Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-11-18
S0MR GREAT MASTERS
on ENGLISH SPEECH
OUR NATIONAL HERTTAGR

Given by Miss Olive Bisseger dur
Ing Good English Week.
English--thO language OF Old
Glory and OF the Constitution OF the
United States, the two most stainless
and priceless possessions Of our ma
tive land. We as American citizens
never tire OF boasting OF the legal
heritage bequeathed to US by our Pill
grim Fathers. wo would sacrifice.
fight. or even die. that our inherited
and acquired rights and privileges
might be maintained. Then how
much more should we reverence the
Language which sets forth the laws
and ideals so vital 20 the life OF a
liberty-lovlng people.
Language--the thing which affords
man the only means of voicing his
faith and love in God. his confidence
and trust in mankind. Then to us.
the duty OF keeping our language
spotless and free from the debRsed
elements which are likely 20 enter In
TO II, should be a sacred one.
The people OF today do not ap-
preciate the value OF our language
In Is highly perfected stage. but
when we realize that Il required
three hundred years for the fusion OF
tho French. Roman and Latin
tongues, before permanent English
Language was established. we prize
Inlore fully the sacrifice made by our
encestors In creating national Ian
lguage.
| Each literary master since the
time OF Chancer has contributed to
he wealth OF our language. until the
English speaking people OF the
twentieth century have inherited an
immense estate in the field Of litera-
4ture. such nm no other nation can
boast on possessing. And now are
we geing 70 throw away In few cen
turtles the things which have taken
years to make and perfeet7
Our national heritage consists of
selections from the masters OF Eng
llsh and American literature, which
are our inherItances from all pre-
ceeding generations of our English
speaking ancestors.
Our blind poet Milton, In his Lyu-
das L'Allegro and L'Penerso. sound
ed key In poetry which has since
served az an inspiration for the soul
Of civilization and humanity. Shake
speara tho Master of English verse.
has by re-echoing the sentiments OF
mankind, taught uH to understand
ourselves, 10 honor and to love our
fellow men. His works serve As nm
incentive for a more thorough study
Of tho laws OF nature and humanity,
The works OF our greatest American
poet Edgar Allen Poe. are saturated
with ornamental musical notes
which adds 10 the exquisite atmOs-
phere OF our language and literature
Longfeliow, our most beloved poet
has added TO the charm and grace
Of homo and frienda. His delicate
refined strains have served 20 en-
richen and strengthen our native
tongue. Like all other truly great
men Of history. Abraham Lincoln wal
= devout student of good literature
I'VE not only revere hIs name as tbs
man who safely guided the Ship oI
State through the greatest crisis In
american national life. but also foi
he priceless contributions which h'
made to the literary world. His fa
! nous Gettysburg address Is aA fami
g5iiaf TO most Americans. as are hi
heroic deeds. How proud we ar
, OF these master productions whiel
represent TO tho world the power ans
substantial strength Of our Language
: in It's pure and undefiled state. But
as our language has not reached tn
greatest possible stage Of perfection
Il ls our duty to zee that the flowe
and fragrance of our native tOngu
are not blighted before It has reach
ed fun maturity.
Through caTelessneas.we are grad
uaIIy slipping the life blood from on
mother tongue. and leaving only Oh
root and barren framework and mn
less carefully guarded. II viii 4
time be robbed Of its grandeur an
Ibeauty.
II We as American citizens owe Il {
ourselves. 70 our nation and 20 ii
future generations. TO keep our nj
tive tongue as pure and spOtleas an
the name OF the American flag.
shall therefore wish 70 keep my lai
guaga FREQ from the impurltis
which mar It's beauty and 20 stFengtl
en- It with the resources which r
veal It's power. wish 20 do d
With . faith that win enable me
become q better citizen Of the new