A Williams Anthology A Collection of the Verse and Prose of Williams College, 1798-1910

Excerpt

THE MOUNTAINS

WASHINGTON GLADDEN '59

  O, proudly rise the monarchs of our mountain land,
    With their kingly forest robes, to the sky,
  Where Alma Mater dwelleth with her chosen band,
    Where the peaceful river floweth gently by.

      Chorus.
  The mountains! the mountains! we greet them with a song!
  Whose echoes, rebounding their woodland heights along,
  Shall mingle with anthems that winds and fountains sing,
  Till hill and valley gaily, gaily ring.

  The snows of winter crown them with a crystal crown,
    And the silver clouds of summer round them cling;
  The autumn's scarlet mantle flows in richness down;
    And they revel in the garniture of spring. Chorus.

  O, mightily they battle with the storm-king's pow'r;
    And, conquerors, shall triumph here for aye;
  Yet quietly their shadows fall at evening hour,
    While the gentle breezes round them softly play. Chorus.

  Beneath their peaceful shadows may old Williams stand,
    Till suns and mountains never more shall be,
  The glory and the honor of our mountain land,
    And the dwelling of the gallant and the free. Chorus.

Quarterly, 1859.

From the Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, Mass., July 25, 1798

Sir,—Though members of an infant Institution and of little comparative weight in the scale of the Union, we feel for the interest of our country. It becomes every patriotic youth in whose breast there yet remains a single principle of honour, to come forward calmly, boldly, and rationally to defend his country. When we behold, Sir, a great and powerful nation exerting all its energy to undermine the vast fabrics of Religion and Government, when we behold them inculcating the disbelief of a Deity, of future rewards and punishments; when we behold them discarding every moral principle and dissolving every tie which connects men together in Society, which sweetens life and renders it worthy enjoying; when we behold them brutalizing man that they may govern him,—as friends to Humanity; as sharers in the happiness of our fellow-men, as Citizens of the world, our feelings are deeply affected. We commiserate the fate of our European Brethren; we weep over the awful calamities of anarchy and atheism.

But when we behold this Nation, not contented with its vast European dominions, but endeavouring to extend its Colossean empire across the Atlantic, every passion is roused; our souls are fired with indignation. We see that their object is universal domination; we see that nothing less than the whole world, nothing less than the universal degradation of man, will satisfy these merciless destroyers. But be assured, Sir, we will oppose them with all our youthful energy and risk our lives in defence of our country.

Untaught in the school of adulation, or the courts of sycophants, we speak forth the pure sentiments of Independence. We give you our warmest approbation....