THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S PRIZE POEM.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2083, 8 January 1870, Page 2

THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S PRIZE POEM.

The subjoined minutes of tho meetings of the judges appointed to decide upon the relative merits of the various productions, have been banded to as for publication A meeting of the judges appointed by the Caledonian Society to consider the poems submitted for competition, was held on Monday, January 3rd, 1870. There were present—His Honor James Maeandrew (in the chair); John Cargill, Esq. ; Captain Fraser ; Rev. D. M. Stuart; and Mr Hislop. After careful consideration, the following resolutions were agreed to:— 1. That if poetical ability and literary accuracy are alone to be taken into account, tlic judges are of opinion that the “Heart’s First Lessons,” by K. 8., |is superior to the others. 2. That if regard is also to be had to the suitableness of the poem to the present time and circumstances, the judges are of opinion that the poem subscribed “Semper Fidelia ” is deserving of the Society’s prize. 3. Tho judges desire to mention “Cloudland ” as a poem of very great merit. They also consider " The Colonist ” as deserving of honorable mention. 4. The judges have experienced considerable difficulty in arriving at a satisfactory decision respecting the relative merits of the different pieces submitted to them, owing to the great diversity of subjects. They desire strongly to recommend that in future tho subject of the poem should be fixed a considerable time in advance, and that tho length should be limited to, say eighty (80) line’s. ' ■ ' Captain Fraser dissented from the opinion of tho other judges respecting “Heart’s Firtt Lessons,” John Hisi.or, Clerk to the meeting.

SECOND MBETINO. A meeting of the judges appointed by tho Caledonian Society to consider the poem* submitted for competition was held on Friday, the 7th inst. There were present John Cargill, Esq., Captain Fraser, Rev. Mr Stuart, and Mr Hislop. The meeting, after consideration of the letter forwarded by the Secretary 7 of the Caledonian Society, resolved tion adopted at their meeting on the 3rd inst., the judges are of opinion that ‘The Heart’s First Lessons,’ by ‘ K.8,,’ is absolutely the best English poem of all those submitted to them. ” Captain Fraser dissented from the foregoing resolution. As His Honor Mr Macandrew was unavoidably absent, it was resolved that the papers forwarded to the judges by the Society’s Secretary, be sent to his Honor for perusal, so that he might hare an opportunity of expressing his opinion if so disposed, John Hislop, Clerk to the Meeting. THE PRIZE POEM. The Heart’s First Lbssons. (The extreme length lo which this poem extends compels us in parts. The introductory part is subjoined, and the balance will appear from day to day, until the whole has been published.) PROLOGUEI. See there the burnished silver ! See that blaze Flash from its face as it confronts the gaze Of fiery Sol. Here, there, and many a where The bowels of the Earth such silver bear Locked in dull ores, which, to th’untutored eye Of these bright splendours show no prophecy. Through fierce ordeal of fire the metal passed, Kan molten from before the forger’s blast, Lay bruised beneath the forceful hammer’s stroke, Ere from its surface such bright beauties woke. So from the human soul immured in clay Life’s furnace wastes the oumbring dross away; Bade stroke of fate—tbs sharp attrition of woo— These the ordeal through which the heart must go, Ere it reflects nndimmed the glorious blase, Ths light supernal of Truth’s heavenly rays. n. Tho morn of Youth! How brightly fail the rays Of gold m sunshine o’er the landscape wide, In tho warm light the mists dissolve to dew Covering the sward, the trees, the flowers, with gems ; Or, jteaiing gently over each bare rook And over all the rough and thorny hill Hang like etherial robes, Joy and'gladness ! Only joy and gladness reign. Hope glows within; And sweet delusions spread before the eyes. Lightly the heart boats, firmly we tread, Eagerly, hastily, onward we speed : Ah, eould we only see all that’s before us Should we thus haste f But youth is trustful, and we trust the scene; Hope’s sunshine ever paint* so sweet a brightness, So gay a glitter, and such iris hues, On pale and formless mists of the unknown. And youth is trustful, and we trust ourselves, And looking onward to the distant goal We count the steeps and dangers of the way, Naught to strong sinews and our dauntless will. But ah ! how the glory fades ? How do we find Quickly and surely how false the scene ! Quenched is the sunlight, in mists it had brightened, Brignt’ning no more. Hope’s light hath faded, fails our poor strength Wearily, wearily, onward we go, Onward despairing, dejected, disheartened. Sadly and slow. Yet—onward still —higher and yet higher ; With weary plodding scale we life’s rough hill. The clouds that circle round tho middle height Obscure the light of day, tho azure sky, And shut the heaven’s from view. But the rude way Leads to serener heights, from which we gain Onoa more a vision of the heavenly blue; And looking hack upon the clouds below, See silver seas of mist in sunshine bathed. All the rough path we climb’d, Rocks, clouds, and toilsome steeps, Veil’d from the eye. Banished all weariness, Once more wc firmly tread, Heart beating light, The past with its sadness Its fears, its dejection, Remembered no more.