QUANTUM MUTATA.
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no feeling of gratitude for favors received; and yet if we do forget these stimulating—if in our selfishness we lose sight of common courtesy; if we overlook the rights of every other and respect no one but the ego, our civilization will be as barren of fruit as the sandiest desert. If, with all the advantages for gaining the highest ends, we neglect the little affairs that really make the great, in time to come, after a new evolution has occurred, our posterity may look back and justly name our time the New Dark Ages.
Under ancient chivalry there arose ties of fraternity, respect to elders, devotion to woman and generous frankness of deportment. A cavalier was courteous even to his enemy, because in him he saw a brother. He held to his obligations with uncompromising fidelity. The modern character is the result of the slow aud silent growth of ages and may be traced back to those days of ancient Europe, when the knight was quick to strike and generous to forgive. The qualities of knighthood tempered and softened all classes of society. The knight was charmed into courtesy by the gentle influence of woman and the
air of mildness which she diffused can never die away as long as we show her courtesy. Do we do wrong when we attribute to the dark ages the honor of the first recognition of these virtues? Our civilization must continuously advance as long as we act in response to the motives which prompted the knights of old.
"The knights are dust,
And their good swords are rust."
But the spirit of chivalry which was wont to animate the heroes of a barbarous age still waves, we trust, its silken banner with former sovereignty over our distant civilization.
Let us remember that 'it is not size, it is not force, it is not strength which constitutes true greatness, but when men rise against oppression, when they say that throughout the length and breadth of their country justice and courtesy must be done to every man and woman; when they respect them and endeavor to be high-minded and magnanimous toward them, nay further, when they are not ashamed to confess and atone for mistakes and errors, then such men, and the nation which such men make, will become truly, nobly, iudisputably great!' W.
QUANTUM MUTATA.
There was a time in Europe long ago When no man died for freedom anywhere, But England's lion leaping from its lair Laid hands on the oppressor! it was so While England could a great Republic show. Witness the men of Piedmont, chiefest care Of Cromwell, when with impotent despair
The Pontiff in his painted portico
Trembled before our stern ambassadors.
How comes it then that from such high estate
We have thus fallen, save that Luxury
With barren merchandise piles up the gate
with barren merchandise piles up the gate.
Where nobler thoughts and deeds should enter by:
Else might we still be Milton's heritors.
OSCAR WILDE.