National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-11
BEFORE rHE romn on wAsuraoron.
BcauiinI rribute 90 tse iief.srs 90 tss
HItuafrtous rsatrfnf


The following beautiful tribute 10 ihe mcmors
OF Washington was written iu Ociuhaf isl fafiY-
two Year, slucc, by n student in ihc Er'aoopst
Theological Seminary, near AleHnudfia q gss
addressed and presented to great araudniecs ~
the ilustrious patriot. who resided ni Mount Vsre
non, and with whom on pleasant aneTno1n .
few days previously he had stood before The
great chlcitalns tomb The ORIGINAL. wdiisn 80
a sheet of lcticr.papcr. now lies bcitre me AEs
aud w iHi fproper care In haudlinr % have 20
duccd TO seven different pieces which, however
are go denly scwod together by pracilss1 fngers
that the text Is perfectly leghlc. The dclilny ei
the student poet Is unknown but The younf lsdf
to whom the tribute was addressed ana her entes
family consisting Of faihor and mUihcf. bfoihers
and sistcrs-oll save one, surviving sister -loua
SINCE passed TO their reward on high. and thsif
remains ropose In the tomb with their nlusiriou
ancestor at Mount Vernon. The mannscupt ana
the incidents attending the origin Of The tribute are
furnished me by the surviving sister referred Ia
aud whom have the happiness 10 adde's a. my
wife. Tho twelfth line from the bottom fhs
lips OF him whose voice had on been heard '-hAa
reference to the appearance Of The remains ~ ths
time they We're removed from the old 10 the nee
tomb and placed In the nrcophagus on oct5befI
1897 two years previously. when, on being eEpossa
TO view, the lips were found TO be nearly perfect
MYRoN PiNCu.
THE IoNB oF WASHINGTON.
Leave me, my friends aud lo, me wander hers--
For this IL sacred ground. need no guide
10 lead me 10 the spot where Grsainoss iies
0azo not when all the fountains ofmy soui
Break forth and feelings rich and strong and iess
Murmur tho tones or Natures melody.
On Helen's Tale I'VE stood bcslde the grave
whcrc Wondering dust OF falleu Grandeur lies
At whose command the noble rich, and brave
Have OF unsheathed their swords aud Victories
Brought monHtchs 70 his feot their crowns 10 cravA
NNhiir faedh hta uIarfos tn tho atgtna.
On Marathon rvestood. when tho fi soul
Was crowded with associations throng
OfthouEhts and images that spurnd control
OF tho proud dead, who live In Clsssic song.
GU Roman greatness have looked aud sighed
10 witness gqualld nlth and ignorance
lnhablting the halls whore once tho pride
OF ancient beauty, pornp, aud circumstance
Shono fair and lovely as monarchs bride.
I've stood with stephens, when lac, wandering. gatsi
on PetrNs massy and gigantic plles
A nd Us I thus on Fancy's wing was rsljcd,
McthOught Decay sat broodlng whore the SMILES
or fawnins courtlors once had pleased; who praised
Thclr monarch's power. Then through these hih
there came
The echo ofthe Prophets voice. which broke
The death.li silence of the scene and spoke
Old Petra's dOom
| q" Thy terribleness hath deceived thee.
Aud ie pride ofthy heart,
o thou that dwellest in the cleit ofthc rock.
| That holdest the height of the hill
| Though thou shouldst make thy nest
| As high as the eagle,
| / viii bring thee down from thence.
| Saith the Lord"
But where, o Earth, midst all thy hallowed sceuo
i Shall poets, patriots, freemen iiUi spot
Which memory holds deRrer thai ihe Tomb
| Where WGsuISGrON rcposeS? Zen decay,
| Which blots with ruthless hand the grace llns
| charms.
| Aud leaves In Beauty's place q heap of duat.
Trod lightly DER this spot and feared to touch
The lips Of him whose voice had off been heard
Amidst the cannon's roarl
Tread sonly here
Aud talk with reverence OF the mighty dcadi
As thus gaZcd thought that WAsuINuToN
Did stand before me, clothed in Warriors sarb!
Aud thenG 1atterlng host, with wild huzzos,
Pro(lcrcd with loyal hearts sn empires cro'rn.
Golden and glittorlng with thiftcon stars,
Which, as the indignant Hor pushed aside,
An Eagle caught and rising with IT, scared
Alon amidst the azure vaults of Heavenl