The Republican journal., 1905-09-14

CudIlcS M. f1OWoS uellV0EoO oil AucpA1.
ing address of welcome to the Presi-
dent on his annual return to the home
of his boyhood, and to the many visit
ors whose interest in the Dale and the
Dale meetings had inclined them to be
present Vera Marie Gushee of Aga
wan, Mass, niece of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Sukeforth, gave select reading,
which had the sparkle of gem and en-
tranced all present. The Presidents
address came next in order His prln-
cipal world topic was Russia and
Japan. alleging that Russia was in
Manchuria, protesting one reason but
fostering another, always saying she
was ready to get out as soon as con-
ditions would warrant, but meaning
externally to stay; that he had not ex-
pected in his lifetime to see fitting
retribution melted out to her, but that
in the order of Providence the little
island empire of Japan had, both on
land and sea, by fighting after the high
est standards Of science and humanlta-
rian principles, administered the terri
BILE chastisement that Russia deserved.
He then touched on two points OF in
terest in own fair land: Mount Yer
non, beautiful for shade beside the
rolling waters of the Potomac, stately
in its simplicity, with its spacious
mansion preserved as in the early
DAYS, the Republics infancy. but
silent because the voice of the father
of his country is heard in it no more
forever; with its modest tomb among
the trees set by the great soldiers,
emperors and kings of the world, silent,
too, but forever speaking, 81 am the
resurrection and the life;' and few
miles separated from it at Charlottes-
vile, Va, Monticello, Qittle mountain)
commanding fine view OF the Blue
Ridge and of the Rivanna river, the
beautiful residence and the sunllt
tomb of the great Democrat, Thomas
Jefferson. The speaker urged all who
have the opportunity to visit historic
places to give first consideration TO
these shrines of American patriotism:
He closed with renewed expressions OF
lis love of the Dale.
Charles F. Conner, Grand Duke OF
South Ridge was down for a story. He
told it in his unique graphic way. The
story will bear repeating, but 1t is not
repeated here, lest it gain too VIDE
publicity and the Grand Duke some
day, wanting to use it, be tainted with
giving chat old chestnut again" K. l..
Knowles was down for musical part,
but was absent. There was a call for
the President to substitute. He read a
little waif in verse on Genial Neigh
bors." Interspersed among the parts
on the programme and while the COLA
ton was being served, the Banneret's
talking machine and music box was
serving the company most happily and
spiritedly with rare sentimentalities.
The closing part was the Presidents
18th Canto on the knights of BogueS-
dale. The prologue was depletion of
primitive days in the Georges Valley,
where the aborigines met and learned
their likes and hates of the pale faces,
the French and English explorers,
trappers and settlers. The central point
in the picture is the clearing and cabin
on South Ridges slope made by the
first settlers. The time is the tran
sition from winter to spring.
Upon the mount in distant blue
The Serried snow glared at the sun
Before whose might all conQuering
Ice cohorts, charged, must break and run.
There fitful bursts OF rafting hail
Fell on his FURNISHED shafts of gold,
To fall in moulten silver showers,
And sink in glades of sodden mould.
Out of the azure of the skies
Was heard the waterfowls far note,
Glad harbinger from zone to zone,
Though plaintive voiced from wild birds
throat.
For who that wakes from winters night
| From dreams that spring will be no more
| To harken to a minor strain
| That taunts the wind on mount and shore,
| And pioneers the feathered thrcng
That claim the summers leafy sprays,
Can fail of joy, or listless count
The moments lengthenlng into days?
SO Prescott on South Ridges slope
Joyed in the swelling buds of spring,
And waited with a rapt intent
For the Song-sparrow's time to sing.
Though yet the morn oped eyes of gray
On the hoar-frosted alder buds,
The sun and rain conspired to drcwn
The winter in St. Georges floods"
The main poem was styled "The
Sacrilege," the principal character
being the hermit Bogue,
''Who had his cabin on the ridge
Nigh unto True's mill-privlege."
He appears in the role of an Arcadian
exile, who, like so many others, was
separated from kindred, wife and child
in the deportation, and from youth to
white and decrepit old age had vainly
searched for them, and was spending
his last days as recluse Of the wilder
ness.
"His vesture was of wild beast skins,
OF mink lid otter, fox and bear,
A marble pallor on his brow
Companioned well his silver hair.
His small, black eyes, retreating far
Under the laShes snowy white,
Reflected woe of many years,
And not the sorrow of night.
His aged, withered frame bent low
\ staff of hickory upon,
Told of life's winter of neglect
And whirlwind of oblivion"
In his sad plight he was the recipient
of kind hospitality at the hands of the
pioneers on South and East Ridge,
stephen and Edmund Prescott and
Ezkiel True and Paul Dyer. His sad
life tale was told to "the pioneers in
homespun WOOL at the Prescott log
cabin fireside. Then
"Quivered the old mans feeble frame,
AS silence thralled his tongue and Tyre,
Sad faces faded from the sight,
AS to dull embers sank the fire,
The late good night was then exchanged,
The hermit tottered from the room,
And Prescott's eye peered through the
night,
Until Bogue's form was lost in gloom"
The closing feature of the canto, the
old-time prank feature, that most in
terests the Dale Club, was styled
"Ghost Haunts." The outlay was this:
The young Knights of the Dale sat