The Ocala banner., 1912-05-31
WILEY BUURFoRD's GRApUA.
TIoN GRAFTON

a Splendid Essay on "The Saxons'
Delivered at the oeaIa High School
Commencement Exercises at the
Temple Theater In This sity
Long ages ago. before the dawn OF
history. a people. large, fair-haired
and blue-eyed, roamed through the
fastness of the German forests, and
with a stone-tipped club, terrified the
beasts of the wood in their search
for food. Each man lived alone with
his family and constantly warred
with his neighbor on any slight pre-.
text OF injury towards himself of his
home
lie acknowledged no superior, 9TH
eF than the gods he worshipped, and
these were merely personifications OF
nature and Of his own character. Thus
early arose in the breast of the stur-
dy German that desire and love of
freedom. that hatred of oppression.
This feeling was in the heart of ev-
cry true Saxon. He disdained to be
connected with his neighbor in the
tribal state, no law could bind him,
no chief could direct his affairs, his
life was the life of perfect independ-
ence.
II may have been his search for
food that made him a wanderer, it
may have been that the same sur
roundings constantly presenting
themselves to his mind, were in oppo-
sitI0n 20 his ideas of boundless free
dom, freedom to do what he pleased,
40 10 unrestricted wherever a long
ing for new things might lead. His
ultimate desire was to live life un-
hampered by nature, man or beast.
In the course of time, probably to
avoid destruction by foreign races,
the now more developed minds of our
hardy ancestors began to perceive
that In unity there is strength, hence
the formation of the tribe. A nation
II made great not through external
display and appearance, but through
the predominating character of it's
people individually. So 1t was with
ahe tribes OF the Saxons, their claim
60 renown rested upon each liberty
loving worshlpper of Thor.
In place of the man resisting his
neighbor, now the tribe resisted in
vasion by outside foes. The individ-
nal saxon's love of liberty, his indom-
table courage. and his resistless per-
severence now rendered great aid.
For a century or more the country
between the Rhine and the Danube
was drenched with blood of million
heroes. To the sturdy Germanic
mind. submission was impossible;
like a slow, but ever advancing tide,
he drove his enemies from him and
once more held full sway over his
own sacred fatherland.
Through years and years the Sax
on had battled with external and in
fernal foes. and had emerged victo-
Tious. AS a result of repeated sue
cess and increased power obtained
through ever multiplying numbers,
the Saxon became confident, and, in
time. aggressive. Linked with this
aggressiveness were the distinctive
features obtained by his stubborn re-
sistence I'm former periods. :. Instead
Of passive Saxon jealousy, guarding
his freedom with limitless determina-
tion and with courage bordering on
recklessness, we have the active ag-
gressive Saxon with these same quail
titles. What a preparation this war
like race had to distinguish itself!
What possibilities might lay open to
such a people! They possesses every
fundamental prerequisite for power
numbers, bodily strength, unconquer-
able courage. love of liberty, relent-
less perseverance, and an overwhelm-
ing aggressiveness.
With all this. the Saxon tribes ex-
panded and became crowded in their
own territory. What then should be
expected from such a people? Exact
ly what happened-that old wander
ing spirit. inherited from their prehis-
toric ancestors. gradually seized each
fierce, blue-eyed warrior. affecting
whole tribes. Then it was, as Roose-
Welt says, that For century after GEN.
tury they swarmed out of the dark
woodland east of the Rhine and north
Of the Danube: and as their force
spent itself their movement was TAX
en- up by their brethren who dwelt
along the coasts of the Baltic and
north Atlantic. From the volga to
the Pillars of Hercules, from Sicily
90 Britain. every land in turn bow
ed 60 the warlike prowess of the stall