The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-24

1t is a crime of base degree
Against the world at least
When ainan viIely comes to be
a coarse, heligerent beast;
Rates his nobility to stand
Within the lines of doubt,
Until he, with hard-knucSled hand,
Can "knOck" somebody "Out."
TIL, with eclat or gain in view,
BY studied plan and rule,
He makes himself at last into
The rcar-guard OF a mule!
Although this band, il pressed too far.
Some muscle might display,
No puglllstic cOl0rs are
The purple and the grayi
VIII.
But unto other strange extremes
Deiuded man may go;
The fool-tiend has a Thousand schemes
OF dreafy, far-fetc hed woe;
Those men. who with the world wage war,
With naught but fame at stalker
Those who ara slaves of money, for
IJs own ridiculous sake;
Zen learning oft 10 make, is known,
pedant of the sage,
For fO0lishness has, of its own,
No country. cline. or age,
To symmetrize mems faculties,
And keep each one at bay,
We hope well calculated is
The purple and the gray.
Growth! healthy, honest, even growth
They toll aud pray, this band,
That they to Earth and Heaven both
May cling with sturdy hand.
First. that the will of God they know,
In deed. as well as name;
Second, true friends on earth below:
Third, strong ana healthful frame;
Fourth, access to the magic aid
That education lends;
Fifth, moderate riches, to be made
To help both foes and friends;
Be more, know more, have more, help NOR
On each successive day;
This silent motto hnvers DER
The purple and the grayl
Since first on eastern hills was learned
Onr mot tO's mystic sound,
A century's wheel has grandly turned
One-f0urth its journey round;
And one by one have slowly passed
Its iron spOkes of years.
Mid flowers and music now, at last,
silver one appearsl
This night, with eager, clasping hands,
To that we fondy cling,
Aud memory's chain of cleaning strands
Around the rest we fling.
And tnlnk of yonder hillside crag,
Where. on one blessed day,
Rose to the breezr our gallant flag
Our purple and our gray!
XII.
And since the seven paternal ones
First SAW the colors shine.
thousands or brave, ambitious sons
Have wheeled into the Incl
And some are mid life's blazing noon,
some climbing manhoods hill;
And some meath y0n bright August moon,
Are lying cold aud still
Those Delta dead! They rise above
The uncontning grave,
And ask us that the flag they love,
Shall e'er in triumph wave!
That under fortunes smile or frOwu,
Onr efforts De'rr we stay,
TIL fPn-fOld triumnh vet shall Grown
Their purple and their gray!
When fifty years have come and gone
Ger this devoted band,
What is the work it Will have donea
HOW SHAH ltS record stand4
Shall Iudolence be master here,
With silken nets ont-thrOwn.
Till Failure, with silent sneer,
Has marked you for her 0wnl
Or shall the record he as high
And grand, aud true. and bright,
As is the blue page Of the sky,
Upon "A summer night
Your record must be true and grandl
The tribe mas come to stay!
And soon must gieam DER all this land,
Your purple and your grayi
XIII.
When DER these silver-lighted skies
Full fifty years have rolled,
Shall CLEAN upon our gladdened eyes,
A star Of pureSt gold!
Aud blessing its love kindled hue,
Full many Delta son,
Shall say, "Thank Godi it helped me do
SUCH work IA have done!"
Not cen hundred years vast scope
Can make our hearts despond:
We build for ages; aud our hone
Chngs to the Great Beyond!
That, guided by fraternal love,
In Gods good time, we may
Meet in convention far above
His purple aud His grayi