The Washington herald., 1914-09-22
Farewell.
D. EMORY ). HAYNES. !.

~ EMORY J. HAYNES.
There is no other thought that so deeply stirs the
mind of man. In every tongue, whatever the word,
the idea of farewell has its expression. Brief sylla
bes in all languages, but such world of meaning
in every one. group of friends fade away from
you. You are left standing alone. It always has
that seeming You yourself remain but the friends
retreat, grow shadowy dim, clouded now in the
great mist, are lost to view. FAREWELL Then the
sitting sensation, as if sky full of air was not
enough to furnish one breath.
The soldier may be packed on a troopship's deck.
a thousand men pressing him But when he waves
farewell he the utmost solitary. The vessel is
not moving, but the throngs on the docks are moving
even though not face is turned not a beckoning
hand has dropped nor a foot been lifted. Yet the
crowd rereating being carried backward strangely
backward and away from our soldier 1t is if the
earth itself rose up and lifted its breast the multi
tude.
They are yesterday. They are the happy past.
They are the living world that was but will be now
no more forever The music answers to the music.
Cheers reply to cheers But all sounds grow feeble
and far away "Goodby Good-byl God keep you
till meet again"
Meet again, did we say? How dare we be so
bold? Surely we shall not all meet again. The flags
laugh and play never so brightly they ripple their
sunlt colors Till the ship started the flags all
dropped in the summer air But that the land
retreats the colors rejoice and break hearts with
the glee of gala day.
1t is from the farewell that women and children
retreat to unutterable Feet walk, but it is
as if the feet were benumbed by death. Which way
shall we look and not be reminded of him? What
falsehood to say we will be brave when are not
brave but only stunned. 1t is submission abject sub
mission The last remember free moment
was when we answered him farewell Oh, may he
fare well
To say the last word addressed to any audience of
friends is no small tax upon the sensibites. 1t is
the end, and the beginning rises into view. Happy
hours obliterate the memory of any unhappy hours.
In the backward look all is pleasing Why should
we away? What perversity of fate that the in
terchange of thoughts which helped us must end.
There is nothing pleasant in being forgotten 1t may
be impossible to explain why.
We wonder if the lake or mountain whose happy
summer hours have passed will forget We shall
not forget them. Have they heart to return our
remembrance Good-by, nook under the arbor where
we dreamed Many days will come and 60, the river
flashing below, the evening ascending the moon
light softly taking the place of day. Good-by the
inspirations, the musings, the nameless mental de-
lights Do not, great nature, forget us. Mayhap we
can come again next year, after the war is over.
"Goodby good-by!" So thrilling was the song
we sung at the old college gates that it did seem
as if our very souls went upon our breath. The
midnight stars looking down. The somber
stones of ancient buildings took note of Here
and there faces appeared at the windows. 1t in
us, if we could to awaken the whole sleeping town.
There were words of stanza between which we
alone understood
But the chorus was "Goodby' 1t in shout
ing that that we were inspired 1t was our ecstasy
of emotion. We were ready to go and begin the
mans days work But did not want to go. Fare
we'll school days, forever
Partngs that tugged on the heart strings. How
lovely the past which saluting The moment
was the apothesis OF the poetic, and never religion
nor woman could move a youth more profoundly.
We flung hands in air, stepping apart to give
each man the space 10 gesture in every muscle,
repeated over and over, with infinite pathos, Good
by"
Partings in good will, forgiving and being for
given with affections heightened with hopes for
morrow. These are among the finest moments OF life.
They are victory moments, for the years could not
make us anything else than friends They are like
storehouses that no thief can enter The past is
least secure Let recount. How many years is it?
And we only regret that they are