Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-05


The poem by Major E. f. Danfortl
as then read by the author. 1t is as
blows:
Ode to the Day.
Meath sunny skies of southern cline,
Blest people of the earth;
Assemble here this hour and time,
TO greet our countrys BIRTH
Each hamlet in this broad domain,
Each city and each town,
Combine in pleasures to maintain
Traditions, handed down.
Each loyal heart upon this day,
Responds to memory's call;
Each bloss ming flower upon the lea
Breaths fragrance for us all
In fact all nature seems inspired,
To lend encouragement;
- No creeds or fancies here are shared;
We join with one intent,
And with that purpose let us view
Adown the road we've come,
since faithful hearts, though mum bering few
Their work of love begun.
Fond memory wanders back the path,
Our pilgrim fathers trod,
And silent benedlctions watt
To them beneath the sod
Each year brings forth unto us all,
Some pleasure and some pain
But when we think of all their toll,
Our joys and sorrows wane.
Again our hearts go out to those,
In continental dress,
Who battled with our country's foes,
Through years OF sore distress:
Who suffered that, to you and me,
Protection should be given;
Whose struggles made our country free,
And earned their crown in heaven,
And by whose loyal ardor was,
In fact. and not resemblance,
On July fourth OF seventy-sx,
Declared our independence
We dwell with pride, upon those times
OF patriotic zeal.
We study those absorbing lines
Which histories reveal
We note the lives of valiant men
Who fought ut Lexington,
And in their deeds of courage blend
The name of Washington.
No country meath the yaulted dome
OF heavens azure light
Ere gave the world a man so prone
To Valor and TO right.
You view each single act of his,
You sean the deeds he's done,
And, while the sense of honor lives,
You'll bless George Washington.
You all know how he stood the test;
But, ere we Wend our way,
Let's breathe to heaven prayer, our best,
For him who saved the day.
No tribute can be too intense
Nor yet'an act too grand,
To shower on him in recompense
For this, our native land
But linger here we must not long,
For time grows on apace,
And, as the world advances on,
America has her place.
Those loyal sons who carried arms
Are mingling with the throng,
Who, in the care OF ycrdant farms
And prosperous times along.
While others find congenial spheres
in commerce and in trade,
And by their energy, i'll years,
Our glorious record made.
And sturdy science shared her claims
In many wonderous theme,
For from among those fertile brains
She curbed the power OF steam.
Improvements now and then were wrought
Though some smiled with satire
When it was claimed that simple thought
Could be dispatched by wire.
Yet Morse produced the very plan
Which quite reversed the laugh;
He gave unto the use of man
Our modern telegraph.
And so with each advancing year
We grew in power and pride;
No sense of treason caused fear;
Peace smiled but to abide.
And thus we started on our way
With busy minds serene,
Until lar down the southern way
shadowy cloud was seen.
We little dreamed the half that fate
Had saved for us in store,
Nor how the boasted ''Tights of state"
Would cleave us shore from shore.
We knew that hasty words were said
Within our congress hall,
But deemed the states too firmly wed
To notice party braWl.
Yet all along the southern side
We heard the threatening tone,
While yankee North" sought to deride
The voice from southern zone.
John Brown, whose soul goes marching on,
Helped aggravaue the rage;
Then Sumptcr fell midst shot and she'll
Foul blot on history's page.
Brave troops went marching to the field
From north and from the south;
For neither side their ground would yield
Save at the cannons mouth.
4 skirmish here, Il battle there;
Great crowds the papers scan,
Excitement filled the very air,
And thus our war began.
The telegraph its frightful tale,
Told after every fight;
The orphans sob and widows wall
Turned brightest days to night.
Despair around each hearthstone hung.
Like to funeral pail;
The nations brightest sons were flung
In face of shell and ball.
Fond mothers pleaded with their God
To stay this awful strife,
And sisters prayed to spare the rod
From living child and wife.
Yet savage war held murderous sway
For four long weary years,
And precious blood stained Southern clay,
While Northern soil drank tears
But still this union was to be;
To quell this feud of standing,
Was sherman marching to the sea
And Grant at Vicksburg's landing;
While Pennsylvania's southern line
Re-echocd cannons roar,
As Sheridan's boys at double time
Charged up the Shenandoah.
But war, with all its laundering force,
Was bound to seek its end;
For natures laws work out course,
Which man cannot extend.
And when brave General Robert Lee
Was forced to yield his sword,
Our suffering sons, on bended knee,
Praised both his deeds and word.
No fallen hero e'er possessed
Such glowing traits as he,
And while some deemed his cause unblest
All hOnored Robert Lee.
But now sweet peace smiled on us all,
Brave soldiers journeyed home,
No more to start at bugle call;
Our land was all their own.
Yet scarce the balmy reign of peace,
Had spread from shore to shore.
When news was flashed at lightning pace,
Which shook us to this core.
Our president, the message read
Beloved of all creation:
Was numbered with our country's dead,
BY foul assassination.
Strong men iu sorrow bended low,
Joy was by grief recalled;
And while we staggered meath the blow,
The world stood still appalled,.
But let us break this frightful spell?
Drift past ye days agone
For while our martyred Lincoln fell
Our government lived on.
And now for twenty years and more
Our stride has much extended
Our commerce touches every Shore
Onr country is most envied.
For since our flag has been unfurled,
Oer all our native land,
ilIinnt thrDIlOhOnt
Weld power on every hand.
Yet, not to mans unaided might
Are all these wonders due,
Nor yet to that dear flag so bright,
Which shelters me and YOU