Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-12
fast Age, Belfast, snd is here given a. de
livered:
Adopting an Abandoned Principle.

80 AsSt SeNss's eAo - 9eAe SA'eu - Y
livefed;
Adopting an Abandoned Principle.
Read before the M.in, Press Association
soril nd. Feb. u, lss2, BY u. P. ZEN tegoa.
the iast Age.
This above ali, 10 .hire own seli be true.
Hamlet; As, 1. Scene Ill
just 70. handful Of silver he left Us,
Jast for ribbon - stick in his cu-
tourd the one GIT OF which fortune be'ett |
Lost a.! he others, she lets as ccyo,p
Browning he Lest Leader.
The paper "a, the press At las; wa. stll;
ortsite, the wiatsr wiad sank 10 a moan
The crew had lef. the ofirs with will,
But still the editor sat on xloue
Tired brain and body all but lis,less grown
With fretting cares and grind at the copy mi
Be ionssd for some lie fuller, higher far
Than ihs poor, pity, dratging one he led.
A lie OF place and power with stocks at par
Won sui til. fancy running in his head
Bat worse than work . asre was $ wild dread
That scourged rs with whip, lea, lug scar.
'rwas that NO subiect could be ever hnd
To rhyme on for the word POEM the Sta
Pres
Had r.legsted to his prosy mind,
10 be read 4 week hence without redress.
A thousand shiIling topics more or less
rhfonged in his head, but would not b. eoniile
Tst rect do opened and IN walked man
Distinguished, seHIaI, white haired, beard II
same.
III. Sly sole mn, and 10 him began
1be editor mourn his greyieas shame,
As well a. troubles else without name.
Seated, the man OF fame thus broached a pial
III you want n subject, take this
My life, told in studied rhyme,
From the day OF untaint d bliss,
Past The guide posts leac ing through time.
10 the forward empty abyss.
81 began as an editor, too
A weekly not quite your size;
know all about that cue
The politics, news and-lies,
The gossip, the list and the crew.
"ris hard place 10 keep your head,
As found, after I'd lost mine.
My borning desires all fed
On fame-not water, but wine.
l asked for the cake not bread.
And bowed not before the shrine
OF the naughty bringer of 'sds':
Peradvcnture. some word OF mine
Pricked one of my 'bas' pay ing's' fads,
And then writing WAS not my line.
"But the fsnd 10 human di'suise
Who most clouded my earthly s. here
Was ha who W 1uld not take the PRIaE
Except at a dollar y'ar
Shocking NE to bat phs ming cries.
"After all, though, / stood il WE'LL
Till poll les took me in.
Seated me under its spell
With those who were In Il to win
Those who ttood II, and those who fell.
"I wanted 70 stand and stood
For Congress, that Mecca OF men
who don't know for them what's good,
And who moving get out again
Few there be OF that hardihood.
"Bv "A wayward decree of fate,
Whose object NO one fOr,Aw,
| passed through the Congress gate
10 the House WHERE the jaw is law,
And there I've sat up TO date
81 s'on caught the run Of things.
Especially of the deal;
| lund there were MANY strings
10 pun for the prya'e veal.
That 10 fy high you don't need wing.
"And played my cards with such kill,
And bluntd on an empty habd,
That had to father each bill
which reused the ire Of the land,
While the good bills had to hill.
"I wss classrd \ tongre ss ionaI crazn,
Talked ap and talked down Mt obe time
Called smart ~ tb'G)eyil. whose way,
'Tw-s spid had out,iene in crimc,
Then called iit leGder TO raise.
"But, my boy, there are alvavs days,
With the Statesman n who has Job,
When a In ught for the ea'ls ways
Cumcs back to his heart with a thrub
And blush at the worlds 1isprai,e.
"Ihe triumphs are all too mean,
The baiiling- come too dear
1hr past you have aye 10 screen
Aud the future thrills you with fear
Think well, as you uead this scete.
"lhe rewards OF your place are small,
Your subs may be in arrears
But he gains the triumph of all
W. ose simple course never veers
And the judgments OF tins forestail.
"ro win high name is good,
II you don't have 10 fill to) low
In the process. and fise 'abooed:
! rose, and fell, u mere show
Of capritiou fortunes mood.
Much better tho quiet ioys
OF an honest journalists life
Than pls euing the world with noisr
That. at best means rancor ard strife,
And employmcn Mt the soul d coys.
"In politics I'm su,cess.
As the III 7ughti'ss the term dc fine;
Yet only knov what mess,
Of the talents by natUre mine,
I've made in lif.'s storm and stress.
80 stick to the pPn young man.
And don't let your schemes soar hieh.
First beware of the fice-clan,
And cheat not the public eye
Dare to end as you began.
81 don't very often ITeach-
They say sermons aren't just my line
But II ever Truth enters my spec cli
1t's when my tongues 'oosened inc
And my soul get' within arms reach.
"You can mind the pres cher or net,
Though nv meaning is fair a d clear,
You're young. and your ljfe is fraugh.
with promlse more hold too dear
And that many barter and blot.
"0nc sees the mistakes of years
Crowd up in a MON n.'s brea ath
As the end o. his lonR day re-,
With its twilight shadow Of death,
And the ghost Of his past appear.
"Lay hold OF the truth you feel--
It's the ouly real In the world,
That world, with it's heart OF steel
And it's sneering lip upcurled.
That still bows to the true and IL al"
Sobered be rose and went into the night;
The editor, grown sadly wise, mussd on.
The closed door seemed TO shut cut the world
blight,
And fret and turmoil and self seeking spawn.
A nd the old res tless ION yiugs ALI tyare poUe--
Enough Tor him 10 trust the inner light.