Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-05-18
THE DEDICAToRY ODE.
As Read at the Opening of the Worlds Fair
by Miss Couthoui.

As Read at the Opening of the Worlds Fair
by Miss couthoui.
The following is the dedicatory ode
written by w. A. Croffut of Washing
ton, ID. c., and delivered at the open
ing OF the Worlds Fair by Miss
Couthoui:
THE PROPHECY.
Sadly Columbus watched the na scent M Don
Down in the gloomy oceans western deeps,
Strange birds that day had huttered in the
sails
And strange flowers hoated round the n
deriug keel.
And yet no land. Aud now. when through
the dark
The Santa Maria lea ped before the gale
And angry pillows tossed the caravels,
AZ to destruction. Gomezrascon came
With Capt. Pinzon through the frenzied
seas
And to the admiral brought a parchment
scroll.
Saying: Good master, read this writing
here
An earnest prayer it is from all on board
The crew would fain turn back in utter fear;
No longer to the pole the compass points;
Into the zenith crops the northern stars.
You saw but yester eve AN albatross
Drop dead on deck beneath the flying scud;
The DEVILS wind blows madly from the east
Into the land OF nowhere, and the sea
Keeps sucking us adown the maelstrom's
NAV.
Francisco says the edge of earth il near
And of to Erebus we slide unhelmed.
Last Sunday night Diego saw a witch
Dragging the Nina by her forechains west
And wildly dancing on n dolphin's 8 back;
And aha do n.aI ha l,r,r atar in,
heaven
Slipped from its leash and sprang into the
sea,
Like Lucifer, and left a trail of blood.
/ pray thee, master turn again to Spain,
obedient to the omens or perchance,
The terror-stricken crew to escape their
doom
May mutiny and"
'Gomezrascon, peace"
Exclaimed the admiral; Thou hast said
enough;
Now, prithee. leave me; would be alone"
Then eagerly Columbu sought a sign
In sea and sky and in his lonely heart;
Finding, instead Of presages of hope,
The black and ominous portents OF despair.
As thus he unused he paced the after-deck
And ga zed upon the luminous wa yes astern.
Strange life was in the ephosphorescent foa IN
And through the goblin glow there came
and went,
Like elfin shadows on an opal sea,
Prophetic pictures OF land he sought.
He saw the end of his victorious quest;
He saw ablaze on Isabella's breast
string OF antillean jewels rest
| The islands OF the west.
| Old poverty; the land with bounty bless
| And through the wretched caverns OF dis
tress
Walk star-eyed happiness.
For ancient error tardy to atone.
Giving the plundeTed people back their own
And flying from the throne.
He saw an empire radiant as the day,
harnessed TO law, put under lreeooIh sway
To show the world the way.
ne saw ceiestiai peace in nor.ai guise
And filled with hope and thrilled with high
surprise,
Avast republic rise.
IT
ne saw peyono ohe mis- Oh goideh corn
Beyond the curve OF autumn opuient morn
Tvfes Gt anu iora =. iausniis'y auorh
Inc bosom oil the morn.
re saw clotn Oh golu across ene gioo"''
an a,aoeslue % % rom esoiu.on .:H:o ~ ioo,
anu iroip .ne parreh piaifies uii'e" sPu"'e
imperiai cities oioom'
ne .' saw an IRON dragon aash'ns lor1n
nions an .ion .noi ious" .", ' WI
last, west uniting I'D pehenceht grin
| hemotest ehos Oh earth.
o,e,,
| w. 81 - 80, a ID ,ia.s',ra ;,ter.
"here 'raoe' io'e' sriei anu p'e"7ure '"'ei
| 'aIe,
,',s;n sna az LII ''"'e anu 'p'''e
o''''""''''s ''''e W ''
Ua saw paIiaf +brop,b da,dly dupgeops