“Unfold what is within! Develop! Make
Full, fragrant efflorescence of the soul!
Let bloom the brain and call the heart awake!
Nothing repress; expand the being, whole,
Complete and perfect under nature’s awe,
Our dear Schoolmistress.” Thus prophetic spake
A voice of faith, forecharged with evolution’s law.
Thus the reformer’s zealous wisdom taught:
Thus, sometime, plead with Bonaparte austere,
Who, scorning prophecy in soaring thought
Of self, flung answer with a royal sneer:
“We can’t be troubled with the A-B-C!”
Vain Emperor! the sword with which he fought
Made slaves which battling alphabets set free.
The culture-captain had his marshals, too,
Ritter and Froebel and a legion more;
They proselyted nations, old and new,
They set their banners fair on every shore;
A million teachers follow in the way
The martyr opened to the good and true;
Our children bask in beam of Pestalozzi’s day.
He deemed his lavish life of no avail,
Dim was his prospect of the Promised Land;
But even then when faith and hope did fail,
The seed, wide scattered from his weary hand,
Was springing, waving, bursting into flower;
For grain of truth is waft on every gale
And sinks in every soil its root of deathless power.
He fell in conflict, but the field was won;
First Democrat of Culture! Thinker brave!
Hail, Switzerland, proud mother of such son,
Heap laurel garlands on his honored grave!
In flowers hide its consecrated sod!
Time writes his shining epitaph: “Well done!”
And Science vindicates his confidence in God.
“THERE IS NO CASTE IN BLOOD.”
IN Gunga’s vale is heard
Siddhartha’s sacred word;
Thrill, heart of Hindustan!
Good tidings! Man is Man.
The Sudra’s eyes grow dim
With tears, for unto him
Thus spake Siddhartha good,
“There is no caste in blood.”
Take comfort, humble soul!
The ages hopeward roll;
Time grows compassionate;
Thou art not doomed by Fate;
Religion shall prevail;—
Hail! blessed Buddha! hail!
Proclaim thy message good,
“There is no caste in blood.”
Ye plains of Ind, rejoice
At Love’s sweet-sounding voice!
Ye heights of Himalay
Gleam bright for joy to-day!
The truth to Buddha sent
New lights the Orient,
Presaging all men good:
“There is no caste in blood.”