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Show ODE TO THE YEAR 1917 By 1 AMES A. LEISHJtAN The yearly calendar has reached Its close, i ' And '17 haa made Its record clear, And chronicled events, much vaster Than the bygone yeara, an dtlnged with pain, The threnody of which exceeds the past, Aad left Its impress on a Buffering world. Yet Divine Providence is always kiad, Aad .would that all mankind anight dwell la peace Eajoyfag much the bounties of His love. The varied scenes' through which all mortala paas With as control of oura, they must be"due To greater powers than ours, whether' good or bad, The sequel often points their moving cause, If good results, then know ye whence they come. In arcademlc parlance it Is said, "Coming eventa casts their ahadowa before." In mercy to a watching world, that lest Their happenings, might disarm our reason. And appal us to helpless amazement. ' Eventa have telescoped events anon, And their ahadowa herafded their coming, Involving the logic of effect and cause The happenings of the, ages makes the roll i And substance of the annate of the world. , And through it all a gleam of light is seen ( Illumining 'the pathway which we tread, for Man was not made to wander here in doubt ; And Ignorance, it so he toust answer . For his lack of wisdom and Intelligence. The sacred page reveals the first of things r How Adam 1 i gardea chartered there 1 Began the reign of law auspiciously, la Eden, Idumea'a capital; ( How Cod the' Father aet the pace for him, And all hla race until 'the end of time, And through the vleta of ihe ages sine r Haa raised hla servants, Who Hke beacon lights Cpoa the distant shore, cneers and guides, the Weary marine to hla' ies'tlnedhave'n Who served aa guide posts to the erring crowd For which were ef ton 'buffeted 'and spoiled As' recompense from "dullards guilty' hands, Each dispensation was the'harbuger Of one that followed with unerring poise, ,j King craft haa held the stage defiantly V,' And cursed the world elnoe the daya of old. Old Israel clamored for a king to reign Despite the protest, of the man of God, Who warned them of the evlla they Invited Which came upon them to the bitter end. Each of the prophets of the olden times Spoke of the eventa of these latter daya That are here and now with appalling death And devastation among the nations strewed. ,c The ton toe kingdoms filled their role space, And Prussian kingcraft seems to be, the Dregs of all the savagery, they possessed, Attested by Ihe wrongs they perpetrate. Thy record, nineteen 'seventeen, is written In blood and tars, but thou art notwholly bad. A bright spot appears upon ..your chronicle America seeks no conquest nor, spoils of war, Only untrammeled freedom to pursue , Her "Journey" 'undivided and unspent." ' . Bearing aloft the divine truism f "Governments derive their just powers from the 1 Consent of those 'that are governed with equal Justice to all without fear or favor. We bide thee old year '17 good-bye, r'.v You're done your best and worst unbuahlngly, And rendered your accounts and must await The Judgment of the Judge who alts on high. , .f- 1, Dees-ber 31,'im. .jr. tfTJr J M;ujMjBBBBJBMBBilB |