Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-07
ACADEMIA.

IA commencement day poem. written for
Washington University, Seattle. W T.. BY
A. r. HaxIey. Read BY Miss Nellie 6.
Powell. June S, 1884
Through the dark shadows Of the cyclsd
years.
The vanished centuries. 20 me appears
vision beautiful Where smoothly flows
The cool Cephissus. near the manthBg snGws
OF old Pentalicus. the evening breeze
lust stirs Abe foliage OF the empowering
trees,
or that historic Academic grove.
Where the great master. Plato, taught aud
sir0se,
s,roye. cropping blindly through dim reasons
dream.
For the great secret, hfe's most serious
theme.
His was the old " the iRmemorial quest,
The inquiry vague, born OF the souls unrest.
The aspiration high, the struggle fierce.
The mystery OF the universe - pierce.
Around him in that age of thought pro-
found,
OF thought that reached it, almost human
bound.
sage aud philosopher and poet stood
While from his lips dropped rich, ambrosial
food.
Food for the thirsty soul. the hungry mind,
Fabled. az honey, clear. and thrice reiued.
so sweet that even the vagrant bee fOrsoOk
q ymettus. and Of that rare feast partOOk.
Yet Of this vision what today remain-f
There flows Cephissus, there the Athenian
plains,
Are. a. Of old, the haunt Of bee and bird.
And leaf and flower by Heavens free air
are stirred.
Bat vanished Is the old philosophy,
| The old religion and it, +" fair humanity"
| OF all the Academy taught. Of all 1t knew
| How little can we gay today" Twas true.
Dim we're the CLEANS which from the Source
| Of Light
Shot for a moment through its spiritual
night;
Through glass darby. only, Plato saw.
| And caught but glimpses of the eternal law.
Yet in the falIow field OF human thought,
The mighty thinker with his plowshare
wrought,
As 10 the generous. fructifying earth.
The hu-bandman. awaiting future birth,
Turns the rough clod and drops the germi-
naut seed,
Content TO wait his lsbor's certain need.
All things have uses and the questioning
schools
Bound BY no creed and subject to no rules
1
Arou ed a spirit which has since been borne
On thoughts swift pinions DER the tide Of
| time
Ga even polse and with figbt sublime.
Twere long TO tell how from these Greciau
fields,
The noble rage for all that learning yields
To the inquring mind. spread wide and far
| Far a. from Southern Cross to Polar Star
| Along the line look where canopic Nile
Flows To the sea. remember that ere while
There the proud Ptolemies kept watch and
ward,
Though lacking strength their glorious prize
70 guard,
Der splendid temples stored with volumes
rare
Since swept by flames 10 nnsubstantial mir
See where the Moor built schools through.
out the land
Grenada, Corduba and Samarcand.
Alfred POUNDS oxford. Clemens, gay Tou
louise.
The delicate home Of the immortal muse.
Thus down the centuries new schools sue
| coed
Those stormed by war, or ravaged by mans
| greed.
of some but legends dim and strange re-
| main,
WI Iuluuius WI utNDihhC DihlH,
Challenge the lonely travellers wondering
| gaze
The !" mute memorials " Of historic days
Not more diverse the myriad streams which
flow
From torrid plain, or mountain crowned
| with snow
To Pontic. Arctic or Antarctic seas
Than are the varying lessons taught in these
These schools which stretch from Iceland u
Benares
la winters cold, In languid tropic airs.
We may not stay the stream that plunge'
swift,
From some tall peak OF mountain ch ain,
that lift
Their ,serried battlements to untold nights
Dim pinnacIed above the condor's flight
We may not hope, nor need we. To restrain
The human min with any human chain;
Whether it scars alott, or grovels low,
Its secret springs are not for Us TO know
Our brothers faith in our own creed 10 ask
Because " We think so" is an idle task.
BE IL ours To see. as best We may, the right
Aud ours, as best we can, 10 spread the
light.
Hence whether Plato has his follower here.
Or Calvin pupil, with his creed severe,
No wordy disputation shall engage,
The passing moment or the written page.
Here in the halls Of our own school we
stand
Well may we ask II any fairer land,
Or kindlier sky than that which bends above
The frs and naples Of this western grove.
Has ever nurtured schools, or claimed the
students lover
Measured by temples span. or store of gold
Or record with the rime of centuries old.
Our young Academy Is but child.
But let W. hope. by error undefiled.
And yet It's heir OF all the ages all,
That Plato dreamed of all that meath the
pail,
OF medgval darkness lay concealed;
All that the birth at Bethlehem revealed
II inspiration for noble life.
IL sheer contempt for the noble strife
The petty weaknesses that mark the path
OF daily action, Of the greed and wrath.
Of envious natures. might on earth be
sought
BY man or woman, this should be the spot
Uplifted high. set on glorious hill.
Turn where we may the eye can take It's Ill
OF all that makes earth beautiful or grand
Sea. morntain, grove and fertile meadow
land.
How at the sight Of these should pride resoi
Back on itself and be itself the foil.
VI base ambition and unworthy aims,
All that the better part of manhood shames
Why need We lingerg From these balls to-
day,
Go forth the vanguard Of long array
To let US hope, OF those whose after years
Chequered ~ they must be with smile,
and tears,
Shall on their Alma Mater luster shed.
Whate'er the path in life their feet maj
tread.
To them. no farewell, but friendly hail.
A heartfelt God speed 10 the parting SAIL
Which. on the bark OF youth, at best bu
frail,
Fills out and watts them DER an unknown
| sea
From friendly shores 10 some antrodden lea
For US, who yet remain 10 watch and work
We trust that IN your bosoms, friends. ma
Turk,
That golden bond called sympathy tina
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