The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-11-24
V. Gone West :
From Cincinnati Enquirer


wv AS it dread of that harsh word DEATH or the
~ ineradicable of humor that supernal
consciousness of beauty in the soul OF youth
birth that exquisite metaphor of the trench
es, Gone West?"
Death as the setting of sun, moon, star! Moth
finer. nothing lovelier, nothing ever
consong for they to rise again And do the
souls believe with all my soul; know
claimed Tosto at So that dying shall be happy shall
enter world real" And Victor Hugo once broke
forth in sort of RAPTURE 81 the tadpole of arch
angel" Perhaps it the consciousness of in
desructibe something within these perishable bodies of
which made these glorious youths of the Flanders
front create at least give such wide currency to
phrase that can never die
Measure, if you can, the spiritual value of that
phrase this grasty of destruction and of death To
how many soldier dying alone in mo Mans Land" it
given hope what multitudes of those who
the loss of and brothers, husbands and lovers
it must have breathed heavenly consolation "He is
not dead but seepeth" He is not Dead his star has set
to again. HE has gone West!"
that imperishable hope which animates the heart
OF all Christendo based upon reality land there
be great hope without some actual foundation
than there be shadow without substance, q
quality without substratum of being) would be
orabe vision the ethereal spirits Of those
gadators escaping their dead bodies rising into the
air and Going Vest"
We have in golden autumns, while the breezes
shook the and agtaed the in the mead
myraids of feathery buoyan gossamerke seeds
leased from their mprsoning sheaths and sailing away
the wings of the wind to impregnate distant and
sterile fields with their superabundant life.
God has determined for some wise reason Of His own
to conceal from eyes phenomenon infinitely more
imposing the flight of those beautiful souls which He
transplant the gardens of Paradise being invisible
is evidence Of being unreal Always and everywhere
1t is the unseen the inaudble and the intangible which
the actual and which alone survives
He is not dead but sleepeth!" The seed dies into
life and does The caterpillar wthdraws
chrysals emerge butterfly. set to rise
again. 1t is this sublime faith, cleaning of hope OIL
nexnguishable desire in the hearts of these youthful
warriors which has translated grim death into
that brilliant and triumphant phrase, Gone West"
given inspiration and courage him who thai
greatest poem of the war; 81 Have Rendezvous With
Death"
have rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barrcade.
When spring comes back with nesting shade
And apple blossoms fill the air
have rendezvous with Death
When spring brings back blue days and fair
1T may be he shall take my hand
AND lead me into his dark land.
And close my eyes and quench my breath
1t may be shall pass him still
have rendezvous with Death
On SCARED slope of battered hill
When spring comes round again this year
And the first meadow flowers appear.
God knows 'twere better to be deep
Pillowed in silk and down,
Where love throbs out in blssful sleep
Pulse right to pulse and breath breath,
! Where hushed awakenings are dear
| But I've rendezvous with Death
At midnight, in flaming town.
When spring trips north again this year.
And to my pledged word am true
shall not fail my rendezvous.