Ohio Day at the Jamestown
Exposition. 187
An honored picture, his who built so
fair,
The soldier-statesman, who, in days of
stress,
Toiled 'midst the brave, high-hearted
pioneers
To make a garden of the wilderness.
From old Virginia he, blessed with her
dower
Of courage high. Could nobler gift be
given?
'Twas on her shore that our fair
freedom's flower
Raised its first, bravely shining bud
toward heaven!
Ah, those who went to brave the Western
wilds,
To fell the forest, rout the savage foe,
Full well they showed how mighty were
the sons
Of that first honored home of long ago.
Gathered in that first, many-memoried
home,
On grand old Jamestown's honored soil we
stand,
The sister States to her their greetings
bring,
Freedom's first bulwark in our glorious
land!
And here, as in some tale of Eastern
lore,
Adena's walls, new-raised, show fair and
strong.
Built by Ohio's hand, they witness well
Her dauntless strength the Western hills
among.
Here, where the courtly Governor, of
yore,
Gave stately welcome to his dwelling
place,
Ohio's brave and gallant sons now greet
Virginia's deathless chivalry and grace-
Throng, as of old, beneath Adena's roof,
Hearts loyal to our country's high
behests,
Making the ancient halls where welcome
reigns,
Honored and proud to hold such noble
guests.
Many
representatives of the Ohio
Society, Sons of the
American Revolution, were present and as
a special tribute of
that Society to the program of the day,
Colonel W. L. Curry,
President, Ohio Society, S. A. R., wrote
the following poem,
which was distributed through the
audience:
"OUR PATRIOTIC SIRES."
Today around this festal board,
With wonted zeal burn Freedom's fires;
Today we crown anew the sword
And musket of our patriot sires;
188 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
And down Time's vistas seems to come,
Clear and distinct, from far away,
The long, shrill roll of Freedom's drum,
Which eager beats the battle fray.
And as the mists of Time dissolve,
We catch the glint of blade and gun,
Which did a burning question solve
Upon the sward of Lexington;
Ah, from the dim, heroic past,
Replete with actions of renown,
We hear the mutt'rings of the blast
Which tore a jewel from a crown.
Who would not trace his lineage back
To those who in the foremost line
Stood firm 'mid battle's heat and wrack,
That fated day at Brandywine?
Or saw the flags of victory wave
Amid the hurtling leaden rain,
Where like a rock stood Schuyler brave
On Saratoga's deathless plain?
Hail to the men who made us free!
Hail to the stainless swords they drew!
A thousand years will never see
Forgetfulness of men so true;
Their deeds will live while grandly
waves
The flag of a united land
Above their scattered, sacred graves,
From mountain height to ocean strand.
In silence drink to hero sires,
Who wrote upon the scroll of fame
With valor 'mid the battle fires,
Full many an immortal name;
With pride today each patriot cheek
Around this board with love doth glow,
And tongues of eloquence will speak
Of those who battled long ago.
The exercises in the Auditorium were
followed by a luncheon
to the Governor of Ohio and his party by
the Jamestown Ex-
position authorities, given at the Swiss
Alps restaurant. At 4:30
in the afternoon the Ohio officials,
visitors and officials of the