Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year Part 49

We are not a rash people; we are not filled with the spirit of militarism. We are not anxious to get into trouble, but if anybody thinks that the spirit of service and sacrifice is lost and that we have not the old sentiment of self-respect, he doesn't understand the United States. 10

We want patriotism, and I don't think that we are going to lose it very soon, although I do devoutly hope that out of the perils and difficulties of this time may come a new birth of the sentiment of unity. I do hope that in the midst of all these troublesome conditions we will have a 15 better realization of our national strength and the import of our democratic inst.i.tutions.

The boy is going to thrill at the sight of the flag to-day just as he did fifty years or one hundred years ago. We are all going to thrill when we hear the words of our 20 national hymn and we think of the long years of struggle and determination that have brought us to this hour. But we want something more than thrills in our patriotism: we want thought; we want intelligence.

Not vast extent of territory, not great population, not 25 simply extraordinary statistics of national wealth, although they speak in eloquent words of energy and managing ability; but what we need more than anything else is an intelligent comprehension of the ideals of democracy.

Those ideals are that every man shall have a fair and equal 30 chance according to his talents. It is not an ideal of democracy that one alone shall emerge because of conspicuous ability, but that there shall be a great advance of the plain people of the country, upon whom the prosperity of the country depends.

It is all very well to talk about the Declaration of Independence and the strong sentiments it contains, but that 5 was backed by men who couldn't have committed it to memory, men who couldn't have repeated it, but men in whose lives was the incarnation of independence and whose spirit was breathed into that immortal doc.u.ment.

It is because we had men who were willing to suffer, to 10 die, to venture, to sacrifice, that we have a country, and it is only by that spirit that we will ever be able to keep a country. I love to think of those hardy men coming here with the same spirit that led the pioneers to the West and Farther West, the same spirit which in every part of our 15 land has accounted for our development.

Quiet men, not noisy men; sensible men, not foolish men; straight men, honest men, dependable men, real men--that is what we mean by Americanism.

--_From a Speech Delivered at Easthampton, L. I., July 4, 1916._

1. What evidences do you find in the speech that it was delivered in war times? When did we enter the World War? On what occasion was the speech made?

2. Explain what Mr. Hughes describes as his "dream of America."

3. Discuss: "But we want something more than thrills in our patriotism," lines 22-24, page 357.

4. What ideals of democracy are described?

5. Define Americanism in your own words.

6. Explain what you think an ideal citizen of your community should be and do; of your school.

WHAT CONSt.i.tUTES A STATE?

BY WILLIAM JONES

What const.i.tutes a State?

Not high-raised battlement or labored mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned; Not bays and broad-armed ports, 5 Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; Not starred and spangled courts, Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride.

No:--men, high-minded men, With powers as far above dull brutes endued 10 In forest, brake, or den, As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude; Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain, Prevent the long-aimed blow, 15 And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain:-- These const.i.tute a State.

1. What is meant by the word "State" as it is here used? In what "State" do you live?

2. How many things are named, which do not const.i.tute a State? Why do these things not make a State?

3. What is it that makes a State? Why?

4. Give in your own words the meaning of lines 13-16.

A PATRIOTIC CREED

BY EDGAR A. GUEST

To serve my country day by day At any humble post I may; To honor and respect her flag, To live the traits of which I brag; To be American in deed 5 As well as in my printed creed.

To stand for truth and honest toil, To till my little patch of soil, And keep in mind the debt I owe To them who died that I might know 10 My country prosperous and free, And pa.s.sed this heritage to me.

I must always in trouble's hour Be guided by the men in power; For G.o.d and country I must live, 15 My best for G.o.d and country give; No act of mine that men may scan Must shame the name American.

To do my best, and play my part, American in mind and heart; 20 To serve the flag and bravely stand To guard the glory of my land; To be American in deed,-- G.o.d grant me strength to keep this creed.

(From _Over Here_, copyrighted by Reilly & Lee Co., Publishers. Reproduced by permission.)

_FROM GREAT BOOKS_

_Only a few great books can be represented in this small section of your Reader. The extracts are offered in the firm belief that you will wish to read further in the volumes from which they were taken. Good books are like good friends; the better you know them the better you like them; and they stand ready always to give you genuine pleasure._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LISTS AT ASHBY

(_See following page_)]

THE LISTS AT ASHBY

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT

The following is the larger part of chapter eight of Scott's _Ivanhoe_. The hero of the novel is a Saxon knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, son of Cedric.

Ivanhoe is in love with his father's ward, Rowena, but Cedric wishes her to marry a thick-headed Saxon thane, or lord, called Athelstane. According to Scott, the period was one of unrest. England had come into the possession of the Normans, and the native Saxons hated their new masters. Richard was king. But since he had gone to the Holy Land as a leader in one of the crusades, his brother, Prince John, ruled in his stead. Both were foreigners, but the common people liked Richard and hated John, who was not only a tyrant, but was also planning to seize his brother's throne. He had had Richard imprisoned in Austria, and had surrounded himself with ambitious and dissatisfied Norman knights. The tournament at Ashby was really a trial at arms between the Prince's followers and those of Richard, of whom Ivanhoe was one.

The lists now presented a most splendid spectacle.

The sloping galleries were crowded with all that was n.o.ble, great, wealthy, and beautiful in the northern and midland parts of England; and the contrast of the various dresses of these dignified spectators rendered the view as 5 gay as it was rich, while the interior and lower s.p.a.ce, filled with the substantial burgesses and yeomen of merry England, formed, in their more plain attire, a dark fringe, or border, around this circle of brilliant embroidery, relieving, and at the same time setting off, its splendor. 10

The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of "Largess, largess, gallant knights!" and gold and silver pieces were showered on them from the galleries, it being a high point of chivalry to exhibit liberality toward those whom the age accounted at once the secretaries and the historians of honor. The bounty of the spectators was acknowledged by the customary shouts of "Love of 5 Ladies--Death of Champions--Honor to the Generous--Glory to the Brave!" To which the more humble spectators added their acclamations, and a numerous band of trumpeters the flourish of their martial instruments.

When these sounds had ceased, the heralds withdrew from 10 the lists in gay and glittering procession, and none remained within them save the marshals of the field, who, armed cap-a-pie, sat on horseback, motionless as statues, at the opposite ends of the lists.

Meantime, the inclosed s.p.a.ce at the northern extremity 15 of the lists, large as it was, was now completely crowded with knights desirous to prove their skill against the challengers, and when viewed from the galleries presented the appearance of a sea of waving plumage intermixed with glistening helmets and tall lances, to the extremities of 20 which were, in many cases, attached small pennons of about a span's breadth, which, fluttering in the air as the breeze caught them, joined with the restless motion of the feathers to add liveliness to the scene.

At length the barriers were opened, and five knights 25 chosen by lot advanced slowly into the area; a single champion riding in front and the other four following in pairs.