EXCELSIOR "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! This was the peasant's last Good-night, At break of day, as heavenward A traveller, by the faithful hound, There in the twilight cold and gray, Excelsior! 89 SUGGESTIVE EXERCISES 1. What is shown of the youth in that he has already gained the Alpine heights? 2. How are his determination and singleness of purpose shown? 3. Just what is the youth attempting? 4. Will he be satisfied when he reaches the mountain-top? 5. What influences were strong against the carrying out of his purpose? 6. What was the effect of each of these influences? 7. What influence seemed strongest to deter him? 8. Why should he refuse to take advice? Explain fully. 9. In what sense did he fail in his attempt? In what sense did he succeed? 10. What is the effect of the repetition of "Excelsior" at the close of each stanza? 11. What final recognition was gained by this heroic struggle? 12. Compare the truth of this poem with that in the dying words of Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac: "What are you saying? That it is no use?—I know it! But one does not fight because there is hope of winning! No No! It is much finer to fight when it is no use!" REFERENCES MRS. STOWE: St. Bernard Hospes. WORDSWORTH: Michael. HOLLAND: Gradatim. ARNOLD: Self-Dependence. LONGFELLOw: The Skeleton in Armor. SILL: Opportunity. CHARLES MACKAY: Tell Me, Ye Winged Winds. LANIER: Barnacles. TENNYSON: Sir Galahad. WHITTIER: The Brother of Mercy. TH THE FLAG GOES BY HENRY HOLCOMB BENNETT HE first truly American flag had its origin in the following resolution adopted by the American Congress, June 14, 1777: "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." The first flag of this general design was displayed at the siege of Fort Stanwix. It is said to have been made from strips of a red flannel petticoat, and pieces of a white skirt, and a blue jacket. The first official flag under this resolution was made by Mrs. Elizabeth Ross of Philadelphia — familiarly known as "Betsy Ross" - at the request of a Committee of Congress accompanied by General Washington. This flag consisted of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with thirteen white stars arranged in a circle in a blue field. From time to time, as new states are admitted, new stars have been added to the union the official design of the flag changing each Fourth of July after the admission of new states. As to the meaning of our flag, Henry Ward Beecher says: "The American flag means, then, all that the fathers meant in the Revolutionary War; it means all that the Declaration of Independence meant; it means all that the Constitution of a people, organizing for justice, for liberty, and for happiness, meant. The American flag carries American ideas, American history, American feelings. Beginning with the colonies and coming down to our time, in its sacred heraldry, in its glorious insignia, it has gathered and stored chiefly this supreme idea: Divine Right of Liberty in Man. Every color means liberty, every thread means liberty, every form of star and beam of light means liberty-liberty through law, and law for liberty. Accept it, then, in all its fullness of meaning. It is not a painted rag! It is a whole national history! It is the Constitution. It is the Government! It is the emblem of the sovereignty of the people!" What wonder, then, that, with the poet, we instinctively throw up our hats, shout wild "huzzas" as the glorious old ensign of our republic passes by! "Purity speaks from your folds of white, Truth from your sky of blue, Courage shines forth in the crimson stripes, THE FLAG GOES BY Hats off! Along the street there comes The flag is passing by! Blue and crimson and white it shines Hats off! THE FLAG GOES BY The colors before us fly; But more than the flag is passing by. Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, Days of plenty and years of peace; Sign of a nation, great and strong Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums; The flag is passing by! 93 SUGGESTIVE EXERCISES 1. Give a brief sketch of the history of our flag. 2. What feeling prompts the first "Hats off"? 3. What "more than the flag" is passing by? 4. Just what, in detail, does our flag stand for, or symbolize? 5. Give historic incidents to explain each of the references in stanzas three and four. 6. Why, then, is our flag regarded with such veneration? 7. Why do soldiers in battle fight till death to save a mere cloth called the flag? 8. Why repeat the first stanza in closing? 9. What effect has the appearance of our flag on all loyal hearts? |