The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-04-11


Britain for his health, and was pub
whether or not the Alamo and 9th.
err Verses" have been circulated in
his country. The British public was
informed that the proceeds of the
sale of the book were to be applied
in defraying the expenses of a free
tute at Florence, New Mexico-and
This object mas been carried out.
1t is not our intention to review the
! book or to express any opinions on
it's merits, but to quote the leading
poem and let it speak for itself. The
Texas cattlemen are coming to Ros-
well mex week, and many of them
are made of the same adventurous
and heroic stuff as the men who died
in the Alamo. 1t was Texas men who
first established law and order in
southeastern New Mexico, and the
greater part of our present POPULATION
is proud of its Texas birth or an
cestry.
There are thirty pages of h one
poem. The Alamo" relating incidents
familiar to nearly all Texans, so we
pass over mucn of the descriptive
matter, and quote portions of the po-
EN- in which the author rose above
describing ven to define their
meaning and Effects. The first verse
we quote refers to the battle in which
the Mexicans were driven out of San
Antonio before the slaughter at the
Alamo:
The men that gathered there
Were heroes one and all;
Was aaugnt they would not dare
To do in Freedoms cause;
Adventures we call
Those who but Natures laws
Obey and scorn mans creed;
Yet in the hour of need
Such men as those have saved a
state;
They dare to challenge death and fate
Like that old man who from debate
And council breaking free,
Cried. laying bare his locks of
with DID Ben Milan who will go
Right into San Antonio?
Up, boys and follow me-"
Then follows a description of the
battle and victory il which the Next
can command was driven out, how
the news of defeat stirred up the Mex
lean government to send four thous-
and men to re-capture San Antonio,
etc. Only a handful of Texas sons
were able to reach the city before the
enemy drew nigh-but among them
were Travis, Bowie, Crockett,-and
none less heroic. for all were willing
to give their lives for their country.
What follows may not appear "ortho-
dox" as coming from a minister of
the Prince of Peace. but it is in &C
cord with the highest human concep-
ton of patriotism. justice and charity:
'Such was the answer stern
That gallant Travis ave;
May still as brightly burn
The fire of Liberty
Within us. and h grave
Seem but a mockery
OF words. a thing of naught,
And Freedom cheaply bought
By life laid down in hOnor's cause,
When to defend her soil and laws
Our country bids us to the jaws
OF death and nell advance;
Then, freemen, at your nations call,
Lay on like men, and if We fall,
Your country's banner be your pail,
And count it happy chance
To die a hero's death;
IT'S sanctified of God:
Short is our mortal breath.
But an immortal life
Is theirs who. on the sod
A c~onsecrated strife
Has ~hallowed. for their lam
Fall by tyrant's hand.
us the name of Travis still
Stands for ildomitable will
And purpose undisturbed by chill
Disaster or defeat;
Immovable as some sea wall
On which in vain the pillows fall,
He calmly wrote: 81 lever snail
Surrender or retreat"
What leader ever spoke
A more inspiring word?
The serf's degrading yoke
Can never bow the 1ecks l.
OF those whose souls are stirred ,
To such resolve. nor vex
The men for whom the light
OF Freedom burning bright
Within their hearts a guiding star
Becomes that beckons from afar
And leads them on. of peace and war
The arbiter supreme;
it see the tyrant cover,
Thrones totter, and unnoly power.
0eath-stricken, shrivel like a flower
Beneath that scorching beam.
Alasi those fighters bold
That gathered for the right
Shall eve now behold
Another morrow's birth.
The prevalence of might
L -.-xn>.,n< - 1917