NOTES AND QUESTIONS

Biography. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), a native of Virginia, was Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, Secretary of State in Washington's Cabinet, Vice-President, and President. He wrote the Declaration of Independence and was the founder of the University of Virginia. Jefferson was a ripe scholar, a good violinist, a skillful horseman, and an accurate marksman with a rifle. His influence was clearly felt in the framing of the Constitution, though he was in France at that time. His speeches are sound in policy and clear in statement.

Discussion. 1. What peculiarly fitted Jefferson to describe the character of Washington? 2. What conflict gave Washington an opportunity to show his greatness? 3. How had Washington's life prepared him to take advantage of his opportunities? 4. Name the qualities, as given by Jefferson, that made Washington so great a leader. 5. How did he show prudence? Integrity? Justice? 6. From your readings can you give any instance in which he showed fearlessness? 7. How did he show sureness in judgment? 8. What, in Jefferson's opinion, was the strongest feature of Washington's character? 9. How does Jefferson summarize his estimate of Washington? 10. Give a summary of the things Washington accomplished. 11. What part of this characterization of Washington impressed you most? 12. Which of the qualities mentioned would you most wish to possess? 13. In the Introduction, on page 296, you read that history and legend acquaint us with our country; how do the stories of the lives of great leaders such as Washington aid us in understanding the spirit and ideals of the country? 14. What "double service" did Washington render in the Revolutionary War, about which you read on page 220? 15. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: delineate; judiciously; deranged; prudence; integrity; colloquial; mediocrity; fluency; constellation; destiny; arduous.

Phrases for Study

little aided by invention, 469, 7 dislocated by sudden circumstances, 469, 1.3

enemy in station, 469, 15

habitual ascendancy, 469, 27

whatever promised utility, 469, 31
visionary projects, 470, 1

solid esteem proportioned, 470, 3
deportment easy, 470, 5
orderly train, 470, 31

THE TWENTY-SECOND OF FEBRUARY

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT

Pale is the February sky

And brief the midday's sunny hours;
The wind-swept forest seems to sigh
For the sweet time of leaves and flowers.

5 Yet has no month a prouder day,
Not even when the summer broods
O'er meadows in their fresh array,
Or autumn tints the glowing woods.

For this chill season now again
10 Brings, in its annual round, the morn
When, greatest of the sons of men,
Our glorious Washington, was born.

Lo, where, beneath an icy shield,
Calmly the mighty Hudson flows!
15 By snow-clad fell and frozen field,
Broadening, the lordly river goes.

The wildest storm that sweeps through space, And rends the oak with sudden force,

Can raise no ripple on his face

20 Or slacken his majestic course.

Thus, 'mid the wreck of thrones, shall live
Unmarred, undimmed, our hero's fame,
And years succeeding years shall give

Increase of honors to his name.

NOTES AND QUESTIONS

For Biography see page 55.

Discussion. 1. How does the poet describe a day in February? 2. Why "has no month a prouder day"? 3. Whose birthday occurs on the twenty-second of February? 4. Do you know any other great man whose birthday comes in February? 5. Give in your own words the comparison of "the mighty Hudson" and the fame of Washington. 6. Tell of some interesting incident in Washington's life. 7. In the last stanza the poet speaks of wrecked thrones; what thrones can you name that were wrecked during the World War? 8. Why is it a good thing for a country to celebrate the birthdays of its greatest citizens?

fresh array, 472, 7

icy shield, 472, 13

Phrases for Study

slacken his majestic course, 472, 20 'mid the wreck of thrones, 472, 21

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

RICHARD HENRY STODDARD

This man whose homely face you look upon
Was one of Nature's masterful great men,
Born with strong arms that unfought victories won.
Direct of speech, and cunning with the pen,
Chosen for large designs, he had the art
Of winning with his humor, and he went
Straight to his mark, which was the human heart.
Wise, too, for what he could not break, he bent;
Upon his back, a more than Atlas load,

10 The burden of the Commonwealth was laid;
He stooped and rose up with it, though the road
Shot suddenly downwards, not a whit dismayed.
Hold, warriors, councilors, kings! All now give pla-se
To this dead Benefactor of the Race.

NOTES AND QUESTIONS

Biography. Richard Henry Stoddard (1825-1903), the son of a sea captain, was born at Hingham, Mass. After the death of his father, he moved with his mother to New York City, where, after a short school life, he began work in an iron foundry. Every moment of his spare time was, however, devoted to a study of literature, and at the age of twenty-four he gave up his trade and began to write for a living. For over fifty years he wrote both prose and poetry and attained to high rank as a literary critic. This beautiful characterization of Lincoln is regarded as a classic.

Discussion. 1. Tell what you can of the author, noting anything in his life that was common to that of Lincoln. 2. Name the qualities that the poet says made Lincoln "one of Nature's masterful great men." 3. What does "homely" mean as used in the first line? 4. From your study of pictures of Lincoln what other words can you suggest to describe his features? 5. Explain the meaning of "cunning with the pen." 6. Repeat any of Lincoln's famous sayings that you know. 7. What does the eighth line tell you of Lincoln's character? 8. How did his humor help him to win? 9. Why was the "burden of the Commonwealth" so great, and why was it laid on his shoulders? 10. Toward what did the road tend "suddenly downward," and how did Lincoln meet the situation created by Secession? 11. What reasons can you give for calling him a “Benefactor of the Race"? 12. Compare the achievements of Lincoln with those of Washington. 13. Explain the last two lines. 14. Which do you think the better description, that written by Stoddard or that by Jefferson? 15. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: masterful; councilor; Benefactor.

Phrases for Study

unfought victories won, 473, 3 chosen for large designs, 473, 5 Atlas load, 473, 9

burden of the Commonwealth, 473, 10

Class Reading. Bring to class and read "Lincoln, the Man of the People," Markham.

Library Reading. "A New Lincoln Statue and a Lincoln Story" (in The Outlook, September 29, 1920); The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln, Nicolay; He Knew Lincoln, Tarbell.

5

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!

WALT WHITMAN

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; 10 Rise up for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills. For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores

15

20

a-crowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here, Captain! dear father!

This arm beneath your head!

It is some dream that on the deck

You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

Exult, O shores! and ring, O bells!

But I with mournful tread

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.