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The
primary multipurpose room is available for storytelling, poetry reading, and
other performances and activities. Should you be interested in giving a program,
please do not hesitate to contact us.
Meanwhile, you
may enjoy this poem, The Elephant, John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version
of the famous teaching story from India. |

It
was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though
all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind. The
First approach'd the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and
sturdy side, At once began to bawl: "God bless me! but the Elephant Is
very like a wall!" The Second, feeling of the
tusk, Cried, -"Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To
me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!" The
Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within
his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "the
Elephant Is very like a snake!" The Fourth
reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee. "What most this
wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he, "'Tis clear
enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!" The
Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man Can
tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an
Elephant Is very like a fan!" The Sixth no
sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Then, seizing on the swinging
tail That fell within his scope, "I see," quoth he, "the
Elephant Is very like a rope!" And so these
men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding
stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the
wrong! MORAL. So oft
in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them
has seen! |