Newspaper History presents media sourced from a United States newspaper dating back 108 years.

  • The Ancient Spell

    From the Harrisburg Telegraph, November 3, 1914. By Berton Braley.

    When a ship puts out to sea
        Swinging slowly from the quay,
    Somehow warm enchantment gleams
        From each mast and stack and spar
    As she takes the trail o’ dreams
        Where all brave adventures are.
    Life seems big and blithe and free
        When a ship puts out to sea.

    Slaves of time and circumstance,
        Humdrum folk and dull are we,
    Yet we sense the old romance
        When a ship puts out to sea,
    And we watch her flag unfurled
        To the wind that sweeps the world,
    Watch her dim and fade and then
        Sighing, turn to toil again.

    Yet, although we may not be
        With her on the deeps that call,
    We can feel the mystery
        And the glamour of it all—
    When a ship puts out to sea.