When You and I were Young (Poem by William Hodgson Ellis)

When You and I were Young *

By William Hodgson Ellis

When you and I were babes, Adam,

    In good Prince Albert's time,

The word went forth that war should cease,

Commerce should link all lands, and Peace

    Should dwell in every clime.

When you and I were boys, Adam,

    In Queen Victoria's days,

Those guns that now so silent stand,

Where meet the rulers of our land,

    With olive decked and bays.

Roared from the Russian ramparts grim,

    Their muzzles all ablaze,

While old Todleben, with his back

Against the wall, foiled each attack

    In Queen Victoria's days.

When you and I were young, Adam,

    In good Victoria's time,

We stood together side by side,

When Mewburn and Mackenzie died,

    And Tempest, “ere their prime.”

But say not “they have left no peer — ”

    That were unwelcome praise

To those three friends of ours long dead,

Whose blood for Fatherland was shed

    In good Victoria's days.

In royal Edward's time, Adam,

    Fresh prophecies were rife.

They told us nickel-pointed shot

And flat trajectories and what not

    Would rid the world of strife.

But now that we are old, Adam,

    We see with startled eyes

Quick-firing guns won't stop the Jap,

Nor Serb nor Bulgar cares a rap

    Who wins the Nobel prize.

When you and I were young, Adam,

    There were no telephones;

There was no ultramicroscope;

And no X-rays for those who grope

    And pry among the bones.

But, though with diagnostic aids

    They were but ill supplied,

There were a few who shrewdly guessed

(Old What's-his-name among the rest)

    At what went on inside.

When you and I were young, Adam,

    It was damnation stark

To doubt that all that breathe the air,

Came, male and female, pair by pair,

    Straight out of Noah's ark.

“Mutantur,” Adam, “tempora

    Mutamur atque nos,”

And now we're not a bit afraid

To tell just how the world was made

    In detail and in gross.

In pre-Archæan periods

    Of elemental stress

The C and H and O and N

Collide, rebound, combine, and then

    React with H2S.

Colloidal specks from this ensued

    Which grew, and grew, and grew,

With lively motion all endued,

Till they attained a magnitude

    Of 0·01μ.

Then somewhere over ·01

    And under ·05

Amoeboid feelers out they sent

And took some liquid nourishment

    And, lo, they were alive!

In pre-Archæan periods

    Let fancy have her fling,

But, Adam, will your faith allow

Such goings on can happen now

    When George the Fifth is King?

Well, times may change, and we may change,

    But find him when I can,

I'll drink a health to one who's stood

For all that's honest, kind and good;

    So here's to you, Old Man!

1912

Note:

* Read at the Dinner given at the York Club, Toronto, November 29th, 1912, in honour of Dr. Adam H. Wright.

Poem Analysis:

William Hodgson Ellis’s poem When You and I were Young, read at a dinner honoring Dr. Adam H. Wright at the York Club in Toronto on November 29, 1912, is a reflective and humorous work that blends nostalgia with commentary on the sweeping changes of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Written during the reign of King George V, the poem contrasts the advancements, upheavals, and evolving beliefs of the modern era with the simpler, albeit turbulent, times of the past. The poem serves as both a personal tribute to Ellis’s lifelong friend, Dr. Wright, and a broader meditation on the passage of time, progress, and enduring values.

Structure and Tone

The poem is composed of twelve stanzas, each with a regular five-line pattern that lends the work a ballad-like rhythm. The tone shifts fluidly between affectionate nostalgia, wry humor, and gentle skepticism about the claims of progress. While much of the language is conversational and straightforward, Ellis employs historical references, scientific allusions, and Latin quotations to add depth and sophistication to his reflections.

The direct address to “Adam,” presumably Dr. Wright, creates an intimate, almost conversational tone. The refrain-like use of “When you and I were [babes/boys/young]” reinforces the central theme of shared memory and the bond between the speaker and the friend he honors.

Themes

1. Nostalgia for the Past

The poem opens by evoking the era of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, recalling a time when peace and commerce were idealized goals:

“The word went forth that war should cease,

Commerce should link all lands, and Peace

Should dwell in every clime.”

This nostalgic vision of youth contrasts with the realities of war, technological upheaval, and social change that follow. Ellis acknowledges the heroism of figures like Mewburn, Mackenzie, and Tempest, whose sacrifices during the Victorian era are celebrated:

“We stood together side by side,

When Mewburn and Mackenzie died,

And Tempest, ‘ere their prime.’”

2. The Irony of Progress

Ellis reflects on the technological advancements of the modern age, such as telephones, X-rays, and ultramicroscopes, contrasting them with the simpler world of his youth:

“When you and I were young, Adam,

There were no telephones;

There was no ultramicroscope;

And no X-rays for those who grope

And pry among the bones.”

However, he questions whether such advancements have led to moral or societal progress. The poem critiques the persistent reality of conflict, noting that “quick-firing guns won’t stop the Jap, / Nor Serb nor Bulgar cares a rap / Who wins the Nobel prize.” In this way, Ellis suggests that while technology evolves, human nature and international strife remain largely unchanged.

3. Shifts in Belief and Scientific Understanding

A particularly humorous section of the poem addresses changing religious and scientific views:

“When you and I were young, Adam,

It was damnation stark

To doubt that all that breathe the air,

Came, male and female, pair by pair,

Straight out of Noah's ark.”

Ellis contrasts the literal Biblical interpretation of creation once widely accepted with modern scientific theories about the origins of life, referencing chemical elements (C, H, O, N) and colloidal particles. The poem adopts a playful tone when describing the progression from “colloidal specks” to living amoeboid organisms:

“Amoeboid feelers out they sent

And took some liquid nourishment

And, lo, they were alive!”

Yet, the poet remains skeptical, humorously questioning whether such theories could truly describe life as it is understood in “George the Fifth’s” time.

4. Enduring Friendship and Character

Despite all the changes in science, technology, and society, the poem closes on a note of constancy: the enduring qualities of character, friendship, and integrity. The final stanza celebrates Dr. Wright as a man who has stood for “all that’s honest, kind and good,” raising a toast to their shared memories and values:

“Well, times may change, and we may change,

But find him when I can,

I’ll drink a health to one who’s stood

For all that’s honest, kind and good;

So here’s to you, Old Man!”

Historical and Cultural Context

Ellis situates his reflections within significant historical milestones. References to “good Prince Albert’s time” and “Queen Victoria’s days” evoke the 19th-century British Empire, marked by industrial expansion, colonial power, and wars like the Crimean War (referenced with the mention of Russian ramparts and Todleben). The transition to “royal Edward’s time” (Edward VII) and then to King George V marks the shift to the early 20th century, an era defined by rapid technological advancements and mounting international tensions.

The mention of nations such as Japan, Serbia, and Bulgaria alludes to the geopolitical complexities of the early 1900s, foreshadowing the First World War, which would erupt just two years after this poem was delivered.

The discussion of scientific advancements — ultramicroscopes, X-rays, and theories of chemical evolution — reflects the growing influence of science and rationalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ellis humorously juxtaposes these modern ideas with the Biblical worldview of earlier generations, illustrating the cultural shift from faith-based to evidence-based thinking.

Tone and Style

The tone alternates between affectionate reminiscence and satirical commentary. Ellis’s humor is evident in lines such as:

“In pre-Archæan periods

Let fancy have her fling,

But, Adam, will your faith allow

Such goings on can happen now

When George the Fifth is King?”

This playful skepticism reflects both amusement at and admiration for the progress of modern science. The use of Latin — “Mutantur, Adam, tempora / Mutamur atque nos” (Times change, and we change with them) — adds a philosophical gravitas, reminding readers that change is an eternal and universal constant.

When You and I were Young is both a tribute to friendship and a reflective commentary on the rapid transformations of the modern age. Through its blend of nostalgia, humor, and historical awareness, the poem explores the tension between the past and the present, questioning whether technological and scientific advancements equate to genuine human progress. Ultimately, Ellis concludes that while “times may change, and we may change,” the true measure of a life lies in enduring values — honesty, kindness, and integrity.