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Minor edits made in pencil throughout text. Note contributions of Robert Gordon Menzies: “Our Grounds” discussing the architecture at the University of Melbourne; and poem: “”Minor Music” [p.12]: Sad is my muse, and melancholy strains, Of minor harmony
My fingers strike from the chords-refrains Of sad intensity. I do not see the sunshine or the flowers, I do not feel the breeze, For my soul’s thrill is that of sad-sweet hours Like storm-tossed seas. [/] Ah! can it be that but so shortly past Is that fair summer time?
Our vision sprang to life, then faded fast [/] Like echoes of a chime. No more the idle joyousness of ease, Dreaming life’s path along, Shall charm, like gentle rustlings of the trees, With whispered song. [/] Yet this new music has its beauty, too – The joy we feel in pain,
The star’s bright splendour in the night’s deep blue, The sun that shines through rain. And it may be that the deep stream of woe That surges on its way Will bring forth music nobler than we know Or sing to-day!”; also poem “Sonnet (Written on a Twentieth Birthday) So thou art twenty-twenty years gone by, And but a brief twelvemonth since last to thee We raised the birthday toast; what was to be We knew not, and across the world’s fair sky
Se saw but Hope’s bright blue. Who dared to sigh With dull foreboding? – but behold, men see Grim Mars in dreadful blood-stained majesty, And weep to hear the death-gorged Eagle’s cry! So to unveil the future none may dare; Bold would he be who spoke of peace to-day, When a full thousand bugles loudly blare And war-wolves roam abroad to hunt their prey.
Yet, though the clouds have come, to thee we raise Another birthday toast – “To Happ’er Days!” – R.G.M.