Smyrna times., 1879-04-09
For the Smyrna Times
The Adjourned Legislature.

Mr.. EDITOR What changes time brings;
q few days ago 1ll was excitement here,
strangers came and went with every train
and the town presented a gay and lively
appearance. Almost every day for the past
two months some "big gun or the State
would favor us with his presence, which,
With greater number of "lesser guns"
always kept US in remembrance that the
legislature was in session. But all is changed
now. Our legislators have gone and with
them have also disappeared the noble army
of lobbyists, which, in turn, have filled the
galleries of the legislative halls for the past
few weeks They have gOne-and silent
now are the rooms of the State House,
which Tor the past three months resounded
with the voice of eloQuence and debate.
And as | stand and gaze upon the empty
benches how different are my feelings from
what they were two months ago. Then, as
| stood ;here and looked into the faces of
| those whom We bad chosen TO represent u
in that honorable body, and knew how the
eyes Of the whole State were looking anx
iously at their actions, the famous words OF
Napoleon to his army as it stood gazing
upon the Pyramids of Egypt on the eve
| before that memorable battle with the
Mamalukes, came into my memory /:
Soldiers, from the summit of yOnder
| pyramids forty centuries survey your con-
duct. Act like heroes"
The actions of the late legislature have
now been recorded in the history of our
State and while they have done some good
work they have left IL great deal undOnc. An
as | stand and look at the State House to.
day in its lonliness, my heart feels sad when
| think of what might have been done.
feel as Moore must have felt when musng
through the halls Of Tara he locke back to
its former glory when the old harp swellpd
within its walls "tO chiefs and ladies bright" f."
50 like him | too sit down and write =
The fiery tongues which in these halls
Their elOGucnCc have shed,
Will warble soon by other walls,
| To which they now have fed.
At home they'll talk of those past days,
And tell their actions DER.
Their hearts are beating high for praise
such as they II hear no more
No more they'll sit as Solons bright
Or waltz with Dover bellies;
No more will they carou>e at night,
| Or drink with lobbying swells
And when ambition in them wakes,
What thrObs their hearts will give,
As each ones place another takes
Forgetiul that they live.
While thus musirg on the solemn past
and on the more solemn future, my thoughts
are suddenly arrested by little urchin
,inging in a loud shril voice, and as he
sings rs he thinks, unseen and unheard by
any, | catch the passing strain and pen the
following lines
The legislature has ad Ourned
And now we happy feel,
But cattle are DISCONTINUED
, ! And hogs send up Sqneal.
They're thinking of the by-gone days,
, The happy days of old.
When cattle rOumed DER all the State
, And never knew Il tCld.
But men who used to scold and fuss
Are singing ike the lark,
And not content with divorce
Are setting out to spark.
And women who through weary years
Have never known repOSG
Go forth arrayed in smiles and paint
In search Of ether beax.
Honor enough for one session Of thu
legislature. Even for this one act of sym
/ pathy in relieving suffering humanity from
, til" yoke of bondage, their names shall g
= down to future generations, as schoo
! boys in years to come shall tell their fello,
! school-bOy about his gran d mother or grea
/ grandmother being divorced by the legisl'
J., turP of 1879 DERLET.
e DOVER, March 4th. 1879.