Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-10-27
YORK TOWN.
BY PAUL ii. HAYNE.

The following is the Centennial Ode set to music
and rendered by 500 voices at the Yorktown cele-
hration on the 18th inst.
IIark bark down the centurys long reaching
slope,
TO those transports of triun ph-tllose rapures of
hope.
Tie voices of main and of mountain combined
In glad resonance born on the wings of the wind :;
The bass of the drum and the trumpet that thrills
through the multiplied echoes of iuDilant hills;
And mark how the years, melting upward like
mist,
Which the breath of some splendid enchantment
has kissed,
Reveal on the ocean, reveal on the shore
The proud pageant of conquest that graced them Of
Chor"H.-Whcrc blended forever in love as in fame
See! the standard which stole from the
starlight its flame,
And type of all chiyalry, glory romance
The talr lilies, the luminous lilies Of
France!
o. stubborn the strife, ere the conflict was won,
And the .Wlld-whriing war-wrack half-stifed the
The thundcrs of cannon that doomed on the lea
But rcechoed far thunders pealed up from the sea-
Where guarding his sea-lists-a knight on the
Bold DE Grasse kept at bay the bluff bulldogs of
Graves
The day turned to darkness, the night changed to
fire.
Still more fierce waxed the combat, more deadly
the ire
Undimlned by the gloom. in majestic advance
All! behold where they ride, DER the red battle
tide
ChOruS.-Those banners united in love as in fame
The brave standard which drew from the
starbeams their flame,
And type of all chiyalry, glory romance,
The fair lilies the luminous lilies of
France!
No respite, No pause, BY the York $ tortured flood
The gray Lion of England is writhinp in blood,
CORVALLIS NAV chafe and coarse TarletOn
As he sharpens his broad sword and buckles his
This blade which so oft has reapcd Rebels like
grain,
Shall now harvest for death, the rude yeomen
again
Vain boast for ere sunset he's flying in fear
With the rebels he secuted close, close in the rear.
The French Oh his flank hurl such voeys of shot
That cen GlOuceSterS redoubt must be growing
too hot.
Chor"s-Thus welded in love, united in fame,
Lo! the standard that stole from the star
light its flame
And type of all chivalry, glory, romance,
The fair lilies, the luminous lilies of
France!
Q! morning superb. when the siege reached its
See the sundawn outbloom like the alchemists
rose.
The last wreaths of smoke from dim trenches up
Curled
Are transformed to glory that smiles on the world
JOY! Joy! save the wan wasted front of the foe
With his battle flags fured and his aims trailing
low.
Respect for the brave. In grim silence they yield,
And in silence they pass with bowed heads from
the field.
Then triumph transcendent, SO Titan of tone
That some vowed it must startle King George on
his throne!
ChOrmS-O. welded in love as united in fame
See the standard that stole from the star /
light its fame
And type of all chivalry, glory, romance,
The flir lilies, the luminous. lilies of
France.
V.
When Peace TO her own timed the pulse of the land
And the war-weapon sunk from the war-wearied .
hand
Young Freedom, upborne to the height of the
goal
She had yearned for so long with deep travail of
soul
4 song of her future raised, thrilling and clear,
Till the woods leaned to harken, the hill slopes to
hear. /
Yet, fraught with all magical grandeurs that CLEAN !
On the hero's high hope or the patriots dream,
What Future tho bright, in cold shadow shall cast
The stern beauty that haloes the brow of the Past?
ChuruS-O! welded in love as united i'll fame
See, the standard that stole from the star
light its flame,
And type of all chivalry, glory, romance,
The fair lilies, the luminous lilies OF
Francei