St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-26
4 GLASS POEM
Delivered by Miss Hammerslcy
the High School.

The class poem of '93 in the st. Paul
high school was the gem of the class
day programme, from a literary stand
point. 1t has glimpses through ii of
mind stepped in the tales of Greek
mythology, as was that English singer
of "Endymion," and the ethical
ending is in the vein of Spelley.
Miss Hammersley is 10 be con-
graduated on this first flight of her
Pegasus in the open air, and it is TO be
hoped she will not longer hide her gifts
from the muses. under buShel. AS she
delivered ii from the roStrum of the as
sembly hall Monday afternoon she
seemed like Greek chorus girl in her
gown of white and hair bound by
q Grecian tillet. The delivery was ad-
mirable, in clear silver tones and grace
ful gestures, but it will not suffer when
read in cold type.
When 4 song is sung of nations, glad song
of praise and fame;
To eXalt the nations heroes, to extol the ma
tons name;
Then the bard prophetic and the sightless
seer of old,
Called npon q gentle goddess, who mig hit
some fair tale unfold.
Or invoked the loved Apollo. with his harp
of tuneful gold.
But when now q song is needed to proclaim
the wondrous deeds
OF powerful band, urged onward where the
hand of genius leads;
Then all hail. Olympian MUSES., may the Nine
unite TO sing,
And descend TO aid the mortal mount on
high with Fancy's wing.
That for '92. Fame's trumpet shall aloud her
praises ring.
Long ago. in unveiled ages, when our earth
was young and gay.
In the far-Cff land of Emma, summer held
perpetual sway.
There. within the gloomy forests. sheltered
from the sun gods beam.
In peaceful vale secluded, flowed spark
ling, cIySta! stream.
Gliding onward. ever onward, still it purled
its endless theme.
Round its borders countless fowerets in the
lap of Nature lay,
Nodding with the tallest grasses to the
sportive winds ut play.
Here into this vale of beauty wandered gaily
with her train
Prosperine, fair Ceres daughter. singing soft
blitne refrain.
Such as Echo loves to answer and the strain
resound again.
STOPPING by the brooklet's margin, gathring
flowers of brightest hue.
Plucking first a spotless lily, then Vi'let
fringed with dew;
Proserpine, Of harm unconscious. in her
happiness sings on,
While the grim dark-visaged Pluto, from his
gliding car looks down,
And for love the maid he selZeS, spite OF
bitter tear or frown.
Loudly cries for help the maiden, but tits
vain, all help is passed,
Loosely now the rein he tosseS, and the steed
is urging fast.
In the fight the maiden's blossoms, one by
one dropped down to earth
(Where in after years, tear-watered, spring
into q radiant birth).
But the present loss seems TO her as a death
knell after mirth.
On they sped, unchecked, unguided, till the
stream Cyane barred
Their mad progress, just as Pluto. raging at
his project marred,
Struck the earth, which stralghtway yielded
and disclos d a passage wide.
Leading downward to his kingdom, where
with scorntul mein and pride
He, to shades of Stygian darkness, brought
his fair and youthful bride.
Over all the world sought Ceres for her
daughter, Proserpine:
From the coming of Aurora, till the stars
were bid to shine.
Through all lands and in all regions, heed
ing neither calm nor gale,
Sad and weary with much searching in each
byway, grove and dale.
Lead by friendly human council, offered but
to 10 avail.
seek for Truth alone:
And the god of all the Powerful. uide her
through the great Unknown.
Still she onward pressed, yet hopeful, though
a cloCd her path obscured,
And the tickle smile of Fortune into briars
her steps allured;
But the distant sighed-for object raised her
hopes and peace secured.
Throughout all her search untiring, wander
ing faithful day by day,
STOPPED she oft to lift the mortal, shoWering
blessings on her way;
And where ere her footstep fingered, peace
and plenty did abound.
And where ere her soft hand re sted, fled the
fever, healed the wound;
While from far and near her praises from
humanity resound.
After weary months of searching. having
naught Natures guide,
Ceres came at last, half doubling, to the
stream Cyanes side.
Lo, an object on the waters, she beholds with
eager gaze,
'Tis the girdle of her daughter, and she sees
in trance or maze.
Seems to see her f1utering garments through
the distant purpled haze.
On the faultless land about her, curses loud
and deep she laid;
SIS it for this l rich endowed thee? Is it thus
the gods are paid?
Never shall your fertile meadows TEEN with
waving golden grain;
Never shall your even furrows blossom as
the rose again;
But all life shall droop and wither and all
sunshine change to rain"
Thus she spake with threatening visage, but
a voice called from the stream:
Blame the land not, o fair Goddess, for un-
willing did it seem
To obey the awful summons and submit to
Pluto's might.
/, the busy nyInph of streamlets, all un-
fnl, lnhn cI-Thf
When he dragged adown the maiden to his
lasting shades of night
Stupefled the goddess halted. as if by the
magic spell
OF Meduses stony glances, then right up
ward did compel
Her swift chariOts flight to heaven and the
aid of Jove i'm mplored,
And the mighty god consenting gave the
faithful just reward;
Blessed the one whom grateful mortals long
had honored and adored.
All the earth was filed with gladness; Nat
ure's chorus all in tune;
All the fairest birds and blossoms welcomed
and proclaimed ii June;
When the god with winged sandals, Mer-
curry. the bold, with Spring.
Went forth to demand the maiden, and
again to daylight bring,
That through Pros erpine's rich bessin gS,
men and gods might join to sing
History is still repeated; old garbs are ex-
changed for new:
We ourselves enact this fable, scarcely con-
scious what we do.
With gifts bountiful as Ceres, eager to begin
the race
Start we on our search for knowledge, each
assigned his special place,
Seeking for new truths i'll byways as the old
truths grow efaced.
Often deep in historys forests, wandering
through Life's stOried halls,
Where inscribed are oaken records. carved on
monumental walls;
Oft we pause to stop and listen, bending with
attentive ear,
For beyond distant rustic of dry leaves we
seem 10 hear,