1875 PROLOGUE SPOKEN NOV. 18, 1875. 215 



The following prologue, written by our chaplain, 

 the Eev. H. W. Pullen, was spoken at the re-opening of 

 the Eoyal Arctic Theatre, on November 18, 187.5 : — 



Kind friends, with kindly greetings met today, 

 We bid you welcome to our opening Play ; 

 You, whose indulgent smile forbids the fear 

 Of scornful wit or captious critic here. 

 To-day we welcome you, and not To-night, 

 For all is noon with us — all summer bright ; 

 And though the southern Sun has ceased to pour 

 His glittering rays upon our ice-bound shore — 

 Has ceased awhile to touch with drops of gold 

 The crystal corners of our hummocks bold ; 

 We bear a warm soft light that never fades — 

 A lustrous light amid these Greenland shades ; 

 All trustful of each other's love, we learn 

 W T ith steady flame our lamp of Hope to burn : 

 And suns may set, and twilights disappear — 

 They shall not rob us of our Christmas cheer ; 

 Nor blinding drift, nor frozen wave, shall chill 

 Our laughter glad — for laugh, biave boys, we will ; 

 Kindling yet once again the genial glow 

 Of happy English homes on Arctic floe. 



Yet once again ; for none would here forget 

 We are but sons of fathers living yet : 

 In work and play alike, we but renew 

 The deeds of men who taught us what to do. 

 And though, more favoured than the rest, we soar 

 To loftier nights than theirs who went before ; 

 Though ours the boast, by skilful guidance led, 

 In virgin climes our shifting scene to spread : 

 We love to read, on history's faithful page, 

 Of ancient triumphs on our northern stage, 

 And boldly for our brave forerunners claim 

 An Arctic ' cast ' already known to fame, 



