at length it will only require the flutter of an angel's wing to set in motion this mighty thing called public sentiment and send it hurling down the mountain side, and every brewery and distillery-every saloon and barroom will be crushed beneath its weight. E. Hofer MID-SUMMER BIRD SONG. A NATURE POEM. Our mating done, On bouyant wing our spirits rise; We're free at last We march and counter march the skies. Our young are reared, The sun a golden glamour throws; Our broods are grown, And fledglings flown The air with autumn perfume glows. We lilt and sing Through every copse and heather; We coast and glide By country side Week in, week out, of golden weather. We bask through days Of azure haze, And carol into dewless nights; We sink to rest On earth's warm breast And wake the morn with new delights. Our life is free, No care know we Both earth and air yield us their best. J. R. N. Bell IMMORTALITY. As the nineteenth century is closing, human inquiry in reference to human destiny is deepening. The darker problems that challenged human credulity, and drove many an inquirer into the realms of doubt in the past, are now shining out as clear as noonday-the mists and fogs dispelled-the illuminating rays of scholasticism, investigation and religion are making clear the problems hitherto obscure. We welcome the light. Shine forth O glorious day! Students of all schools of learning 'drink deep of pure thought-quaff the gurgling streams of knowledge as they flow so freely by your doors. Here is an Arch. Understanding, knowledge and wisdom, these three, but the greatest of these is wisdom. These form one column of the Arch. Faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. These form the other column of the Arch. How grandly they rise; they begin on earth, they rise to heaven. Wisdom is the highest of the first column, and love is the highest of the second column; they are of equal height, and curve towards each other, but they are not united-something is wanting-what is it? It is the keystone-that keystone will complete the Arch-it will unite soul and spirit— God and man- a complete unity. The name upon that keystone is a secret name, and no man can read it except him that receiveth it. Above the Arch is a streamer, and upon it, in soft and beautiful characters, rising into the resplendency of God's fadeless light, is the inscription "Immortality." Then bring forth the keystone, let it rest upon the two columns as they curve towards each other, let wisdom and love be united, and man is redeemed, man is complete. Let us celebrate the completion of the work with songs and with minstrelsy-with our grandest choruses and best oratorios. Let us bring our choicest, sweetest flowers-bring the rose and the lily, the tulip and the pink, the sweet jassamine and voluptuous hyacinth, and the amaranth and orange blossoms and all ́ the flowers from the wildwood-now weave them all into a garland-a crown-let this coronation of music harmonize with man's perfect bliss-the crown of flowers his adornment-the keystone in the Royal Arch-his immortality a face-and man is now redeemed, full-orbed, restored to his original unity; rehabilitated with all the possibilities of a divine fraternity, and with all the blessing of a perpetual theophany. James Wiles Nesmith Senator James Wiles Nesmith was born in New Brunswick, July 23, 1820. He received his education in country schools, and determining to try his fortune in the West, he arrived in Oregon City, in October, 1843, where his abilities were at once recognized. In 1849 he moved to Polk County, which was his home the remainder of his life. Mr. Nesmith served as Captain in the Cayuse and Rogue River Wars, and as Colonel in the Yakima War. He helped to organize the provisional government; was elected Judge in 1845; was United States Marshal in 1853-5; Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon and Washington; in 1860 he was elected United States Senator, and in 1873 he was elected Representative to Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph G. Wilson. He died June 17, 1885. The following eulogy is an extract from an address delivered in the House of Representatives, Monday, April 27, 1874. NESMITH'S EULOGY ON CHARLES SUMNER. But sir, had Charles Sumner possessed the stateman's creative power, he was too pure a man for the politics of our day and generation. In his high position it was not possible for him to be the paid advocate, it was not possible for him to be the associate of men who, while waving the banner of freedom with one hand, stole from the public treasury with the other. Why, sir, he was so pure and single-hearted that he could not even understand such characters. Differing, as I honestly and heartily did, with Mr. Sumner upon the great issues out of which his fame grew, I feel it incumbent upon myself to say that while my own opinions upon those questions remain at variance with his, I concede to him an honesty of purpose in urging his peculiar theories, with a pertinacity unparalleled in our political history. Defeat strongly inspired him with renewed energy; and when the popular vote of the Nation, as it did at times, condemned him and his cause, he, phoenix-like, arose from the ashes of defeat, to advocate with fresh ardor and invigorated courage the "equality of the races before the law." His courage was of a higher order than that inspired by mere brute force. He adhered to his theories through contumely, adversity and disgrace; and when the results of his labors, his sufferings and his courage elevated those who had defamed and despitefully used him, from obsurity to power, he bore their renewed reproaches with but slight retaliation or complaint. In my humble estimation, Mr. Sumner never appeared greater than when he magnanimously proposed in the Senate that the achievements of our gallant troops in an intestine war should be obliterated from their flags. An envious and malignant man would have desired to see our Southern brethren humiliated by the emblazonment of their disasters upon that proud banner, which we all, as American citizens, desire to hail as the emblem of a great and united nationality. The evil passions growing out of the war had become so furious and unreasoning as to cause his own state to condemn his generous impulses upon that subject, but I thank God that his last moments on earth were cheered with the rescinding resolutions of the representatives of a people, themselves the descendants of those who felt, upon sober, second thought, what was due to a people who had gallantly risked their lives in their adherence to what they conceived to be the principle that "all just government is derived from the consent of the governed." His familiarity with English history had demonstrated to him the folly of perpetuating hatred and sanguinary reminiscences in a people who, in the nature of things, should be homogeneous. In the latter part of his life he gave evidence of his abhorrence of the white political slavery, no less than that which pertained to the African. Mr. Speaker, inexorable Death has claimed Charles Sumner as his own, and the grave has closed over his mortal remains. We shall never in our generation look upon his like again, simply because there are no sur |