"'TIS SIXTY YEARS SINCE"ADDRESS OF |
"'TIS SIXTY YEARS SINCE"In the single hour self-allotted for my part in thisoccasion there is much ground to cover,--the time isshort, and I have far to go. Did I now, therefore, submitall I had proposed to say when I accepted yourinvitation, there would remain no space for preliminaries.Yet something of that character is in place.I will try to make it brief.[1] As the legend or text of what I have in mind to submit,I have given the words "'Tis Sixty Years Since."As some here doubtless recall, this is the second or subordinatetitle of Walter Scott's first novel, "Waverley,"which brought him fame. Given to the world in 1814,--hardon a century ago,--"Waverley" told of the lastStuart effort to recover the crown of Great Britain,--thatof "The '45." It so chances that Scott's period ofretrospect is also just now most appropriate in my case,inasmuch as I entered Harvard as a student in the year1853--"sixty years since!" It may fairly be assertedthat school life ends, and what may in contradistinctionthereto be termed thinking and acting life begins, theday the young man passes the threshold of the institutionof more advanced education. For him, life'sresponsibilities then begin. Prior to that confused,thenceforth things with him become consecutive,--asequence. Insensibly he puts away childish things. [1] Owing to its length, this "Address" was compressed in delivery,occupying one hour only. It is here printed in the form in which it wasprepared,--the parts omitted in delivery being included. In those days, as I presume now, the college youthharkened to inspired voices. Sir Walter Scott belonged toa previous generation. Having held the close attentionof a delighted world as the most successful story-tellerof his own or any preceding period, he had passed off thestage; but only a short twenty years before. Other voicesno less inspired had followed; and, living, spoke to us.Perhaps my scheme to-day is best expressed by one ofthese. When just beginning to attract the attention of theEnglish-speaking world, Alfred Tennyson gave forthhis poem of "Locksley Hall,"--very familiar to thoseof my younger days. Written years before, at the timeof publication he was thirty-three. In 1886, a man ofseventy-five, he composed a sequel to his earlier effort,--theutterance entitled "Locksley Hall Sixty YearsAfter." He then, you will remember, reviewed hisyoung man's dreams,--dreams of the period when he " ... dip't into the future, far as human eye could see,Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be," --threescore years later contrasting in sombre versean old man's stern realities with the bright anticipationsof youth. Such is my purpose to-day. "Wanderingback to living boyhood," to the time when I firstsimultaneously passed the Harvard threshold and thethreshold of responsible life, I propose to compare theideals and actualities of the present with the ideals,anticipations and dreams of a past now somewhat remote. ... BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!Sitemize Üyelik ÜCRETSİZDİR! |