Aud who, by vengeful Nemesis pursued,
Has left his country for his country's good.
Communications, next, his notice claim,
Papers Of every sort aud size and name;
The inspirations of the village muse,
Sermons and speeches, stories and reviews;
Grumblings at all things that We hear see,
Croakiugs DER ILL., that are. or are TO he.
Ieports of marvellous events and II ghfs,
Disputes on doctrines, politics, and rites;
Essays profound s,i topics iathomless,
What sayants know and spectators guess.
All these, In turn the much enduring man
Must read with patience and what skill he can,
Must punctuate, correct, abfdge, condense,
And find in each some CLEANS, at least, of sense;
Put wit in speech and poetry in poem,
Till one may wonder IL their authors know 'em
Yet one more task awaits the Masters will,
demanding all his practieed power and sAiii,
For news and essays satisfy but few
IL there he not the editorials too,
Where he his own opinions may proclaim,
And speak, oracular In his own name.
isee him now, with aspect grave and sage,
Drive his swift pen across the glowing page,
| With wit and logic skillful TO debate
| The deepest problems of both church and state
| why fires and pestilencc the land distress,
| And why hard times the laboring poor oppress
| Whether the ballot,-weapon of the free.
| Gift and defense of sacred Liberty,
| Right of each citixen throughout the land,
! Shall be protected TN u black mans hand;
| Whether the States accumulating i'll
| Does does not demand a DOCTOR : skill;
| Whether by some financial JuggleTy
| Just fourscore cents may good dollar be-
! Whether, i'm short, there be a road to wealth,
| To comfort, honor happiness, and health.
| Better tkan that in which our fathers tr.d,-
| OF virtue, labor, and the fear of God.
Scissors and pen complete their t.,k win speed
| And nimble fingers weary lJai,s sueoeed
! Matters Der quifss ot manuscripts hespread
Are d,ftiy set IN solid ranks of lead,
/ With utmost care to accuracy brought
Thoughts set In lead. not lead traisfsetl In thought
The ponderoHs forms are next despatched below
| TO noisy realms of Adams and of Hoe
! Here, ranged around, the snowy pih.s appear,
1 Wrought by the genius of Foudrinier
| The once foul linen of the Eastern emes,
| The tattered remnants of alI lands and tlmes,
The cerements that wrapped from crown to foes,