Oberlin College - Hi-O-Hi Yearbook (Oberlin, OH)

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The Legend of la mbard a. Poet of Algiers and His Travels lleing an epic poem in nine hooks 0 and composed according to none of 1, w .N . . the rules which in the unenhghtened 6 ages were supposed to govern that H sort of composition, having a hegin- IZQMJ X-W ning, since, forsooth, it must begin, ' aff' and an ending since hy the limits of this hook and hy a kind Providence it must end, written in various and , sundry irregular meters. Gratefully dedicated to whomso- ever may graciously please to read it. K... BOOK I CANTO I. The poet feels an im- pulse tn conzmunicatc 'wilh kindred souls. wlzirlz iizzfmlsc nmwx him In lrawl. There was a poet of Algiers, Extremely knowing for his years. It chanced upon a fine spring day This poet to his stecd did say. Pegasus, 'tis time we journeyed 'l'o visit dwellings of the learned. XVC know hy heart all Euclid's rules, And doctrines of Platonic schools: 'l'would he so sweet to sympathize XVith others who like us are wise, NVho love the prohlems mathcmatic, And scan exactly meters Attic. So hear me to a classic town The farthest known hy its renown. 25

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T' UUSNIYHIAL BLISS: UR, TIIREIG YEARS Al 'l'l'!R. AL YOUIYCQ, '07, COACH llIil4IRI,IN TRACIK TICADI. 'HIL F 1 ima: ll,flc'l'c', nh wlrvru, are the verdant Fl'l'S1lHIf'l1? Wlierc, oh where. are the olcl Alumni? VVhcrc, oh where, are the clear Alumni? Where, on where, :ire the good Alumni? Lost now in thc world of sin. They are Il prey to the world's temptations. 'l'licy :irc zi prey to the world'S temptations. 'l'lu-y :irc :i prey to the worlcl's temptations. Gone now from Oberlin. . r

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.The froet eonzes sud- denly to ri 'village known The poet is astounded at the various noises emitted by the C01lSL'l Z!!l- tary. The poet is delighted at the Peripatetie and Platonic philosophy prae- tised in this town. u CANTO II. So on he rode on his good steed's back Till, dazed, he landed with a whack. And can it he that this 's the place I've sought so long with patient grace? Ah, 'tis, I feel, 'tis Oberlin Its buildings must my praises win. There's Titus' arch, this much is clear, It's taken wings and settled here. CANTO III. But what's this noise assails my ear? Tis truly more than I can hear. Bagpipes screeching, Preachers preaching, Horns a-blowing, Cattle lowing, Could not, I'm sure, exceed the way They take to music in this day. CANTO IV. His eye roamed o'er the campus wide: Couples strolling there he spied. Ha, he said, I see 'tis plain, This is Aristotle's fane. A Peripatetic doctrines here Are to students the most dear. Walking around they chatter knowledge As that old Greek did in his college. Yes, Platonic doctrines, too, Carry weight with quite a few. CANTO V. Qbeing in an entirely different meterj The poet 'visits the library and is astounded at the niethods of stndv there pursued. This is the place I've been searching, As he walked up the library stairs. But what is this noise that assails me? Can it be that they study in pairs? True in the schools of far China They study, for so it is said, CSurprised to find here such a methedj With the tongue and not with the head 26