Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-15

and social profit of its membership, those
of rs who were determined to keep il alive
have yentured upon its reorganization, in
the hope that in these new apartments the
new members and the old may feel equally
at home, and may find here not only
shrine for the worship of the immortal
Bard, to whose works due honor viii be
weekly paid, but a pleasant place OF meet
ing for the converse of mutual friends.
The rooms will be accessible TO members of
the club at all hours of the day and evening
and il will be the aim of the Directors TO
furnish, within the means at their COM
mand, such entertainment as the members
of the club may direct. The weekly
reading from Shakespeare is, of course,
to be maintained, all members OF the
club being privileged TO hear or partici-
pate in the reading as they may, at the
time severally prefer:
peare Club, in behalf of the Board of Di-
rectors. and especially in the name of the
committee upon whom has deyolyed the
chief labor OF fitting up these rooms for
your convenience and comfort, l am bid TO
speak you this welcome. In the words OF
Hamlet to the players
.You are welcome, masters, welcome all |
am glad TO see We well. welcome, good
friends"
President Vim. Leighton, at the conclu.
sion of Mr.. Longs address, read the follow
ing beautiful poem:
SHAKESPEARE.
THE BENIGN INFLUENCE OF HIS POETRY.
l.
The world has work that must be done
Work from the rise to set OF sun,
The toll that follows day by day
In an accustomed, weary way;
or work whose higher aims may raise
The burden 10 song OF praise.
Good work or bad;
Gay work or sad;
There's work enough for all onr days.
II.
To put this work aside a while,
Forget its cares, its loud turmoil;
Win freedom we, the slaves OF tolI,
If We may be
But one hour free
This we may ask and this we gain
BY yielding TO the pleasant reign,
And wearing for an hour the tiowery chain
fpoesy.
And who, OF poesy, is king"
Whose hCnors, plaudits, loudest ring?
Who in the halls of light
Where fanCieS bright
With CAV imaginations dance and sing
Who is the mightieSt monarch here:
Who ruleth hearts by love, not tear?-
Shakespeare.
".
Shakespeare tiny name
Rings in our ears with trumpet bIaSis OF lame;
or softly steals
Into the heart like some sweet melody,
Blending with all ii feels,
And calling upon Joy to cheer II merr1ly,
Or bright imaginations to unfold
Gay wings of Furnished gold,
And bear II into realms OF ecStacy.
Shakespeare!
Haw brave band
l,at ,i,b nd X-b 1nNnlN ones aODpaf.
AT his charmed name, and throng On every
hand!-
Fair forms Of grace, bright figures Of command,
As by his sway
Omen the gates that wondrous scenes display,
Their countless shapes in marvellous array,
Enchant the hour
That yields us 10 the great magician's power.
VI.
Work is forgot
Dull toll Is Lot
We, too are kings; and share his potency;
Poets and singers we. by his charmed witchcry.
No spell he flngS
No song lie sings,
But he has made ii ours by some sweet Sorcery.
We enter in
Each heart his magic has laid bare,
And claim our kindred there;
His "touch OF nature makes The whole world
kim"
VII.
And kindred we
By natures touch OF mystery,
We who have loved the bard and in his name
Together sought to kindle with his flame
OF pOeSy.
so doth his soul sublime
Defying Time,
Descend from realms empyrcal back to earth
And ind renewing birth
In hearts that gather at the shrine
OF poetry divine.
VIII.
Shakespeare forever young,
Thy music on each tongue
Hath still a charm a win fresh blossoms OF