The Press., 1892-10-13
ODE FOR COLUMBUS DAY.

fair or foul the breeze, I will sail and sail till I find the land be- yond the western seas l" So an eagle might leave it's eyrie, bent,
 though the blue should bar, To fold it's wings on the loftiest peak of
 an undiscovered star! And into the vast and void abyss he fol-
 lowed the setting sun; Nor gulfs nor gales could fright his sails
 till the wondrous quest was done. But oh, the weary vigils, the murmuring,
 torturing days, Till the Pinta's gun, and the shout of
 ''Land l" set the black night ablaze! l! Till the shore lay fair as Paradise in
 mornings balm and gold, And world was won from the conquered
 deep, and the tale of the ages told l! Uplift the starry banner! The best age
 is begun!
 We are the heirs of the mariners whose
 voyage that morn was done. Measureless lands Columbus gave and
 rivers through zones that roll, But his rarest, noblest bounty was New
 World for the Soul! For he sailed from the Past with it's sti-
 fling walls, to the Futures open sky, And the ghosts of gloom and fear were laid
 as the breath of heaven went by; And the pedant's pride and the lordlings
 scorn were lost, in that vital air, AS fOgs are lost when sun and wind sweep
 ocean blue and bare; And Freedom and larger Knowledge
 dawned clear, the sky to span, The birthright, not of priest or king, but
 of every child of man! Uplift the New Worlds Banner to greet
 the exuItant sun! Let it's rosy gleams still follow his beams
 as swift to the west they run, Till the wide air rings with shout and
 hymn to welcome it shining high, And our eagle from lone Katahdin to
 Shasta's snow can fly In the light of it's stars as fold on fold is
 flung to the autumn sky! Uplift it, Youths and Maidens, with songs
 and loving cheers; Through triumphs, raptures, it has waved
 through agonies and tears. Columbia looks from sea to sea and thrills
 with joy to know Her myriad sons, as one, would leap to
 shield it from foe! > And you who soon will be the State, and
 shape each great decree, Oh, VOW to live and die for it, if glorious
 death must be! The brave of all the centuries gone this
 starry Flag have wrought; In dungeons dim, on gory fields, it's light
 and peace were bought; And you who front the future-whose
 days our dreams fulfill On Liberty's immortal height, oh, plant
 it firmer still For it floats for broadest learning; fol
 the souls supreme release; For law disdaining license; for righteous nessrand peace; For valor born of justice, and it's amplest
 scope and plan Makes queen of every woman, king
 of every man! While forever, like c columbus, OCT Truths unfathomed main It pilots to the hidden isles, grande realm to gain. An! what a mighty trust is ours, the no
 blest ever sung, To keep this Banner spotless it's kindred
 stars among Our fleets may throng the oceans-ou
 forts the headlands crown Our mines their treasures lavish for min and mart and town Rich fields and f1ocks and busy looms bring plenty, far and wide And statelier temples deck the land thai Rome's or Athens pride And science dare the mysteries of eartl and wave and sky | Till none with us in splendor and strengtl and skill can vie; Yet, should we reckon Liberty and Man | hood less than these, And slight the right of the humblest be | tween our circling seas Should we he false to our sacred past | our fathers God forgetting, This Banner would lose it's luster, our SUI | be nigh his setting! But the dawn will sooner forget the east | the tides their ebb and flow, Than you forget our radiant Flag and it
 matchless gifts forego! Nay! you will keep it high-a advanced wit | ever brightening sway The Banner whose light betokens tn
 Lords diviner day Leading the nations gloriously in Free
 dom's holy way!
 No cloud on tho field of azure-no stai
 on the rosy bars God bless you, Youths and Maidens, a
 you guard the Stripes and Stars l EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.