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Show I TO THE LOST TITANIC Oh. mighty ship! Oh. mightiest vessel of them al" Own daughter of ihine ancient Grecian niro, wert tboul He wan the king of all on land, on sea. Thou wert the queen of oceans dark and deep! Thou wert the modem Titan great anil staunch, A gilded, floating palace thou! Fashioned, wert thou, by man s most cunning hand! No wbt unclaimed, to so construct, thy form That gave perfection most complete and trne. Man s mind eo unconstrained did all the problems solve, Invention's seeming utmost height was thus attained, When thon so smoothly glided from t.bv ways! Titanic! great thy name, t.hv strength far greater waa! Crcat thy lines, thy form was unsurpassed! (treat thy power-- ere man's elusive grasp List go bis mind to seek ambition's treacherous crown! The rugged beauty of thy sides so flawless wa. It seemed that, naught thy power could e'er withstand! Tho-u wert so finely fashioned in thy ribs of steel, Thy lines so bravely carried all thy burthen great, Tt. seemed that man's most noted work at last had come Naught else was needed, sai e thy human freight ; And precious souls in hundreds went on board. To praise thee, crown thee. Ocean's fteauteoua Quern! "Her maiden vorngo! " Thus the mcssngo rac. T!in new? was flashed the globe's great circle round! Between earth's greatest nations, thus thy course was set, And prondh- put to sea, thy colors flying," glorious, free. And all on board were glad, were proud that they could say, They eamo with thee on maiden voyage 'cross the sea! Enclosed within thy faultless form, thy great steel hearts, In rhythmic beat drove ever onward, forward, true Tn glad acclaim of power yet unltnown. Responsive to thy Master's touch and stern command. Fjach hour, each day didst thou thy duty do, To bring thy precious cargo, swift, to harbor safe-Man safe-Man 's gree.j for prestige, honor, power great, Drove tin gigantic bulk with careless thought, And sent then forward towards thy journey's end, On course unwise, at speed so unrestrained. That now the world-wide thought, opinion, 18, That human Incs and nation's wealth were sacrificed! Cgll once acain tbe roll of those within thy care' Dost understand, appreciate, thy cargo rare? Oh, nations proud! Who thup their quota gave, Of wealth of mind, of wealth of commerce and renown, To sail away towards other shoreg, to trust their lives, To trust, their all can J e full compensation make? '.'are free, with jaunty air, thy guests came on their way Protection sure, immense, abounded everywhere At least, so thought they all, that naught availeth much "d'ainsf thee, great. Ocean's Queen and Conqueror! "Till that dark hour, in deepest night it came, The bell of doom clanged out its fateful cry! Ob. darkness drear! Oh, freezing, ice-bound sea? Thou hast thy queen in thy embrace so cold' I anat thou not loose thv grip and let her pas:i In safety towards her harbor nearly made. New-born, unconquered Titan she, doth favor ask, Grant this request, oh, sea, thou surely necdst her not! In solemn stillness master minds occasion took To quell th fear, to ease tho pain, the sorrow dire Of loved ones parting.- -hnsb.-iud, wife and little child! And when the captain brnve, and master of them all, sang out to save the women, little children, first.- - For nation's safety thought he, as in time of old! Oh, ship of anguish! Huge sarcophagus art thou! Thv 1'vdng, smiling cargo scattered is! A few to treasured safety, broken-hearted came. Benumbed by cold, by horrors greatly shocked, Tenacioualy they clung to life, their all. And sought surcease of sorrow with their friends; To waterv graves in ocean s bosom deep, ( onsigncrl me more in fullness of their power' Twas human nature they should crave to etay To carry out their plans,' to profit make, to live! Oonldat thou, Titanic great, nave had thy way, No sorrow now would be thy nation's meed! Mas. for this commercial age! Eegret has come Too late has entered many minds in these fair lands, And lone 'twill stay with all who deeply mourn, As monument nnvrrentbed. except in human hearts, While foolish prestige seeks her crown of dross, And men and women go again to sacrifice! OTJARLES fx. PLUMMEB |