The record-union., 1895-09-09
TFor the REcoRD-UNfoN.l
SUTTER,S FORT.

Dedicated to the California Pioneers.
MY gentle muse her slumbring harp would
wake,
IN sweet simplicity attempt to sing
With some fond hope il she but undertake
In art untaught to touch random string.
These massive walls no hoard of plunder
spanned,
Nor spoils Of conquest tyrantS long nave
priced,
Nor flame that slaughters crimson wing hath
famed,
Nor trophies wrung by despots hell ad-
vised.
War hunting braves the field of Mars with
stood,
Threw hot the mustangs breath upon the
gale.
The warwhoop raised through moorland, fell
and wood,
No FURNISHED ordnance belched the breath OF
hell
Nor canister q helpless throng upon.
These stainless walls no deeds 1gnopIe Tell
In arts of peace or art Napoleon.
Gibraltar's fort may stand more iron nan,
A Waterloo run deeper streams OF blood,
Thermopyl;e unfold more thrilling taIe,
And feudal castles have the longer stooo.
Eorts buiIt bv sIaves-slave systems to pro-
Where man must bow to tyrant, lord or
Look there for sorrow, wretchedness neglect;
The PEASANTS famine is the princes feast.
Comes breath of morn with kisses on the
walls
As sweet as Aura breathed o'er Constance
fair.
At baImy twilight beauteous Eesper calls.
And lovely night arrays her jewels there.
No pageantry of martial trump and banners,
Caparisons of cavalcade expensive,
With noble aim and altruistic manners
The cannon's roar was argument defensive.
Alarm nor charm of phantom tales unweave
TO shock or gild the story's modest air,
To elevate, ennobIe and relieve,
Must numbers blow attuned by muses.
there.
The foes are gone that stole around its form,
The Spaniard Red-man, Mexican and all.
Averted was each dark impending storm,
And rays of glory Iinger on the wall.
Fertility adorned the virgin soil.
The stubborn glebe the sullen bovine broke.
Prosperity (the fruit of faithful toll
Leaped rapidly and grateful echoes WOKE
Adventures of palmy forty-nine,
Who. far from home and friends and kim
dred dear,
Sought aurie treasures nesting in the mine,
Are bound by mem'ries sweetest tcndrlls
here.
Through long-drawn ages, patriots from afar,
Inspired by scenes the hero made immortal.
VIII wander To this Mecca western star,
And bless the tates that ope'd the golden
portal.
The Native Sons. quite worthy of their sires,
Reclaimed the plant In time OF regal
splendor,
While patriotism their onward march inspires
The fort will stand nor 10 d foe surrender.
And may it glimmer meath its starry covers;
No spoilers hand its traces dare to sever,
The pride OF age-romance for venture lovers
A hundred years as now, thence on forever.
Through flying clouds will Luna peer anon
And battle with silent beams the wasting
crest,
While passing centuries roll on and on
Though birds voraciOus mid its ruins nest.
All enterprises in their various forms
Arise, expand, then pass into decay;
Where freedom is come dark despottc storms
And tyrants rule and servile slaves obey.
The Todmor reared her wondrous fame
sublime,
One hundred gates Thebes rolled her spoils
along;
Proud Baibec, too, defed the shafts OF time.
And Troy, IN all her splendOr, lives in song.
Obscurity uncertain leaves their forms,
And all their grandeur is as it were not;
Their dust is scattered by prevailing storms,
Debris and desolation point the spot.
Few States decline where patrlOtlsm relgnS.
Few storms political untimely sway
When QeSpotS dam'd mortals fix their
chains,
Then virtue, glory, greatness fade away.
To thee, FL Dorado's pride and honored son, ,
We bring what devotees bring 10 a shrine;
What love and song for men and times have
done,
They fondly yet viii do for thee and thine.
No titled retinue nor legion strong
Bestows on him the fullness OF his name
Humanity-the soul OF lofty song
Has made him loved and made him known
10 fame.
Nor rosy beams from eastern fields OF azure,
The morning call TO farm-yard, field or
plain,
Reveile rolling through the gray embrasure
Shall call him into busy life again.
New Albonl Long may thy fair and brave
Aspire to noble spheres sublimely starred
And grandly rise beside the dark blue wave
Thy strength, thy pride, thy ornament and
guard. I. L. SCHooNoVER.
Sacramento, Sept g, 1895.