Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-07-15
asAass
20 f II n Y.
a MEASURED MEDLEY ON THE PRESS.

~ H. Il hO
A MEASURED MEDLEY ON THE PRESS.
POEM COMPOSED BY GEORGE STEVENS. (wADE
wH1pPLE) OF THE YoNKERs GAZETTE, FOR
THE TwENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEET
ING OF THE NEW YORK PRESS Asso-
CITATION, AT PLATTSBURGH,
n. Y, JUNE %, 1854.
You little thought. my friends, when you let
down
The bars that keep the bard from boundless
browsing,
That vernal zeal but late his muse did crown,
And. mindful ef the chance. he might be
housing
His germs of surest sanctum reprehens1On-
His rhyme provocative of terms ungallant-
With cool intent to make of this convention
| The huge 'swaste- basket of his jingling tai
ent. ms
II e'er temptation lured him TO the deed =
Your theme stands barrier 'gainst the whim's
Indulgence,
For, loI The ',art preservative" doth lead
| Him back u ard to the worlds new born efful-
| What time its origin the fates did weave
| With Eden's romance, by tradition spoken,
When Adam printed" on the lips of Eve
| The first impression" of his hearts full
"token -
Tho Boston makes the claim, no doubt the
| truth is
The Adams press here found its introduc-
tion,
And, that its general principle forsooth is
The same as that of flater-day construction.
Hear JuIfet's tribute to the tryst whereat
| The moonbeams silvered Romeos caresses-
"'Set,' on my lips, such type OF love as that,
And will swear they are Perfection press
| es."
'Twere well, if we could link to love exclusive
| This theme that crowns glorious profession
But such a theory would be delusive,
| For worldly ills do prompt wide depression
And guardians of the press impelled to fury
I BY deeds that mark the man to manhood
| traitor,
Do cast their "Hoe"- made shafts at judge and
| fury,
| And with a Bullock" gore the legislator.
Then turn they from censorious resources
| To cherish charity with gracious guerdon,
| And leave, at homes where hunger focks its
forces.
| The bouuty of their .well-fed "CampbelFs'
burden
| Nor witless are they of the whims Of fashion
| When veers It's [-otaries to terra-cotta,
For patent tits they'll pacify this passion
With plenteous prodt' 'ct of a plying Potter
And if the rural member la eks in part
| These means, yet doth his ''roller's" sweet
attrition
! Sugar the gossip column, and his art
| Ofsprinkling 'lye' delight the politician,
| He's ''quadrat" for his Chinese patrons taste,
| His ''stick" the registering Irish laddti
| pleases,
And for the dairy-folk he claims, ''bold-faced'
His press. the way he'll run it, "just tht
| cheese'' is.
And well his sanctum product points his boast
His pen is pregnant of potential pleaders,
And with the flame that 'iumines reason
4 coast,
He lights his readers as he writes his leaders
Yes. rays OF light he casts OF divers isoits
And lays of right in poets nook he's framin'
II Then ships the clearest truths to priestly port
il And clips the sheerest nonsense for the lay
man.
4 He hopes from ads to multiply his gains,
But has, from hope achieved, long division
Tho still the rhythmy- tick of type remains.
And "quoins" do with his glances make COLI
| sion;
He never loses "form," nor quits the "chase"
Because Dame Fortune shows an aspect sol
| emn,
Tho clouds may lower from the "uppe
4 case"
Yet DER his 'locar'' bends his spinal column
He's pastimes, TOO, that joy his daily round,
\ He sets lance for journa listic brother.
| And twixt the two such sentiments abound
AS hint Of vinegar with ven nous mether
You'd think, to weigh their epithets, that eacl
| Was some wild Sioux athirst for trophie
| CORY,
But presto! Face to face they meet, and teacl
| With tongu OF peace more fraternal story
And so turn fl ON levity, to mark
| This measured medley with a ray OF reason.
And haven make, within salvation's ark.
Fer your rebellion striker a stormy season
But, like dwarf beside a mass supreme
That lifts aloft some hea1 zen piercing steeplt
| So do stand beside this ma tchless theme,
The Press. the peerless chan 'pfon of the Pee
| pie!
| Like ship that's made the circuit OF the worl
| And to one harbor brought Its II easure am
4 pie
| Like flag that every nation has unfurl ed
And blazoned with some hero's rare exam
| pie
| Like scroll whereon some potent scribe has Wrl
The blended wisdom of host of sages,
SO is this power. to which has been commit,
| The mind-wrought product of round of ages
I Gods agent tits to limit for the king
4 The deeds that threat the freedom of til,
| peasant;
His warder, from the olden years to bring
The warnings that will safer make the pres
! ent;
His aid, the world with larger faith to span,
Its creed to permeate with truths own leav
And teach tha mans humanity to man
Is surest pas sport to realm of Heaven.
AS rivers bordered with fair natures host
Mirror the forms their margins over-reacfi
| ing,
So should the press, the freeman's grandes
boast,
Reflect, the types of Gods impressive each
| ing,
Nor bef ftr into the sacredness of home
One mint of aught that purity would canker-
One Thought that hath from mind apostat
| One word of fgrossness, ,ruthlessness or rancor
! Alas- that politics with other creed
| Shc'uld tip the pen that to the press is server
1 Shou Id bid 1t stao at honor till it bleed,
| And foster malice with zealops fervor!
| should plunge It's point in CRIME, the privat
/ fame
| VI Statesmen pure to !,ully with detraction,
because, forsooth, they yield to loud acclaim
And bear the banner of rival faction!
4 kebuke to this! Let tr uest chivalry
Dispel malignance from proud vocation
Let springs of justice, candor, calmness be
A The sources of our dedly Inspiration!
i Let passions tide be fl Itered of its bane,
4 And tolerance its cle ansing fount uncover /.
i TIL, like tulip in a ummer rain,
1 The press with cryst al purity runs over.
4 Ihen, as the hart to mountain rivulet,
/ The lark to norni ng's urn with dewdrop
Il brimming,
The votary to temple where is>met,
Sweet Music's retinue, it's anthems hymnin.
\ The world its thirst will to our fountain bear
Imbibe its need. and turn to paths of beaut
'Refned, refreshed, the ftte, made to wear
The crown of Faith, tb spotlcss robe .
Duty!