Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/230

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206

��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��"A SONG OF DEGREES."

��[For the Centennial Celebration of Dartmouth College, July. 1869. By George Kent, graduate of the class of 1814.

A hundred years! what hopes and fears

Are crowded in its pages — What seems to thrill, of good or ill,

hi glancing down the ages! So sang ! once \vh"n Bedford's sons

Were gathered for re-union— And so sing we, in joyous glee,

As Dartmouth claims communion.

An •• Indian School," 'gainst rhyme or rule.

Has grown beyond our knowledge, And now presents, to sight and sense.

A well-established college. Born :!i stormy seas.

To such commodious harbor, Her frame displays, by length of days.

The real vita arbor.

Of knowledge good to those who've

- i

The test of manly training, With pure desires, no after tires,

Of guilty passion staining. An evil i ree to those who see

The good, and follow scorning — Whose later life, in worldly strife.

Belies their early morning.

As need might call, each stately hall

Has risen to the vision. And Dartmouth Plain, a hope once vain,

Become almost Elysian. These classic shade-, by tasteful aids.

Exhibit sylvan graces — And nature's wilds, in beauty's smiles.

No more are desert place-.

With modern skill, and funds at will.

And every new appliance, A union meet seems now complete.

Of blended Art and Science. With Teachers true to ends in view.

Of progress and advancement. Each rolling year will see most clear

Of happiness enchantment.

Of ancient fame, the Wheelock name

Is linked with classic rule;— By noble aid thus early made

A college from a school. With I Ini-tian trust. Wheelock. the first.

In rude and ravage region, Foundation laid, for Learning's aid.

To sons now numbered legion.

As years sped on the Prexy John O 'er Dartmouth boys bore sway —

Long favored he. in courtesy Unrivaled for his dav.

��Thirty and six. if years we fix.

1 >enotes bis term of rule — His teaching found scarce as profound

As lore of modern school.

Of proud renown, the brilliant BROWN

tied but for little spa In lore well skilled, the * hair he Idled

With dignity and grace. For a brief year a name still dear

To memory, graced the hoard. And Dana came, of modest fame.

With fair requirements stored:

Of good repute, deemed lit to suit

The I iollege in its need. TYLER came next, well versed in t< xi

Of Scripture, faith, and creed; Faithful for years, as well appears.

To principle and rk A classfc fame he scarce could claim.

In learned critic's sight.

Of good record, the veteran LORD Served faithfully his day —

Of judgment sound, if nol profound, [n every modern way.

Linked to the past, his faith held fast To ancient creeds long tried —

And deemed unjust to duty's trust- Reform's advancing tide.

The nunc of Smith, to us no myth.

Stands forth in proud revealing — Though Holmes has said, as we have read,

T was given for concealing. But no such dread our < 'ollege head

Need have of fate's mischances — Whal e'er the name, 't is all the same

While Dartmouth high advance.-.

  • But time would fail to tell the tale

Of Dartmouth's fame and greatness, With duties charged, when once enlarged

From College bounds of straitness. Webster and Choate. if put to vote.

The palm would bear away. — While Marsh and Chase* survive to grace.

The College in our day.

A further store of learned lore,

Grave men and brothers jolly. We might recount to large amount.

But more to add were folly. At home, abroad, we "re on record

In states throughout the Union — If proved by works, no quips or (parks

Will bar us full communion.

A century's round, this year has crowned With blessings rich and rare —

An earnest true of good in view, Vouchsafed to future care.

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