Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-01-06
MYSTERY OF LIFE.
Hon. HOratio King Replies In Verse to u
Query by Gen. Stewart Van Vliet.

Querry by Gen. Stewart Van Vliet.
Readers of the Sunday Post will be
interested in the following correspon.
dence between two we'll know WASH
ingtonians:
WASHINGTON, d. G., Oct. 80, 1896.
Hon. G. HoRATTo KING, My Dear Sir:
In looking over my papers the other
day l came across your charming poem,
Life" In that poem you ask many
questions that we all ask ourselves In
regard to the mystery of life. AS many
years have passed since you wrote that
poem it struck me that you may now
be able to answer some of the questions
you then propounded. Very truly,
STEWART VAN VLIET.
The following is the poem to which
Gen Van Vliet referred:
LIFE.
Lifel What mystery thy birth enshroudsl
For ages past has man in vain essayed
This mystery to solve-thy origin to learn.
Soul! my Soul! speak out and tell me
clear,
Whence came thou here? Whence thy deep
yearning for
Immortal lifel Methinks hear thee say
abe still and trust. In God we live and
move,
And have our being; more we can not
All, truth! but this great truth, full we'll
know,
Thy restless spirit ne'er wllllsatisfy.
In One all ruling Power we must, we do
Believe. No revelation, save what all
May read in Natures open book, need we
To prove that this is so. When we recall
The countless wonders of the universe,
From merest atom to the glorious sun,
And stars, and planets, in their various or
| der. all
In perfect harmony upborne, and GARTH
So fraught with beauty, grandeur, lights and
life,
All, all proclaim the ever ruling Hand.
But this. does this assurance give that we,
| The vale of death once passed, shall live
again?
That In higher, purer sphere, our souls
Shall mingle in communion sweet, and
know,
AS we, in this life present, one another
know?
Momsntous questions these, that ever rise
And constant audience seek. 'Tis true, the
words
or revelation comes belief to claim
All doubt dispel; yet few, methinks, are
there
Who do not crave more light. Whence shay
this come?
WHITTIER, to end all doubt, seek we for proof?
Not, surely, in the groveling passion OF
The carnal heart that drag to lowest depths
And darkness dire; but upward, upward,
where
The mental vision scope may take afar,
without obstruction from the earth below,
We can ascend. United by the bonds
Oflove, and taking for our guide, the rule
The Golden Rule that never leads astray-
Our soul may rise to regions clear, so full
or heavenly light, that 'twiXt eternal life
And this, no barrier appears.
-Horatio King.
Mr. Kings answer in verse to Gen.
Van Vliet's query follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 81, 1896.
Gen. Stewart Van vliet, U. s. A. Wash.
ington, d. c.:
Dear General:
Your letter OF the 30th is to hand,
And will answer, as by your command.
You speak most kindly, mid this troubious
strife,
or my short poem 1.-The myterles Of "Life,r
And then proceed to ask Q'm sore con-
funded
My answer to the Questions" there "pro-
pounded"
Dear General, you and well know
And all the world would tell us So
How easier It's on heavenly things,
To queries put than answer without wings;
Or, If perchance, with telescope" by sight,
might succeed in "Turning on the Light"
As ever, your sincere friend, very truly,
HoRATIo KING.
lSll-lS96.