PS 3503 
 .U89 D4 
 1920 
 Copy 1 
 
^ 
 
 X 
 
 Book Al3^LSk±__ 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. 
 
DEMOCRACY 
 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 AND 
 
 THE SEA SERPENT 
 
 A COMIC OPERA IN THREE ACTS 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM MILL BUTLER 
 
 M 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 THE GORHAM PRESS 
 
Copyright, 1920, by William Mill Butler 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 
 Made in the United States of America 
 
 The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 
 
 SEP 25 !920 
 0)CU597562 
 

 i 
 
 S 
 
 DEDICATION 
 
 My Dear "Helen Irene": 
 
 Every soul born into this world is entitled to the expres- 
 sion of the best that is in him or her. Here are a few of the 
 songs and rhymes and effusions which have come to me as 
 part of my being. 
 
 They were written, as you know, from time to time, dur- 
 ing golden moments snatched from more exacting labors, and 
 are here because they demanded utterance. Such as they 
 are, I dedicate them to you and give them to the world, at 
 your urging and with your sweet smile of encouragement. 
 
 Yours with undying affection, 
 
 "MILL" 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 FACE 
 
 Democracy '3 
 
 Ikrabibi: or, the Palace of Pleasure .... 14 
 
 Beachwood Days 28 
 
 Beggars: A Rhapsody 3^ 
 
 Abdication Day 45 
 
 The Keeper of the Kine 4^ 
 
 After the Verdict 49 
 
 Ephemeris 52 
 
 The Parson's Ride 54 
 
 Aconcagua and the Ant-Hills 5^ 
 
 The Silent Army 60 
 
 At the Pierian Spring 63 
 
 Faith, Hope and Love 64 
 
 The Cry of the Horses 65 
 
 Helen Irene 67 
 
 Knitting on the Train 69 
 
 The Dream-Dog 7° 
 
 The Unhappy Dispatch of the Little Father . . 71 
 
 An Old Man's Darling 75 
 
 The Engineer 7^ 
 
 KiKu Song 79 
 
 When the Sun Sank at Plevna 79 
 
 7 
 
Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A Fair Exchange 8i 
 
 Ragsy 82 
 
 The Old Love and the New Love 86 
 
 Teacher's Holiday 87 
 
 Cradle Song 89 
 
 Quo Vadis? 90 
 
 Two Letters 95 
 
 We Trust in Tree 97 
 
 Bryan O'Lynn 98 
 
 A Child's Petition to Father Christmas ... 98 
 
 Labor Omnia Vincit 99 
 
 Two Grains of Sand 100 
 
 My Hero loi 
 
 Oh, Woman Transfigured loi 
 
 Kisses 103 
 
 George Francis Train 104 
 
 Sunday Musings 106 
 
 The Wrath of Homer 106 
 
 Love Thine Enemy no 
 
 The Pythian Flag Up North in 
 
 Thaumaturgy 113 
 
 The Americans 115 
 
 Grabitall & Co 116 
 
 The Physician 119 
 
 Hail 120 
 
 None but the Dead Shall Pass This Way . . 121 
 
 A Lullaby 124 
 
Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Enough 124 
 
 To THE Peace Congress 126 
 
 Heart Throbs 126 
 
 The Seventh Commandment 127 
 
 MoMOTARO 136 
 
 Adown the Lea 140 
 
 Brotherhood 141 
 
 If Thou Wert Dead 143 
 
 Madonna and Child 143 
 
 How Peaceful Are the Dead 144 
 
 Hymen's Torch 145 
 
 Dreamers 145 
 
 At Parting ' 146 
 
 Ten Little Wheelmen 147 
 
 Some Day 148 
 
 A Christmas Truce 148 
 
 The Right and Freedom of the Soul 149 
 
 My Song 151 
 
 The Sea Serpent 153 
 
DEMOCRACY 
 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
DEMOCRACY 
 
 GREAT mother of a new-born race, 
 All earth shall be thy dwelling place; 
 Democracy, thy holy name 
 Shall set the continents aflame, 
 Shall thrill the islands of the sea, 
 And keep thy children ever free. 
 
 From God's eternal universe 
 Shalt thou remove the primal curse 
 Which man upon his fellow-man 
 Imposed since first the world began; 
 Away with slaves, deprived of rights. 
 And lily-fingered parasites! 
 
 For thus the new-world purpose we 
 
 Can, step by step, unfolded see: 
 
 Columbus sailed, at God's behest. 
 
 From lands by wicked kings oppressed — 
 
 His messenger, to search the earth 
 
 And find the place for Freedom's birth. 
 
 Then rose heroic Washington, 
 With many another dauntless son. 
 Whose spirit, caught beyond the blue. 
 Encompassed France, and Europe, too, 
 Until the purpose of the Lord 
 Was plainly written with the sword. 
 
 13 
 
Democracy 
 
 Out of it all — Democracy! 
 
 The final word of God's decree, 
 
 To carry out His sacred plan 
 
 Of peace on earth, good will to man. 
 
 Therefore, arise, ye people, sing 
 
 This heaven-born and glorious thing! 
 
 \^For musical settings, opinions and prize offer, 
 see appendix.] 
 
 IKRABIBI: OR, THE PALACE OF 
 PLEASURE 
 
 Let us dance a Pyrrhic measure, 
 While we sing of human pleasure. 
 Pleasure young, ecstatic, wild. 
 Such as every mortal child, 
 Sent to dwell upon this sphere, 
 By the Fates is crowned with here. 
 His power to gratify, 
 Every sense to satisfy; 
 His the power to join the throng 
 (Free the dance and loud the song). 
 With no other thought but this, 
 As concerning earthly bliss: 
 God of Ease, oh, capture us, 
 With thy pleasures rapturous. 
 
 I 
 
 Amid wonderful bowers, 
 With white-visioned towers, 
 See our palace arise, 
 
 14 
 
Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 Under bluest of skies, 
 Over terraces green, 
 With their velvety sheen. 
 
 Fish and swan are a-pond, 
 And the birds on the boughs, 
 And the fawn just beyond. 
 With their mothers a-browse. 
 Oh, the capering fawn. 
 On the velvety lawn ! 
 
 And the flapping of wings 
 Now a messenger brings: 
 Come, alight, turtle-dove, 
 With your message of love. 
 For the morning is breaking, 
 
 Aurora is dancing. 
 The sun is awaking, 
 
 And toward us he's glancing. 
 
 Pearly drops of heavenly dew. 
 Glistening gems of rainbow hue, 
 Scatter, scatter o'er the lawn. 
 Sprinkle fur of capering fawn. 
 
 Drink, drink, ye stately trees, 
 Kissed by the morning breeze 
 Dawn's loving-cup for you 
 Pours dew of pearly hue, 
 
 Upon each thirsty leaf 
 
 Oh, sip the nectar brief. 
 
 15 
 
Democracy 
 
 But what of these scenes which our eyes thus meet, 
 Beautiful they, but incomplete; 
 Something is void though enchantment chain 
 Eden, fair Eden, to earth again. 
 
 Sight, greatest gift divine. 
 Sight no longer should be mine, 
 If the fates had not decreed 
 That this instant, with all speed. 
 On my gladsome vision bursting. 
 She for whom my soul is thirsting, 
 She should now be seen, 
 She, my love serene. 
 
 From marble portals tall, 
 Out from the parian hall, 
 Roameth she, all white and pure. 
 With her seven maids demure. 
 Softly tripping, lightly laughing, 
 All go, innocently chaffing, 
 To the limpid morning bath — 
 Fairer form no goddess hath. 
 
 Stay, stay, delightful one! — but, no, 
 I must not speak so soon — go, go; 
 Like shining ivory glistening, glide, 
 And plunge into th' expectant tide. 
 
 Sweet Aphrodite, seeking the sea, 
 
 Her tremulous native sea, 
 Was never more charming, ah, me, ah, me, 
 
 Was never more charming, ah, me. 
 
 i6 
 
Ikrabtbi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 And old Father Ocean, in blue expanse, 
 With gray dripping beard, essays a dance, 
 Beyond that coppice there, 
 Where bloom exotics rare.' 
 
 II 
 
 Myriads of blossoms, here unfolding. 
 Longer not their wealth of perfume holding. 
 Incense sweet upon the ambient air 
 Prodigally scatter everywhere, 
 For my queen, who goeth forth attended, 
 Like Diana, by her maids defended. 
 
 Oh, voluptuous aroma. 
 Drive me not to pallid coma: 
 I breathe thee too greedily. 
 Come not so speedily. 
 Or I shall faint, 
 With longing faint. 
 And, longing, die a death of ling'ring sweetness, 
 Aye, like the blossoms in their rich completeness. 
 
 I sink beside this bed of asphodel, 
 And phantasies my brain to bursting swell, 
 Of ylang-ylang, of patchouli 
 Which stirreth up love unruly; 
 Of musk and attar of roses — 
 In each one a houri reposes. 
 
 I faint, I weep, 
 
 I fall asleep. 
 
 And dream a dream absurd 
 
 About a wicked bird: 
 
 17 
 
Democracy 
 
 Ikrabibi, Ikrabibi, 
 Ghoulish bird, oh, Ikrabibi, 
 Vast thy darkling wings — 
 
 Nothing more I see; 
 Hid are earthly things, 
 
 Blankest blank to me. 
 Hark! that hollow sound 
 In his voice profound. 
 Mocks me, thrills me; 
 Mocks me, chills me. 
 Like a gibbering sprite. 
 Like a wraith of night, 
 Like a haunted soul 
 From the Southern pole, 
 Like a Peri's cries 
 Before Paradise: 
 "Ikrabibi! 
 Ikrabibi!" 
 Tell us, tell us, 
 Is he jealous? 
 
 "Ikrabibi! 
 Ikrabibi!" 
 
 Ill 
 
 "Cease thy plaint, oh, Ikrabibi, 
 Envious, envious Ikrabibi!" 
 
 Thrillingly, 
 
 Like the lightning leaping through aeons of gloom, 
 
 Celestially, 
 
 Sounded her voice in pronouncing his doom. 
 
 i8 
 
Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 Gone is the shadowy thing, 
 Gone is his shadowy wing; 
 
 The spell is broken, 
 
 No longer choken, 
 I awake, I bound, I rejoice, 
 For at last I have heard her voice — 
 Her marvellous, sweetsome trills. 
 Like the laughs of a thousand hills, 
 
 Calling to me, her lover, 
 
 As she roameth the woodland over : 
 
 "Oh, lover mine, gaze not on my blushes. 
 For unto my head the mad blood rushes; 
 My bosom heaves with a maiden's emotion, 
 It longeth for thee, like the waves of the ocean. 
 
 Where, where, * 
 
 On earth, in air, 
 
 Art thou abiding? 
 
 Where art thou hiding? 
 
 "The resonant bells are ringing with might, 
 The guests are gathering in the hall, 
 
 For, love, this is our nuptial night — 
 'Tis I, betrothed one, I call." 
 
 Sweet bells, sweet bells, 
 
 So musically pealing. 
 Right merrily each tells, retells, 
 
 What love is now revealing. 
 Swing high, — swing low — 
 
 For she loveth me; 
 Swing high, — swing low — 
 
 Oh, happy, happy me! 
 19 
 
Democracy 
 
 No rumbling, no mumbling, 
 No sullen grumbling — 
 No Ikrabibi! 
 Envious Ikrabibi! 
 
 But joy, joy, joy, 
 Shall burst from each brazen throat; 
 
 Joy, joy, joy, 
 Its only jubilant note. 
 
 And between the glorious ringing — 
 
 Merry interlude ! — 
 Cometh a chorus singing, 
 
 Dancing and joy-imbued. 
 Praising now the many graces 
 Of my queen, with laughing faces. 
 
 I haste to clasp her in mine arm. 
 To greet her there with kisses warm; 
 But they turn, they point, still singing love's ob- 
 session, 
 They bear her in triumph away, they deny me 
 possession. 
 
 And as they fly with bride thus captured. 
 The bells their tale still ringing, 
 The lithesome maidens singing, 
 
 Dame Nature lends her voice enraptured; 
 
 Her woodland warblers somehow gain 
 
 The secret, and in sweet refrain, 
 Sing of mating, 
 Of love unabating. 
 
 20 
 
 II 
 
Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 Surely the birds will burst their throats, 
 Trying to utter a million notes ; 
 Heaven and earth and sea and air 
 In mighty chorus commingle there. 
 
 And the hunter's horn, tra-la, now knocks, 
 With its echoes torn from a thousand rocks; 
 And the trumpet's blare, in the vanguard, 
 
 boasts 
 Of the glory of advancing hosts; 
 Of processions of horses and chariots laden with 
 
 treasure, 
 Great warriors and other guests, for the Palace of 
 Pleasure. 
 
 Thus, in the ante-chamber of the night, 
 Amid the general tumult of rejoicing, 
 I see, I breathe, I hear, with mad delight, 
 While their acclaim the wedding-guests are 
 voicing. 
 
 And in the gloaming. 
 
 Lightly roaming, 
 
 Piping Pans and dancing Fauns 
 
 Drive the deer from velvet lawns ; 
 
 And the dryads. 
 
 And the naiads. 
 
 In the dell 
 
 The chorus swell. 
 
 But, hark, upon the air is stealing 
 
 A fairy wedding march ; 
 The bridal twain are kneeling 
 
 Beneath the floral arch. 
 21 
 
Democracy 
 
 Hark! the laiksome bridal serenade, 
 
 By Dame Nature's orchestras in unison; 
 
 Hark! the minstrels in the woodland shade 
 Join in tuneful tourney while the moon 
 is on. 
 
 IV 
 
 Then, ho, to the banquet hall, 
 .Ye guests, both great and small. 
 Where savors of viands our nostrils assail- 
 The palate is king, the palate all hail! 
 
 The tables a-glitter with silver and gold, 
 With fleeciest linen and chinaware old, 
 
 And showers 
 
 Of flowers, 
 And mountains of food, 
 And of drinkables a flood. 
 
 The revellers soon are seated free, 
 According to high and low degree. 
 Bubbling fountains odors throw, 
 With the waters in their flow; 
 Gently-breathing melodies, 
 
 Ah, sublime, 
 
 Keeping time, 
 With the fountains' fall and rise, 
 Whisper low of paradise. 
 22 
 
Ikrabtbi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 And out of the corridors, 
 
 Rushing servitors: 
 
 Bearing aloft goodly dishes, 
 
 Everything that an epicure wishes; 
 Enjoyment floods a sea of busy faces 
 Which the long row of festal tables graces. 
 
 Wines of Tokay, wines of Gaul, 
 Wines Falernian, drinking all; 
 Even the priest who sayeth grace 
 Now is growing a rubicund face. 
 
 The wedding-guests are eating, 
 
 Courses e'er repeating. 
 Till gustatory nerves with pleasure sing: 
 This is eaters' heaven and palate is king. 
 
 High seated, the bride and bridegroom seem 
 Transported in long ambrosial dream; 
 Quaffing immortal nectar there. 
 Eating love's food as light as air: 
 Listening now for the dulcet strain 
 Of the melody lost and found again, 
 'Mid the rise and fall 
 
 Of conversation 
 
 And cachination. 
 In the festal hall — 
 Smiling upon the happy throng, 
 Which roareth back from the tables long; 
 Thanking them for their merry toasts, 
 Their merry wishes and merry boasts. 
 Their boisterous acclaim 
 Of bride and bridegroom's name. 
 
 23 
 
Democracy 
 
 But, ah, me, once more that knell, 
 In the languor by th' asphodel : 
 "Ikrabibi! 
 Ikrabibi!" 
 Wicked bird. 
 Dream absurd. 
 
 'Twas but a momentary pain, 
 
 'Twas needless apprehension; 
 The bridegroom is himself again — 
 
 Come, love, your sweet attention. 
 
 I clasp her hand — exquisite feeling! 
 Farewell, ye revellers below; 
 
 She bids me come, her charms revealing- 
 Farewell, ye revellers, we go ! 
 
 V 
 
 As when snow^y angels, heavenward winging, 
 To the blest abodes a soul are bringing, 
 So this mortal bowerward is carried 
 By the blushing queen whom he hath married. 
 
 Draw% draw thy curtains, Night, 
 Draw, draw thy curtains tight, 
 Soon beneath the darkened moon, 
 In our chamber we shall swoon ; 
 
 Many kisses, 
 
 Many blisses, 
 On our trembling lips shall rise. 
 This, oh, this, is paradise. 
 
 24 
 
Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 But why on the threshold this ancient dame, 
 Calling familiarly me by name? 
 This ancient dame, with ghostly stare, 
 Whispering darkly, *'Youth, beware!" 
 
 Quickly her witch's wand extended, 
 
 Smiteth the marble floor; 
 Hell, with its unclean mouth distended, 
 
 Gapeth with angry roar: 
 
 "Revel, revel, every devil; 
 Every devil, revel, revel! 
 For puissant Ikrabibi ! 
 Cometh now, great Ikrabibi!" 
 
 Shut down, shut down the lid, 
 And let the sight be hid — 
 For my bride is calling, 
 Deliriously calling; 
 She beckoneth above. 
 The apotheosis of love. 
 
 I fear not man nor devil — 
 
 Youth, health and strength are mine; 
 The meaning of 5'our revel 
 
 I care not to divine; 
 I only know that in there she is calling. 
 Her passionate voice rising and falling — 
 My bride, whom with mad endeavor, 
 The fiends from me would sever. 
 
 25 
 
Democracy 
 
 My sword, my faithful sword, 
 With thee, I speak the word: 
 All hell I here defy, 
 Intrepid I draw nigh ! 
 
 Here I sw^ar that yonder portal 
 I shall force, though hand immortal 
 Bar my way to bower elysian — 
 That is firmly my decision; 
 Though a thousand times I rue it. 
 Here I swear that I shall do it! 
 Though the faintness of the garden, 
 With its musk and odors nardin. 
 Find me, bind me, like a siren, 
 Bind me as with grip of iron. 
 Yet with lastmost breath, dead-seeming, 
 I shall strive to find her, dreaming, 
 Her, my love, who calleth, 
 Where her voice low falleth, 
 Waileth, 
 Faileth. 
 
 Yea, and though, by fancy painted, 
 Many imps, with features tainted. 
 
 Foul and reeking with decay, 
 Should burst forth from parian portal. 
 And for this distracted mortal 
 
 Seek, with flames, to bar the way; 
 Though my bride herself should, learning 
 All in vain her love is burning. 
 Hate me and, to vulture turning. 
 
 Tear this heart from quiv'ring breast, 
 26 
 
Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 
 
 Yet I swear, all horrors braving, 
 I should cry, with passion raving. 
 Love my love, my soul now^ saving, 
 Hear the prayer of love distressed. 
 
 "Ikrabibi! 
 Ikrabibi!" 
 
 Mocking fiend, with wings so darkling. 
 Mocking fiend, with eyes ill-sparkling, 
 Ikrabibi's voice of thunder 
 Shall not tear our love asunder! 
 
 Thrice I smote, with sword uplifted, 
 
 Now the portal, parian portal. 
 Crying, Oh, that clouds were rifted. 
 And the truth from lies were sifted : 
 Open, open, parian portal! 
 
 "Ikrabibi! 
 Ikrabibi!" 
 
 Blackest night there yawned before me, 
 Wrath and vengeance onward bore me 
 Into maw of parian portal. 
 Maddened, fate-defying mortal. 
 Till I fell, with senses reeling. 
 Body numb, bereft of feeling — 
 Then, beneath the shuddering moon-wing. 
 On my couch, alone, I'm swooning. 
 
 "Ikrabibi! 
 Ikrabibi!" 
 
 27 
 
Democracy 
 
 And a thousand echoes mocking 
 Linger on the air and, shocking, 
 Yea, my very reason rocking, 
 On my swooning ears now fall, 
 These despairing words now fall: 
 
 "Fool! wouldst capture 
 Phantom Pleasure, 
 Wouldst, in rapture. 
 Own this treasure? 
 Know that she is Ikrabibi, 
 Tantalizing Ikrabibi, 
 All-despising Ikrabibi!" 
 
 BEACHWOOD DAYS 
 
 I'll sing you no ambitious lays 
 Of war and war's alarms ; 
 
 My song shall be of Beachwood days 
 And Beachwood's many charms. 
 
 Thrice now has the diurnal orb 
 Described the rounded year, 
 
 Since first fair Beachwood did absorb 
 The flying seasons here. 
 
 It seems but yesterday, indeed, 
 Like twinkling eyes a few ; 
 
 Since here our pioneers decreed 
 A budding life-place new. 
 28 
 
Beachwood Days 
 
 All hail to hfm who broke the ground 
 
 And with a wizard's touch 
 Made inn and lodge and club abound — 
 
 The shelters needed much. 
 
 Who decked the beach with comforts rare, 
 
 With seats and hammocks, too; 
 Who built the little bowers where 
 
 Romance could bill and coo. 
 
 Whose rustic fences spanned the height 
 
 By silver-powdered walks, 
 Where, in the sunshine, pure and bright, 
 
 Resound our laughs and talks. 
 
 The pine-wood's dormant days were o'er 
 
 When Mayo * came to plan ; 
 He placed a crown upon this shore, 
 
 This new Aladdin man. 
 
 But come, let us salute him now, 
 
 In all his modest worth. 
 Then on the yellow hill-top's brow 
 
 Revert to mother earth. 
 
 Come tread th' awak'ning turf with me, 
 Where high banks kiss the bay; 
 
 The sweet arbutus trailing see — 
 The laurel's blossomed spray. 
 
 * Bertram C. Mayo, who, under the auspices of the 
 New York Tribune, founded beautiful Beachwood 
 among the Pines, on the Toms River arm of Barnegat 
 Bay. 
 
 29 
 
Democracy 
 
 Spring-time in Eden never gave 
 
 A rarer fair delight; 
 The spreading pine and dancing wave 
 
 Acclaim the winsome sight. 
 
 The mosses from their winter nap, 
 The scrub-oak and the vine; 
 
 The cedar with its nodding cap, 
 All lovingly entwine. 
 
 The balmy breezes from the blue. 
 Where roll and swash the waves. 
 
 Invigorate our lungs anew — 
 Oh, happy city slaves! 
 
 And some there are who love the sands 
 
 Upon thy shores so fair. 
 Who stoop with eager, busy hands 
 
 To pick thy pebbles rare; 
 
 While 'mid the reeds of Barnegat 
 The wild-fowl sport and play — 
 
 Ye cawing crowds, ye fish-hawks, scat! 
 And do not spoil our day! 
 
 Dear to our hearts the blue-jay's shrill. 
 The Bob White's spoken song; 
 
 The brown thrush, and the whippoorwill 
 When twilight creeps along. 
 
 30 
 
Beachwood Days 
 
 But, hark! yon strangely vibrant pool 
 With clarion notes is filled; 
 
 Our frogs at evening singing-school 
 Hold ev'ry hearer thrilled. 
 
 Pan's pipe itself could not surprise 
 
 Us more in marsh or bogs 
 Than the odd ah-ha's which arise 
 
 From the assembled frogs. 
 
 Aye, let them sing, till soon adrow^se, 
 
 Our sleeping-porch within, 
 We dream of softly moohing cows 
 
 With faces all agrin; 
 
 We dream of coming masquerades, 
 Of cavemen and of clowns; 
 
 Of mandarins, Scheherezades, 
 And red-faced imps with frowns. 
 
 Till, lo ! 'Tis morn and o'er the lawn 
 The cottontails now hop, — 
 
 And nibbling deer and gentle fawn, — 
 To taste our garden crop. 
 
 But what of that? To see them skip 
 
 Makes joyous living here; 
 We prize the boon companionship 
 
 Of rabbit, squirrel and deer. 
 
 31 
 
Democracy 
 
 How like a photo-drama race 
 
 The scenes before our eyes; 
 Now spring in summer's sweet embrace, 
 
 'Mid lingering perfume, dies. 
 
 And summer reigns in sweltering mood ; 
 
 July and August bring 
 The regulation Jersey brood, 
 
 With here and there a sting. 
 
 But what of that! When, with a cheer, 
 
 We splash in cooling swirls, 
 And lead a life aquatic, here, 
 
 With lovely summer girls. 
 
 Meantime the earth, well tilled, brings forth, 
 
 And gardens bloom and glow; 
 Each tiller finds new pleasure, worth 
 
 His perspiration's flow. 
 
 And thus the hours of summer dance 
 
 Their merry lives away, 
 While grasshoppers and beetles chance 
 
 Upon their food each day. 
 
 Each tiny, thoughtless prodigal, 
 
 Feasting from morn till night. 
 Stops only now and then to call 
 
 And chirp his keen delight. 
 
 32 
 
Beachwood Days 
 
 Happy each bungalow peeps out 
 From shaggy clumps of pines; 
 
 Neater than wax, within, without, 
 Till all of Beachwood shines. 
 
 Her sand-waves in the wooded green 
 
 Glisten as pure as snow, 
 The rival of a winter scene 
 
 In summer's genial glow. 
 
 See how the welcome showers gush 
 And dance, 'mid lightnings mild; 
 
 The thunder soon comes to a hush 
 Before it scares a child. 
 
 And on the bay a hundred sail 
 
 And motorcraft flit by; 
 The Commodore leans o'er the rail 
 
 To cast a tempting fly. 
 
 And fish and crab and clams galore 
 
 The fishermen lure out; 
 The lazy loungers on the shore 
 
 Put many more to rout. 
 
 And summer comes and summer goes, 
 With Palm-Beach suit and hat; 
 
 Lawn tennis claims the maids and beaux; 
 They play and court and chat — 
 
D emocracy 
 
 Until the moon in silver writes 
 Love-poems o'er hills and dales; 
 
 There's dancing at the Club these nights, 
 And merriment prevails. 
 
 Nor is due reverence denied 
 
 To sentiment profound ; 
 The meeting-doors are open wide 
 
 When Sabbath rolls around. 
 
 And here, 'mid songs and music good, 
 
 Forgot are creeds outworn; 
 We only know that Brotherhood 
 
 Must soon be newly born. 
 
 But time rolls by on speeding wings — 
 Soon summer's heyday wanes, 
 
 Until the breath of autumn brings 
 The pumpkins, corn and grains. 
 
 The meek red-berried wintergreen 
 All through the woods is sown; 
 
 The huckleberry pie is seen, 
 
 Right here in Beachwood grown. 
 
 The blue-jay's bell-tone deeper grows. 
 
 Up in the fragrant pines; 
 The curling smoke from chimney blows — 
 
 Each day makes short declines. 
 
 34 
 
Beachwood Days 
 
 Fall-time is creeping on the scene, 
 
 With changes manifold; 
 The shrubs assume a crimson sheen, 
 
 And some a cloth of gold. 
 
 For sly Jack Frost hides in the woods. 
 
 To paint the hectic glow 
 Of autumn's many dying moods, 
 
 Before he brings the snow. 
 
 The little pearls on cedar boughs 
 
 Burst into jewelled view; 
 All other evergreens arouse 
 
 Themselves to splendors new. 
 
 The beach-plum now is gathered in, 
 
 With other products wild ; 
 The bayberry, on branches thin, 
 
 In Quaker garb so mild. 
 
 And cranberries and holly here 
 Camp on their native heaths; 
 
 They bring us thoughts of Christmas cheer 
 And pretty Christmas wreaths. 
 
 Dear Beachwood, must we close the book 
 
 Until another spring? 
 Then on thy waving flag we'll look 
 
 And hail it as we sing. 
 
 35 
 
Democracy 
 
 For, lo, the annual exodus 
 
 Begins on Labor Day; 
 The youngsters strive for prizes, thus 
 
 To crown the finished stay. 
 
 Like mummers at the masquerade 
 We humans now must go — 
 
 Like birds of passage, overstayed. 
 While urging breezes blow. 
 
 Hushed are the waters by the sea, 
 
 And in the marshy bog; 
 We'll turn the lock and leave the key 
 
 With Julius and his dog. 
 
 Then come the legions musical 
 To close old Autumn's sway, 
 
 A swan-song in each little shell 
 Devoted to decay. 
 
 Infinitesimal madrigals, 
 
 Dirges in miniature; 
 W^hat tender odes and parting calls! 
 
 What elegies demure! 
 
 The cricket and his merry wife. 
 
 In sobered chirps, declare 
 The vanity of insect life 
 
 When all the fields are bare. 
 
 36 
 
Beachwood Days 
 
 The katydid staccatoes, too, 
 
 Her fears from bursting heart, 
 
 That wintry days may soon be due — 
 That summer friends must part. 
 
 And so it is with larger folks. 
 
 Even with you and me 
 Whose voice with melancholy chokes 
 
 At nature's stern decree. 
 
 Upon the ground brown matted hair, 
 With green boughs overhead ; 
 
 Oh, curled-up oak leaves, grasses bare, 
 Why is the earth so dead ? 
 
 I never knew that anything 
 
 Could be as chill as this. 
 When wantry winds with dirges bring 
 
 The Frost-king's pallid kiss. 
 
 But what of that? Our hopes remain, 
 Our faith and love thrice blessed, 
 
 For sweetest flowers bloom again 
 At nature's fair behest. 
 
 Beachwood, farewell! a parting sigh 
 Re-echoes through the haze ; 
 
 Till gentle spring again draws nigh. 
 Farewell, dear Beachwood days! 
 
 57 
 
Democracy 
 
 BEGGARS: A RHAPSODY 
 
 "Beggars! Beggars! Beggars!" 
 Thus the great man berated us: 
 In an uncontrollable outburst from his agitated in- 
 terior 
 He denounced us as beggars. 
 
 Let us comijiune; let us take counsel, 
 Let us see what is a beggar : 
 One who asks alms, 
 One who asks favors. 
 One who supplicates, 
 One who fawns, 
 One who entreats humbly, 
 One who bows low and invites kicks. 
 One who humbles himself before his masters. 
 One who prostrates himself for a crust. 
 One who crawls upon his belly for the husks where- 
 with to fill it — 
 Lazarus at Dives' table: 
 
 Homer, aged and blind, holding out his hand: 
 Belisarius asking alms: 
 
 Blind ones and maimed ones, in all the ages. 
 Now" placarded in the surging streets. 
 Mute, expectant, patient, marvellous. 
 
 Whoof! what a resounding whack from the Great 
 One. 
 
 Even as these lowly outcasts are we in his estimation. 
 
 Beggars! How shall we hurl back this contemptu- 
 ous epithet — 
 
 38 
 
 J 
 
Beggars: A Rhapsody 
 
 How effervesce the vials of our indignation? 
 And yet — shadows of the eternal verities! — 
 If, peradventure, this thing should be true? 
 Suppose we were — suppose we are — beggars? 
 
 Oh, deathless song, freighted with limpid waters 
 
 from the fountain of Truth, 
 Become impregnated with my meaning — 
 Become pellucid and clear to the understanding. 
 
 Beggars! Have we not all been beggars — ^we, the 
 
 toilers and the moilers — 
 From the days when we were first enslaved — 
 Aye, enslaved, by the mightier and more cunning 
 
 ones? 
 The great man spoke of us slightingly, sneeringly, 
 And a Fool in Motley (a very useful fool) uncovers 
 
 his words 
 And would place him in the pillory. 
 Nevertheless the great man spoke truly, 
 Even though it was in a moment of political aber- 
 ration — 
 For we have been beggars, oh, my brothers, 
 And we are beggars at this moment which dieth in 
 the hour-glass. 
 
 Oh, Fool in Motley, cannot you see the hoUowness 
 
 of your reproach? 
 For the Exalted One but followed the unconscious 
 
 cerebration of his brain : 
 Unguardedly his tongue spake wisdom. 
 Ye reverberating years, jostling each other against 
 
 the wheels of Time, 
 
 39 
 
Democracy 
 
 Bear witness that he spake truly. 
 
 Beggars and robbers — into these was the world di- 
 vided from the beginning; 
 
 Beggars and robbers — into these is humanity 
 moulded to-day. 
 
 The blessed green earth is ready to nurse all her 
 children, 
 
 Yet countless millions are torn from her dugs to 
 perish wretchedly. 
 
 Beggars! Hollow and doleful, like the cry of the 
 lone dog on his death-watch. 
 
 Echoes the word against the crags of the ages. 
 
 When Esau bartered his birth-right, that he might 
 live, we were beggars; 
 
 When Israel sighed in the wilderness for the flesh- 
 pots of Egypt, we were beggars ; 
 
 When India laid her tawny millions upon the altars 
 of Famine, we were beggars; 
 
 When the black slaves first felt the lash of their 
 pitiless masters, we were beggars; 
 
 Even unto the days of industrial slavery, we are 
 beggars. 
 
 We, the toilers, have begged, entreated, humbly pe- 
 titioned ; 
 And occasionally we have ceased begging: 
 Occasionally a blind, desperate fury hath seized us — 
 Do you remember in what year the Bastile fell? 
 
 Beggars! The great Church embroiders her gar- 
 ments with them — 
 The nether hem of her purple robes — 
 
 40 
 
Beggars: A Rhapsody 
 
 As she sweeps majestically by. 
 
 They fringe her princely edifices oi worship; 
 
 They crowd the approaches, hat in hand, 
 
 With staves, with bandages, with sores unhealed and 
 
 eloquent. 
 It is grandiose, oh, Church, to drop pennies to the 
 
 festering multitude : 
 Thy charity and piety shall be duly advertised. 
 For there is great profit in beggars. 
 
 And like unto them even are we. 
 
 Doth not the rich man also ease his conscience with 
 us? 
 
 With hero medals (not for the starving), with libra- 
 ries, with hospitals — 
 
 Even with Foundations and Universities, 
 
 In which to teach the gospel of robbery. 
 
 They would appease the beggars — 
 
 With largess from our kings, the industrial lords 
 of all— 
 
 The filchers of marrow from our bones; 
 
 Behold them, smug in their stolen power of giving — 
 
 This giving of our substance, oh, toilers! 
 
 Some even prate of the desirableness of dying poor, 
 
 Of envying the end of us beggars. 
 
 Sacredly, however, they will be found guarding the 
 principal 
 
 Which, with the aid of other robbers, they primarily 
 wrested from us. 
 
 Grinding all of us, murdering some of us, to gain 
 possession. 
 
 41 
 
Democracy 
 
 And shall the largess of these malefactors wipe out 
 the crimson stains? 
 
 Shall we be deceived by their giving and our beg- 
 ging? 
 
 By the giving of others like unto them? — 
 
 Vultures who purchase Immunity with holy 
 bribes ? — 
 
 Hyenas who erect altars for ready absolution? 
 
 Let us arise like men and not slaves — 
 
 Let us say: We, the beggars, here abjure beggar)' 
 
 forever. 
 Let us declare : We have foolishly cried for crusts, 
 When we should have demanded our rights, 
 And not having received our rights, we shall take 
 
 them now — 
 Not as robbers, but as the robbed, coming Into their 
 
 own. 
 Tremble, oh, robbers, that we, the beggars, longer 
 
 refuse to beg; 
 That we refuse longer to live in blindness, in Ignor- 
 ance, in ox-like vacuity, 
 Content with the husks while ye hoard up the 
 
 substance ; 
 Content with rags while ye flaunt the fine-spun Ifnen 
 
 in the faces of our loved ones, the spinners. 
 Even as King Cophetua exalted the beggar maid, 
 So shall these spinners be exalted, but not by you, 
 
 oh, robbers. 
 There is a greater and a juster even than King 
 
 Cophetua: 
 He shall hear their prayers and lift up the despised 
 
 and lowly. 
 
 42 
 
Beggars: A Rhapsody 
 
 It is enough, oh, kings of the earth! 
 
 We have built your pyramids and begged ; 
 
 We have fought your battles and begged; 
 
 We have conquered the elements for you, and 
 
 begged ; 
 We have tilled your fields, like beasts of burden — 
 Brothers to the ox, as beloved Markham tells in 
 
 words imperishable; 
 We have descended into the clefts of the earth to 
 
 bring up diamonds and gold — 
 We have slaved and begged, but it is enough ! 
 
 Glorify to us, fat divines, no longer the delights 
 
 of poverty, 
 Or the bliss of the hereafter for those who starve 
 
 in the name of religion. 
 Thunder not how necessary it is for us to lick the 
 
 hand which feeds us. 
 We know the hand which feeds all. 
 It is not fat and swollen with softness. 
 It is not lined with lines of luxury and lechery: 
 It is gnarled and fissured and hard and torn and 
 
 bleeding — 
 That is the hand which feeds all — 
 That is the hand which shall cease to beg — 
 That is the hand which shall surely come into its 
 
 own. 
 
 For tremulous with light in the East is the new 
 
 dawn: 
 Let us arise, oh, my brothers, as it breaks and floods 
 
 us with beatific glory. 
 
 43 
 
Democracy 
 
 Industrial slaves shall see it and shake off their 
 
 chains ; 
 Human cattle shall see it and burst their mute 
 
 bondage. 
 Come to the glory-feast, oh, Edwin Markham, 
 You who first seared the world with the fire of 
 
 our agony; 
 You who loved us, and pitied us, and warned our 
 
 oppressors — 
 You shall be first upon the Mountain of Joy: 
 For the glorious day is not far away — it is break- 
 ing- 
 Its soft, luminous light is bursting into flame over 
 
 the hill tops — 
 Over the huts and the quarries, 
 Over the mines and the factories, 
 Over the whirring sweatshops, 
 Over the hospitals and the graves of the martyrs. 
 
 And in the beneficent light of this new day 
 
 We shall be new men and women and children ; 
 
 Beggars and robbers shall melt away, 
 
 Like icicles, from the social fabric. 
 
 Then shall the great man's words be truly an- 
 swered ; 
 
 Then shall the Fool in Motley become speechless 
 with astonishment, 
 
 For, lo, there shall be a new heaven upon a new 
 earth — 
 
 Robberless and beggarless. 
 
 44 
 
 J 
 
Abdication Day 
 
 ABDICATION DAY 
 
 Lords of men, lords of men, 
 Throw your scepters far away; 
 
 Seize the pen, seize the pen — 
 This is abdication day! 
 
 Cast aside, cast aside, 
 
 Crowns and royal purple all; 
 
 Totter here, totter there — 
 Read your doom upon the wall. 
 
 Drop a tear, drop a tear, 
 
 For 5^our dream of rights divine ; 
 
 Ready now, steady now — 
 
 Drink your own self-poisoned wine. 
 
 Farewell kings, stupid things! 
 
 Own ye now the people's sway? 
 One last look — close the book — 
 
 This is abdication day. 
 
 45 
 
Democracy 
 
 THE KEEPER OF THE KINE 
 
 The weary sun, low glancing, 
 Had slowly crept to bed ; 
 
 The moon and stars were dancing 
 And reigning in his stead. 
 
 The air seemed filled with gladness, 
 And peace seemed everywhere; 
 
 There seemed no room for sadness, 
 And none for carking care. 
 
 So I, a youth romantic, 
 
 Went forth to serenade, 
 Outrigged in costume antic, 
 
 Alone and unafraid. 
 
 Arrayed in cap and feather. 
 And things like Romeo's, 
 
 A cape for stormy weather, 
 And shoes with pointed toes. 
 
 I ne'er had had a Juliet, 
 
 But now I wanted one; 
 I ne'er had been a fool yet 
 
 With lover's motley on. 
 
 "Ho, ho," I cried, "ye mountains 
 And valleys bathed in light, 
 
 Ye everlasting fountains 
 Of lovers' pure delight, 
 
 46 
 
 J 
 
The Keeper of the Kine 
 
 "Behold for wooing ready, 
 With mandolin I come; 
 
 Guide me with love-light steady 
 To find my girl at home. 
 
 *'And be she in a tower, 
 
 Or in a hovel low, 
 I'll make her own the power 
 
 Of lover's heart aglow." 
 
 Beneath the moon I rambled, 
 O'er many hills and dales; 
 
 Now 'mongst the sheep I ambled. 
 Now 'mongst the kine in vales. 
 
 The shepherds all were thinking, 
 In dreams, of Phyllis true; 
 
 The dairymen were drinking, 
 In dreams, the health of Prue. 
 
 And I, my quest rewarded, 
 Too, found my lady fair; 
 
 A lamp her slumbers guarded 
 Upon the cottage stair. 
 
 And there I sang my ditty. 
 
 And twanged my modern lute; 
 
 I sang — but more's the pity, 
 I wished I had been mute; 
 
 47 
 
Democracy 
 
 For like a Bull of Bashan 
 
 Her kinsman strong came out, 
 
 Resenting my invasion 
 
 With many an angry shout. 
 
 At first, with marrow frozen, 
 I stood and trembled thus; 
 
 And then, in words well chosen, 
 I said, amid the fuss: 
 
 "No other thought but kindness 
 For thee and thine was mine; 
 
 Then why misunderstand me, 
 O, Keeper of the Kine?" 
 
 At that, with sudden fury, 
 He fell upon me there; 
 
 He seemed my judge and jury 
 And smote me everywhere. 
 
 He chased me o'er the meadow, 
 He threw me in the pool, 
 
 And when I was near dead, oh, 
 I heard him say: ''You fool! 
 
 "No other thought but kindness 
 For thee and thine is mine; 
 
 Pray, don't misunderstand me — 
 I'm Keeper of tlie Kine." 
 
 48 
 
After the Verdict 
 
 AFTER THE VERDICT 
 
 Argument — A beautiful woman is accused of 
 poisoning her husband; her lover testifies against her 
 at the trial J but the jury renders a verdict of acquit- 
 tal. Thereupon, her soliloquy. 
 
 Oh, Jury, Jury, what a sweet sound has this word, 
 
 Jury; 
 Yet how bitterly I hated you yesterday, 
 When you held my life in the balance, 
 When you looked stern and cruel at every wile of 
 
 mine: 
 But to-day you have come around to my way of 
 
 thinking — 
 To-day I love you — I could kiss you — every one of 
 
 you! 
 
 And yet, now that you have given me back this 
 
 life— 
 This remnant of feminine existence — 
 What shall I do with it? 
 
 Was it worth the game for me to shun death ? 
 Death! When I think of him who lies buried — 
 When I think of him in his final agony. 
 Shrieking for mercy, enduring the bitterest pangs, 
 Glaring at me with his terrible eyes 
 As I placed his head upon a pillow — 
 Strong as a lion in his last mad convulsions! 
 
 49 
 
Democracy 
 
 Oh, Jury, Jury, Jury- 
 Perhaps it had been better you had not acquitted 
 
 me; 
 For a cowardice worse than death steals over me, 
 Takes possession of me as I think. 
 
 Where shall I go — what do — to escape those terri- 
 ble eyes? 
 
 Shall I fly to my paramours and smother them with 
 feigned kisses? 
 
 Shall I wanton with prodigals and bring them to 
 the husks? 
 
 Shall I forgive him — the basest of them — the wretch 
 
 Who would have delivered me to the common hang- 
 man? 
 
 Shall I seek oblivion in drink, in opium, in cocaine? 
 
 Shall I enter the haunts of vice and defy all de- 
 cency ? — 
 
 Living, breathing, eating, drinking, with all my 
 senses, 
 
 Yet dead — oh, dead — at heart? 
 
 Tell me, oh, my peers, what would you do? 
 
 Yield to a fierce desire to kill everybody? 
 
 Drink, swagger, swindle, rob, steal? 
 
 Run amuck, right up against Society, 
 
 Until Society shot you dow n like dogs, 
 
 Shot you down and so ended a mutual misery ? 
 
 50 
 
After the Verdict 
 
 You are mute, abashed, oh, my Jury — 
 
 Your pale, trembling lips fail to answer — 
 
 You look with staring eyes at the same horrid ob- 
 ject which I see, 
 
 And half articulate you begin to frame excuses — 
 
 But )^ou shall not utter them! 
 
 Hold, hold, hold, I say! 
 
 I'll stop my ears — I'll run away — you cannot de- 
 tain me! 
 
 Cannot? Ah, of course, you cannot. 
 
 Being once acquitted, I am safe, I am free! 
 
 Free from the wrath of man, and of God — 
 
 Free from the wrath of God? 
 
 Oh, merciful Saviour, Thou who didst pardon once 
 
 The thief upon the cross — 
 
 If I knew — if I knew — if I knew — 
 
 That by falling here upon my poor knees, 
 
 By kissing Thy feet as the sinner did of old, 
 
 By imploring Thee with all my power of being, 
 
 For pardon — not in brazen defiance, but humble^ — 
 
 Not in bold shamelessness, asking the favors of men, 
 
 Begging a sordid and worthless boon of existence — 
 
 But kissing Thy feet in the lowliest and humblest 
 
 of sorrow — 
 Begging for that pardon which only Thou canst 
 
 give to the contrite, 
 Consecrating my poor forfeit body — 
 Consecrating my poor human endeavor — 
 To Thee in token of atonement — Ah, if I knew! — 
 
 51 
 
Democracy 
 
 Oh, God made manifest, pardon me, see, I am 
 
 humble ! 
 As I kneel, write anew in the sand a long time. 
 Then slowly raise Thy head in the majesty of lor- 
 
 giveness, 
 Look around and behold if any shall say me nay. 
 Even those terrible eyes may then soften their stony 
 
 judgment — 
 Even the sounds of his dying agony may then fade 
 
 into whispers of pardon. 
 Then shall I kiss Thy feet, again, again, and again. 
 Then shall I go and promise to sin no more. 
 
 EPHEMERIS 
 
 She rose in beauty when the sun 
 Sipped nectar in the eastern sky, 
 
 But, ah, her little life was run 
 
 Ere all the founts of day were dry. 
 
 I loved her for her beauteous form. 
 Her ruby lips, enchanting eyes; 
 
 I longed to shield her from the storm. 
 But she disdained all mortal ties. 
 
 They laid her not in cold, cold earth — 
 That fate was left, alas, for me; 
 
 She owed the skies her airy worth. 
 And stayed for none below, nor me. 
 
 52 
 
Ephemeris 
 
 Night smiles upon the mountains bare, 
 And shakes her crown of diadems; 
 
 Night's daughters clasp her over there, 
 All numbered with the starry gems. 
 
 The cold winds beat upon my breast, 
 My fancy sees her when the moon 
 
 Climbs up with love-lorn swains to jest. 
 And then I dream of rosy June. 
 
 I dream and dream of what was then. 
 
 And all my life seems as a day, 
 Till voices weird behaunt the glen 
 
 And fright the traveler on his way. 
 
 Come, cooling night-wind, come, fond breeze, 
 And mingle with my jarring sighs; 
 
 Or, soughing softly through the trees. 
 Temper my moaning and my cries. 
 
 Too well, too well, I loved the child 
 Of one-day beauty, heaven-born; 
 
 But still my heart beats high and wild 
 For her, my vanished dream of morn, 
 
 Who rose in beauty when the sun 
 Sipped nectar in the eastern sky. 
 
 And, ah, whose little life was run 
 Ere all the founts of day were dry. 
 
 53 
 
Democracy 
 
 THE PARSON'S RIDE 
 
 Funny name for the little 'un, eh, stranger? Wall, 
 Baptis' John fs rather queer, I'll allow, for a gal. 
 But come, tie your horse and sit down here awhile, 
 And I'll tell you about that 'ere chit of a chil', 
 While she's rompin' around us, from log unto log, 
 A-playin' hide'n' seek with her lazy old dog. 
 
 On a cold winter's night, not so durned long ago — 
 It is pretty nigh onto six years, p'rhaps, though — 
 There knocked at the preacher-man's door suthin' 
 
 rough, 
 A grizzled gold-miner, loud, sinful and tough 
 As they make 'em in these here wild diggin's, but 
 
 now 
 For once he seemed broken in spirits, I'll 'low, 
 And the tears down his nose wuz a-stealin' quite 
 
 free. 
 Or else 'twas the frost, for his eyes couldn't see 
 Till he wiped them and wiped them, again and 
 
 again. 
 He stood coughin' and clearin' his throat — so — and 
 
 then, 
 "Little Parson," at last he spoke up, "there's a job 
 A-waitin' for you down at Kingfisher's Knob; 
 For the babe is a-dyin' and Mary is wild. 
 Afore it is dead, you should christen the child. 
 I'm a tough proposition, and never could see 
 That christenin's done very much good for me. 
 But Mary thinks otherwise, praying at home 
 That afore it's too late with the Parson I'll come. 
 
 54 
 
The Parson s Ride 
 
 I wouldn't intrude, if it wa'n't for her sake — 
 Hers and the babe's which the angels may take." 
 
 *'But good man," sez the Parson — he was new in 
 
 those parts, 
 With lots o' book-larnin' but the kindest of hearts — 
 "My church is the Baptis' which doesn't allow 
 The baptizin' of infants, in no shape, nohow. 
 'Repent an' believe an' be baptized,' so it's writ; 
 And then it must be by immersion — that's it — 
 And how can this babe fill the bill? It's absurd, 
 And would be in conflict with God's Holy Word. 
 The child's done no harm, and if so it must die, 
 I'll warrant its passage right clean through the sky." 
 
 ''Little Parson," sez Boggs, "them's my sentiments, 
 
 too; 
 That sweet little innocent lamb would slip through 
 The gates made of pearl — I wish I was as sure 
 Of a heavenly crown as that angel so pure — 
 But think of my Mary, who's otherwise taught — 
 Just think of her. Parson, of the battle she's fought — 
 And come with me now, and you'll never regret 
 This slip from your princerpels, never, you bet." 
 
 But the Parson, in doubt, stood a-shakin' his head, 
 " 'Tis impossible — tempt me not, man," so he said ; 
 And besides, it was meetin' night in his own church, 
 And how could he leave his own flock in the lurch ? 
 
 Now that Boggs was a terror I've hinted afore; 
 Had he followed his usual course he'd a-swore 
 And pulled out his pistols all loaded for gore; 
 
 55 
 
Democracy 
 
 But here was a different kind of a balk — 
 
 It wasn't no case for no shootin', but talk; 
 
 But Boggs was no hand for to argy — then, too, 
 
 His Mary was waitin' and prayin' he knew: 
 
 So he picked up that Parson like lightning, why, 
 
 man. 
 He yanked him near faintin,' right onto old Nan, 
 And then up behind him with a bound he went, too, 
 And over the Parson his great-coat he threw; 
 Then down through the valley — geewhizz, what a 
 
 ride! 
 The good mare jes' tried to jump out of her hide. 
 And at last there they landed, all smokin' and sore — 
 Sore at least was the Parson — by Si Boggs' door. 
 
 "Forgive me," sez Boggs, as he hurried him in, 
 "God knows I don't mean you should do any sin, 
 But look at my Mary, then say if you choose. 
 That w^hat her own lips now would ask you'd refuse, 
 And I'll say nothin' more and cry quits — Parson, 
 
 look! 
 Is there any such argyments found in your book?" 
 
 And the Parson, dumbfounded and shaken to bits. 
 Seemed to lose all control of himself and his wits — 
 He just sprinkled that child, and ne'er offered to 
 
 dip, 
 And all his objections he just let 'em slip. 
 And he went through it all, just like one in a dream, 
 And I wondered that Mary didn't see it and scream, 
 For he didn' ask no questions, but christened it John: 
 Then he turned and he borrowed old Nan and was 
 
 gone. 
 
 56 
 
The Parson s Ride 
 
 And then came the change, and the fever it broke, 
 And the little 'un rallied and smiled at the joke, 
 Till Mary and Boggs couldn't help but smile, too. 
 For John was a gal, as they very well knew. 
 'Twas too late to chase after the Parson that night; 
 "If she lives," sez Si Boggs, "I will have it made 
 
 right." 
 And they watched and they prayed — leastwise Mary 
 
 did pray — 
 Till Boggs sez, "She's charming the fever away." 
 And that infant jest grabbed hold of life and grew 
 
 up 
 Along with that good-natured, lazy old pup. 
 
 Did the Parson correct the mistake? Wall, I guess. 
 And he called her Joan, at her mother's reques'. 
 But the joke wouldn't keep, and the nickname it 
 
 stuck. 
 And so Baptis' John is the little 'un's luck. 
 That's her there, a-rompin' — that's Mary a-sewin' — 
 And you know who's Boggs; what is that, stranger, 
 
 goin' ? 
 Wall, warn't it all queer? But my dear little wife 
 Will have it that baptizin' saved the child's life. 
 
 57 
 
Democracy 
 
 ACONCAGUA AND THE ANT-HILLS 
 
 In dreams the Andese Giant dread 
 
 Went rambling one fair day, 
 To where a hundred ant-hills red 
 
 Big and contented lay. 
 
 The ant-hills had a heap of pride, 
 
 And did not hesitate 
 Themselves and neighbors, far and wide, 
 
 Loud to felicitate. 
 
 The ants in their interiors, 
 
 To them seemed pretty big, 
 Although they were inferiors 
 
 And only fit to dig. 
 
 The grasses of the pampas swayed 
 
 As far as they could see. 
 And to their minds each tiny blade 
 
 Was big as any tree. 
 
 A fire-fly who winged his flight 
 
 Across the mighty plain. 
 And stopped an hour in the night. 
 
 They ne'er forgot again. 
 
 And any mouse that passed that way 
 
 Had their profound respect; 
 And how about the ant-bear, eh } 
 
 He scared them, I expect. 
 
 58 
 
Aconcagua and the Ant-Hills 
 
 When Aconcagua, with a roar, 
 
 Now darkened all the sky, 
 The Judgment Day, the ant-hills swore. 
 
 Was surely drawing nigh. 
 
 And each unto his neighbor talked 
 
 In tones of hoarse distress; 
 Meanwhile Old Aconcagua walked 
 
 Just near them, more or less. 
 
 In dreams he went a-courting gay 
 
 His lady of the snows. 
 There where her fair proportions lay 
 
 In rockiest repose. 
 
 As for the ant-hills, they to him 
 Were neither here nor there. 
 
 And off he tramped, this lover grim. 
 To find his lady fair. 
 
 But scarcely had the thunder of 
 His heavy foot-steps ceased, 
 
 And scarcely had the wonder of 
 His shadow now decreased, 
 
 Than all the ant-hills 'gan to chaff. 
 And slap their sides and bawl: 
 
 "Come back, come back and hear us laugh- 
 We're not afraid at all !" 
 
 59 
 
Democracy 
 
 THE SILENT ARMY 
 
 (A Vision of Labor Day) 
 
 What do I see, oh, Labor, leading your bannered 
 
 hosts ? 
 It seems like another army — an army of marching 
 
 ghosts. 
 
 First come the murdered children, from factory 
 
 and mine; 
 What a mute and white procession — there are even 
 
 babes in line! 
 
 Then come the older victims, on Mammon's altar 
 
 slain, 
 Heroes of pick and shovel who ne'er shall work 
 
 again. 
 
 And now the white-plague legions come panting 
 hand in hand — 
 
 From closely penned-up quarters, a gallant sweat- 
 shop band. 
 
 And next the gray-haired toilers are crawling into 
 
 view — 
 The aged poor who, dying, no time for dying knew. 
 
 Right after them, dear shadows, how many glide 
 along — 
 
 The mothers and their loved ones; a ragged, starv- 
 ing throng. 
 
 60 
 
The Silent Army 
 
 Shall we invoke their voices, as well as noiseless 
 
 tread, 
 And let the gay world listen unto their cries for 
 
 bread ? 
 
 Or see, perhaps, the saddest of all the marchers 
 
 bold— 
 The doubly-dead fair women whose bodies once 
 
 were sold? 
 These with accusing finger — those with accusing 
 
 eye — 
 Behold the shameful picture! — the white slaves 
 
 passing by. 
 
 And prisoners and martyrs, who died that we might 
 
 live, 
 I see in clanking irons, with nothing more to give. 
 
 Pale phalanxes of martyrs, how would the millions 
 
 cheer. 
 Could they behold you marching as I behold you 
 
 here. 
 
 Is it enough, oh, Labor? — shall we shut out these 
 
 ghosts, 
 The shame of all the ages, the profit-murdered 
 
 hosts ? 
 
 If not enough, the living may teach a lesson, too; 
 The unemployed, the bread-line, would make a 
 grand review. 
 
 6i 
 
Democracy 
 
 Put forth the sick and famished, the would-be 
 
 suicide; 
 The crippled, the evicted, and all the undertide. 
 
 The flowers from the meadows up in the deep-blue 
 
 sky, 
 
 In wintry blasts a-whirling, will soon begin to fly. 
 
 Tell this unto the homeless, unto the unemployed, 
 Then listen to their shouting for liberty enjoyed. 
 
 And the pity, oh, the pity, of all this madd'ning 
 
 sight: 
 To think that you, oh, Labor, yourself could set it 
 
 right. 
 
 Oh, giant, marching giant, why longer wear your 
 
 chains. 
 Which you could snap asunder, if you would use 
 
 your brains! 
 
 If all the ghostly marchers escorting you to-day, 
 Could chant one mighty chorus, what would these 
 marchers say? 
 
 Oh, giant, mighty giant, arise, remake the world, 
 Beneath thy peaceful banners for all of us unfurled. 
 
 Declare that greed and grabbing at last have had 
 
 their day. 
 And that all robber systems shall surely pass away. 
 
 62 
 
At the Pierian Spring 
 
 Swear by your murdered brothers, In wildly throb- 
 bing chords — 
 
 We shall have revolution, with ballots for our 
 sw^ords. 
 
 AT THE PIERIAN SPRING 
 
 The poets all had gathered nigh, 
 
 Within the Muses' sacred grove. 
 With charms of lyre and song on high 
 Their kinship to the Nine to prove. 
 There was a throng — 
 A storm of song — 
 
 And, oh, the contest 
 Lasted long. 
 
 Some sang of Jove, the grandiose, 
 
 Some sang of Venus passionate; 
 Some sang of Mars and martial woes. 
 And some of Furies and their hate. 
 The Muses smiled — 
 Each poet went wild, 
 
 And deemed himself 
 The favored child. 
 
 And, lo, amid the exultant throng, 
 
 A laughter-bringing figure crept ; 
 He, too, would venture on a song, 
 
 And while they laughed he blushed and wept. 
 His feet were bare, 
 
 63 
 
Democracy 
 
 His tangled hair, 
 Was ruffled by 
 The midnight air. 
 
 He shivered, twanged his broken lyre, 
 And sang, first low — then unafraid, 
 Till, glowing with celestial fire, 
 
 He proved his kinship! Then he said 
 "Oh, Muse, oh, Muse, 
 Do not refuse 
 
 Me now that promised 
 Pair of shoes." 
 
 FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE 
 
 Give me faith and my poor wraith 
 Him shall worship from afar, 
 
 Firmly trusting what He saith; 
 In my soul His guiding star. 
 
 Givt me hope and I will grope, 
 From the very gates of hell. 
 
 Upward o'er the rugged slope. 
 To the place where angels dwell. 
 
 Give me love and from above 
 
 Heaven shall send its sacred choir 
 
 (All the world to goodness move), 
 Breathing with celestial fire. 
 
 64 
 
The Cry of the Horses 
 
 THE CRY OF THE HORSES 
 
 When the city is heavy with silence, 
 
 And the night her peace observes, 
 Save where, grinding and scolding and grumbling, 
 
 A trolley-car roundeth the curves. 
 While the drowsy bells in the steeple 
 
 Are telling their midnight beads. 
 In sorrow for all the sleepers. 
 
 In sorrow for evil deeds: 
 Then cometh the cry of the horses, 
 
 The cry of their steel-shod feet, 
 And they speak to me on my pillow 
 
 As they clatter down the street. 
 
 Oh, list to the cry of the horses, 
 The wail of the voiceless horses, 
 The sobs of the poor, dumb horses. 
 
 As they clatter down the street. 
 They groan in their vale of bondage. 
 They utter their wail of bondage, 
 They spell out their tale of bondage. 
 
 By the clatter of their feet. 
 
 **We have served you well, oh, humans. 
 
 For ages, and ages, and ages; 
 The sum of our service is written 
 
 In history, pages on pages. 
 And now, in the newest of eras, 
 
 With the motors at your beck. 
 Oh, list to our sorrowful pleading, 
 
 65 
 
Democracy 
 
 Take the yoke from off our neck. 
 And our wheels with the heavy burdens, 
 
 Bid them revolve no more — 
 Clap hands and tell us to scatter 
 
 For Horseland's happy shore. 
 
 "Faithfully we have served you, 
 
 Since history began; 
 In peace, in war, at all times. 
 
 The horse was with the man. 
 With Pharaoh in the Red Sea, 
 
 We buffeted the waves; 
 In the charge at Balaklava 
 
 We shared the Britons' graves; 
 With Caesar and his legions 
 
 We pranced in triumph, too, 
 And victor and the vanquished 
 
 Rode us at Waterloo. 
 
 "Not all of us are stolid 
 
 And sodden and dulled with pain: 
 Some — fleet as the Ukraine charger 
 
 Which Mazeppa rode a-plain — 
 Fly over the laid-out courses. 
 
 At the crack of their riders' whips. 
 And crash in the awful finish, 
 
 With quivering mane and lips. 
 Man is the god we have followed, 
 
 In our mute and faithful w^ay — 
 Man, with his lash and his red spur, 
 
 Who is ready to drive and flay. 
 
 66 
 
Helen Irene 
 
 ''This is our true confession, 
 
 Though scoffers we do not lack 
 Who see but the horse in the statue, 
 
 Ignoring the man on his back. 
 They are the fellows who argue 
 
 That man is a pitiful fraud, 
 Whom horses should grab by the collar — 
 
 And strew him all over the sod. 
 Weil may we pray that forgiveness 
 
 Shall cover this impious crew; 
 Punish no longer, oh, humans, 
 
 Us all for the sins of the few. 
 
 ''Bid us go journey a-meadow, 
 
 Where the skies are so blue and serene; 
 Where the purling brooks purl forever, 
 
 And grasses are juicy and green; 
 W^here the starved and the lame and the wounded 
 
 The lashed and the maimed and the old, 
 Shall all find their punishment ended, 
 
 Just as our prophets foretold." 
 This and much more, say the horses. 
 
 With the cry of their steel-shod feet. 
 When they speak to me on my pillow, 
 
 As they clatter down the street. 
 
 HELEN IRENE 
 
 Helen Irene, Helen Irene, 
 
 I'll tell you your fortune: 
 You're going to be queen; 
 
 You're going to be queen, 
 Helen Irene — 
 
 67 
 
Democracy 
 
 You ask how I know it? 
 It's plain to be seen. 
 
 Helen Irene, Helen Irene, 
 I've been to the gypsies. 
 Out there on the green; 
 And all is serene. 
 
 Yes, Helen Irene, 
 The gypsies they tell me 
 You're going to be queen. 
 
 The queen of what country. 
 
 The queen of what people? — 
 Ah, hear them now ringing 
 The bells in the steeple. 
 
 Light-hearted laughing bells, 
 Merrily chaffing bells, 
 Wedding bells! 
 Wedding bells! 
 Wedding bells! 
 
 For, Helen Irene, Helen Irene, 
 We're going to be married, 
 'Tis plain to be seen; 
 'Tis plain to be seen. 
 Sweet Helen Irene, 
 And this heart is your kingdom. 
 
 My Helen Irene. 
 So ring the light-hearted, laughing bells, 
 The merrily chaffing bells — 
 Wedding bells! 
 Wedding bells! 
 Wedding bells! 
 68 
 
Knitting on the Train 
 
 KNITTING ON THE TRAIN 
 
 I saw a woman knitting on the train, 
 An aged woman, rather poor and plain, 
 Yet handsomer by far to me was she 
 Than any dame of fashion e'er could be. 
 And o'er her silver head a halo pla3^ed, 
 As with her stitches thus her body swayed. 
 She was knitting, knitting, knitting on the train- 
 In my mind I see her knitting there again. 
 
 Oh, how pleasant and attractive was her mien. 
 As we bounded past the hills and valleys green; 
 And how fast her loving, nimble fingers flew, 
 Now that nearer to a certain place we drew. 
 She was evidently busy with a thought, 
 As well as with the hands with which she wrought, 
 There a-knitting, knitting, knitting on the train — 
 Yes, I plainly see her knitting there again. 
 
 And nimbly flew her fingers, till the ball 
 Of yarn upon her lap grew very small; 
 And we felt just like applauding when, at last. 
 Her loving work was finished good and fast. 
 Then she caught the merry glances of a child. 
 And she raised her specs a little while she smiled 
 And proudly said, while smoothing back her locks, 
 "There, I've finished the dear boy a pair of socks." 
 
 6q 
 
Democracy 
 
 Then she gathered up her bundles and was gone. 
 She decHned our proffered help — she needed none, 
 For there, broad smiling, at the step, was "Pa"; 
 He kissed her as he cried out, "Hello, Ma!" 
 And ever3^body blessed her and was glad. 
 Because of that great treasure which she had; 
 And everybody pictured her pure joy 
 When she should send it to their soldier boy. 
 
 THE DREAM-DOG 
 
 The dream-dog is a ferocious brute — 
 
 A ferocious brute is he! 
 He gnashes his teeth that drip with gore. 
 
 When he's got you up a tree. 
 But no matter how fierce and dangerous 
 
 Is this ugly-looking pup. 
 You can laugh in j^our terror and jump right down 
 
 And escape — by waking up. 
 
 And then when you go to sleep again. 
 
 And the autos heave in sight. 
 And the chauffeurs with their goggle-eyes 
 
 Glare at you in your fright; 
 You can let them do their very worst. 
 
 And on horrors fairly sup, 
 For when they've killed you a dozen times. 
 
 You can escape — by waking up. 
 
 70 
 
The Unhappy Dispatch of the Little Father 
 
 Should the dream-girl come and laugh at you, 
 
 And jilt you to your face; 
 Should your heart just break and your brain just 
 crack, 
 
 With some terrible disgrace; 
 And should you rush to suicide. 
 
 With one of the guns of Krupp, 
 And should you be to atoms blown, 
 
 You can escape — by waking up. 
 
 And the droning bore who thinks out loud, 
 
 And the chap who whistles much; 
 And the maniac who told you so, 
 
 And the frightful dun — and such; 
 You can meet them all with a saintly grin, 
 
 As bland as the grin of Wup, 
 Our Chinese friend — for you foil them all 
 
 By simply — waking up. 
 
 THE UNHAPPY DISPATCH OF THE 
 LITTLE FATHER 
 
 Must we humans ever cry Oh, God! in our little 
 tragedies — 
 
 As, for example, when a Czar is given his coup-de- 
 grace ? 
 
 Behold him once, adorned with epaulettes and spurs. 
 
 Wearing the crown of the Little Father of millions. 
 
 71 
 
Democracy 
 
 And when he appeared before them, like a sun 
 
 blazing at midday, 
 Bursting with the splendor of his insignias and 
 
 adornments, 
 Could Rasputin himself have prophesied such a 
 
 downfall ? 
 Nebuchadnezzar, afield on all fours, 
 Was not a more humiliating figure ; 
 But Nebuchadnezzar recovered, after eating grass. 
 While Nicholas succumbed to an indigestion of 
 
 bullets. 
 
 Oh, it was a fearful thing, that retribution swift 
 
 and final: — 
 Do we not remember, but a dozen years before. 
 When the people came to lay their petition before 
 
 him. 
 Begging for justice and the privilege of being men 
 
 and women? 
 In wintry snows, row on row, they prayed to him 
 
 as a god, 
 While demons, visible and invisible, grinned in 
 
 derision ; 
 For they knew what was in his heart and in the 
 
 hearts of his Black Hundreds. 
 But the multitude bowed low, moving their poor, 
 
 humble lips, 
 Trusting like children, their sacred Little Father, 
 When, suddenly, Hell opened its jaws and, at this 
 
 atom's command. 
 Belched forth a very hailstorm of lead, 
 Carrying to them the wholesale kiss of death. 
 
 72 
 
The Unhappy Dispatch of the Little Father 
 
 Crimson were the snows when the volleys were over, 
 And the knee-prints of the suppliants were replaced 
 
 by puddles of blood. 
 Hades was gleeful that night; so was the resplendent 
 
 Czar of all the Russias. 
 
 And need we marvel that the forces of evil, in bitter 
 irony, 
 
 Prepared for the Little Father a similar surprise? 
 
 Ha, see him stumble to his execution, his face dis- 
 torted with anguish — 
 
 All the pain that his soul could master at one gulp. 
 
 Like a drunkard, embracing a wooden post — 
 
 The final milepost of his sorry life — 
 
 Behold, he raises his hand; he essays to speak. 
 
 Doubtless there were visions in the air at that 
 
 moment: 
 Visions of his lost happiness at Tsarkoe-Selo; 
 Visions of Siberia, the knout, the clanking chains; 
 Visions of foul dungeons and murders a millionfold ; 
 Visions of gallows-trees, ripe with human fruit; 
 Visions of gutters and starving mothers and 
 
 children ; 
 Visions of multitudinous favorites, pillaging and 
 
 devouring. 
 But above all, there was the vision of those kneeling 
 
 moujiks. 
 Trying so foolishly to exercise the right of petition. 
 
 73 
 
Democracy 
 
 It was all Instantaneous — vivid as lightning. 
 
 Perhaps he hungered to say something in abhorrence 
 of himself; 
 
 Or to plead with his executioners for just a word 
 in extenuation; 
 
 To cry for mercy, as did the sheep in those wintry 
 shambles : 
 
 In liis craven hallucination he could see them again, 
 
 Falling, rising, gasping, when — 
 
 Crack! went the rifles of the proletariat; 
 
 A short, sharp chorus and a short, sharp shrift. 
 
 As in all revolutions, argument was quickly elimi- 
 nated. 
 
 Poetic justice — an eye for an eye, a tooth for a 
 tooth — was triumphant : 
 
 Justice, not only poetic but Mosaic and grim-visaged 
 as death itself. 
 
 For, mark you, kaisers and czarlings of this earth: 
 You cannot forever trample on the rights of the 
 
 people ; 
 They, potentially, are the masters; 
 Eventually they will sense this and the cry of 
 
 democracy will ascend unto heaven. 
 Therefore, take heed! learn your lesson at the foot 
 
 of yon historic post. 
 Clinging to which the Autocrat of Russia, now but 
 
 a worm. 
 Essayed to speak to his former subjects, when words 
 
 failed him utterly. 
 
 74 
 
An Old Mans Darling 
 
 AN OLD MAN'S DARLING 
 
 I was grizzled and gray and growing old, 
 
 The truth there was no denying; 
 There wasn't a soul to inherit my gold, 
 
 Nor to mourn me were I dying; 
 So I made a resolve, as I sat there drinking, 
 To improve the occasion by doing some thinking. 
 
 Said I to myself, "You've made a mistake, 
 
 In paddling your own canoe, sir; 
 And couldn't you see, j^ou merry old rake, 
 
 It was large enough for two, sir? 
 Perhaps even now, if you'll stop your snarling, 
 Somewhere you may find an old man's darling." 
 
 So I went and I advertised for a wife, 
 
 In a paper devoted to Cupid; 
 I sent on my picture, a sketch of my life. 
 
 And also some sentiment stupid. 
 But, bless you, how quickly there came back the 
 
 answer — 
 Imagine my joy and surprise, if you can, sir. 
 
 I scarcely had posted the letter at all — 
 Don't see how the paper was printed — 
 
 When from a fair applicant I had a call. 
 
 And she hemmed and she hawed and she hinted; 
 
 And then, in a trice, we were through with our 
 wooing. 
 
 And married, and ready for billing and cooing. 
 
 75 
 
Democracy 
 
 I had hardly had time to take a good look 
 
 At the prize which I had captured, 
 But now that we were in our own bridal nook, 
 
 With her charms I was quite enraptured. 
 I felt that for ages I'd known her and missed her. 
 And then I took courage and hugged her and kissed 
 her. 
 
 The next thing I did was to praise her long hair, 
 And pat it, when — horror and sorrow! — 
 
 She pulled it right off, saying, "Hang it up there, 
 Where I'll find it for certain, to-morrow." 
 
 I know I'm bald-headed myself, but, God bless you, 
 
 A bald-headed woman's enough to distress you. 
 
 But her eyes, her fine eyes! And, then, what do 
 you think, 
 With a musical laugh, did my beauty.^ 
 She yanked out an optic as quick as a wink — 
 
 To care for it now was my duty. 
 Quite speechless, I held it and gasped ; in a moment, 
 She began to unlimber some more, with this com- 
 ment: 
 
 "Now, ducky, don't stare, while you help me to 
 bed- 
 It is rude — with my arm assist me; 
 Undo it and lay it right up near the head — 
 
 It's the one which you squeezed when you kisseJ 
 me. 
 
 76 
 
An Old Mans Darling 
 
 'Tfs hard on the railway to lose one's poor limblets; 
 But now I don't care since I've got you, my gim- 
 lets." 
 
 Her gimlets! — what next? To assure you I beg 
 My impulse to fly was a sudden one ; 
 
 "Dear hubby, you've heard of Miss Killmansegg" — 
 Said she, with a wink — "I've a wooden one; 
 
 So, come and unstrap it — don't chatter, but hustle — 
 
 I can manage my teeth and my pads and my bustle." 
 
 I suppose I let off a demoniac yell, 
 
 As I made a wild dash for liberty; 
 It certainly seemed I was flying from hell 
 
 And the she-devil some call Old Flibberty. 
 In my flight I arrived at a river and jumped it; 
 And then I sat rubbing my head, for I'd bumped it. 
 
 It sobered me up for the rest of my life. 
 
 Yes, and part of the next, by jingo; 
 For I have no business to hunt for a wife. 
 
 And to court and to use silly lingo. 
 I'd rather remain a gruff bachelor, snarling, 
 Than to take any chance with an old man's darling. 
 
 77 
 
Democracy 
 
 THE ENGINEER 
 
 1 he brain of the train is the engineer, 
 Hurrah, for the man who brings us here! 
 Who gallops for us his iron steed. 
 And puts on the needed extra speed. 
 How faithful and true he remains at his post, 
 To see that no precious lives are lost. 
 As he rides each day through the valley of death. 
 With spirits as free as his engine's breath. 
 Oh, this is the man, with his honest hands. 
 Who grips the old throttle which understands: 
 Who brings all the lovers together at last 
 Where the clergyman binds them so welcome and 
 
 fast ; 
 Who brings all the sons to their mothers' embrace, 
 No matter if heroes or deep in disgrace; 
 Who brings home the daughters in sorrow or joy; 
 Who brings back his parents to each waiting boy; 
 Who gives the last journey to such as depart. 
 With flowers and garlands for each aching heart — 
 Oh, the brain of the train is the engineer: 
 God bless him, the man who brings us here! 
 And should, after many a weary mile, 
 You give him just one brief, friendly smile, 
 He will smile in return — for his train is not late ! — 
 As you hurry along to your friends at the gate. 
 
 78 
 
Kiku Song 
 
 KIKU SONG 
 
 In a garden bloomed a kiku,* 
 
 Marvellously rare; 
 But in vain the people sought it, 
 
 For a wall was there. 
 No one was allowed to see it. 
 
 For it was the King's — 
 Yet he never gave it thought-room, 
 
 He loved other things. 
 
 In a garden walks a maiden, 
 
 She is wondrous fair; 
 But in vain my heart is breaking. 
 
 For a wall is there. 
 I am not allowed to see her, 
 
 Nor can she see me — 
 Yet she hath no other lover. 
 
 And her heart is free. 
 
 WHEN THE SUN SANK AT PLEVNA 
 
 The hoarse artillery belched itself to rest: 
 Turkey, victorious, raised her lunar crest, 
 In crimson garments came the baleful night 
 And lowered on the flying Muscovite, 
 Grief's avalanche rent Alexander's heart, 
 The Czar of all the Russias wept apart; 
 Then cursed he Krud'ner and that weakly flank. 
 And Plevna, where the flower of Russia sank. 
 
 * Japanese name for the chrysanthemum. 
 
 79 
 
Democracy 
 
 Like autumn leaves the Cossack hordes lay slain, 
 A nightmare on the darkened battle-plain. 
 The tearful moon, half blurred, reviewed the sight, 
 While all was still and dreadful leered the night. 
 Then, lo, a wail of anguish rent the air — 
 Moslem hyenas gnawed the wounded Bear; 
 Base robber bands which pity never felt, 
 A second death to dead and dying dealt. 
 The dread fanatics trembled with delight, 
 And licked the blood, and blessed the Prophet^s 
 might. 
 
 A wounded youth, a Pole, in uniform 
 
 He hated, fall'n amid the bursting storm 
 
 Of bullets, heard the groans and prayers tp spare, 
 
 Like echoes of the conflict, here and there. 
 
 "The God of Battles crush thee further still," 
 
 He muttered 'neath his breath, "He must. He will!" 
 
 "Thee, Russia, who so boastfully cam'st forth, 
 
 Bannerd to conquer from the icy north. 
 
 I knelt at Jassy, one short month ago. 
 
 When twenty of my brethren in a row 
 
 Were placed, and mercy knew them not; 
 
 They were deserters, therefore they were shot. 
 
 And why deserters? Why not rather slaves 
 
 With whom the tyrant fills fair Poland's graves? 
 
 They heard faint whispers from the Dnieper's shore, 
 
 Of friends whom they on earth should see no more, 
 
 Then bared their breasts to bullets, as did I 
 
 To-day in battle — thus can Poland die!" 
 
 A long-drawn sigh — a gasp — then all was still: 
 Death had its harvest, plunder had its fill. 
 
 80 
 
A Fair Exchange 
 
 A FAIR EXCHANGE 
 
 An American heiress, ii you please, 
 
 I am, and a rich one, too ; 
 And scores of lovers I have to tease, 
 
 But none of them will do. 
 
 "Our men are handsome" — what of it? 
 
 "They have loving hearts"— oh, fie! 
 "And they have muscle, brains and wit"- 
 
 Yet for them what care I? 
 
 Behold me straining my ardent orbs, 
 
 As I search the ocean blue. 
 For one who all my attention absorbs 
 
 And I've paid his passage, too! 
 
 Things foreign I have always prized, 
 
 From laces to rare old wine; 
 Then why should he not be idolized. 
 
 This musty old lover of mine? 
 
 He's penniless and broken down — 
 Ah, me, what a jealous fling! 
 
 You forget that he has a title and crown. 
 And a duke is a lovely thing! 
 
 You advise me to lift it out of pawn 
 
 His coronet, do you mean? 
 I will, and when he has put it on. 
 
 You shall turn an envious green. 
 8i 
 
Democracy 
 
 Then at last, "Your Grace," you must say to 
 me — 
 
 No longer, "Miss Moneybag" ; 
 For a full-blown duchess I shall be — 
 
 And I don't care a rap for the swag! 
 
 And suppose he should never love me? — ah! — 
 
 But only my glittering gold? 
 And pray who is going to love him — bah ! — 
 
 Or the title which I hold? 
 
 And, therefore, it will be a fair exchange, 
 
 The reward of all my strife; 
 So haste to the pawnshop now with me, 
 
 My dukelet and my life! 
 
 RAGSY 
 
 You say they've arrested the beggar-man's joy, 
 My Ragsy, my poor little motherless boy? 
 You say they have taken him down, underground, 
 To the cells in which sinners and mis'ry abound? 
 He's passed down those terrible steps made of stone. 
 He's heard the huge doors swing ajar with a groan. 
 And the grim walls have stared at him till, in his 
 
 fright, 
 He's shrunk from them as from a ghost in the night. 
 How hollow his footsteps — how mouldy and damp 
 The corridor, lit by that spluttering lamp! 
 I see him, his childish face turning so gray: 
 'Tis plainly the first time he's traveled that way. 
 
 82 
 
Ragsy 
 
 And stealing, you say, was the charge? When the 
 
 Judge 
 Up and asked him who told him to steal, did he 
 
 budge ? 
 Did he say 'twas a miserable wretch who, for drink, 
 An innocent soul to perdition would sink? 
 Of course not — I knew it — a hero, he stood 
 And faced the whole crowd in the court-room — he 
 
 would — 
 Defying the Judge to his face — what a child! — 
 Refusing to answer and driving him wild. 
 No wonder he sent him below for a stretch, 
 And said to himself, ''What a hardened young 
 
 wretch!" 
 
 And now the policeman yanks open the last 
 
 Of the doors in the passage through which they 
 
 have passed, 
 And a noise, as of bedlam, bursts out of that den — 
 A human menagerie — women and men 
 In cages, like beasts, glaring out through the bars, 
 Some yelling like tigers, some cursing their stars, 
 Some singing wild songs, full of devilish glee. 
 Or dancing in frenzy, still out on their spree ; 
 Some tearing their clothes till their bodies are bare. 
 Or twisting a rope for a swing in the air. 
 And some have the horrors and rave for a drink — 
 Shut them up ! Shut them up ! I can't bear it to 
 
 think 
 That Ragsy may hear them, and see them, and say: 
 "Some day they will find my poor daddy that way!" 
 
 83 
 
Democracy 
 
 You sa}^ when they locked him up there, with the 
 
 gang, 
 He paid no attention to what the fools sang, 
 Or the noise, or the blasphemy flying around. 
 But crept in his cell, and there fell on the ground, 
 Just all in a heap, like a rat in a hole — 
 A bundle of rags, somew^here in it a soul. 
 But whether that soul was alive or was dead. 
 It was hard to decide on — is that what you said? 
 
 And what of the morrow? When it came, did he 
 
 peach ? 
 And then did the Judge, looking wise, make a 
 
 speech, 
 Commending the child to the care of the State, 
 And saying: "Now bring in the old reprobate?" 
 Of course not — I knew it! — he wouldn't go back 
 On his dad if they showed him the thumb-screws 
 
 and rack. 
 He was game to the last, and they sentenced him — 
 
 No? 
 You don't mean to say that the Judge let him go, 
 And that down on the road I shall meet him, the 
 
 scamp. 
 Laughing and singing, as onward we tramp? 
 
 You don't like my singing? It's all out of tune. 
 And grates on the ear, would I stop it as soon? 
 Of course I will stop, if you'll tell me about 
 My Ragsy and if the old Judge let him out. 
 
 84 
 
Raffsy 
 
 A week by the calendar, one week ago, 
 
 He was caught and remanded for trial, below. 
 
 In the morning, you say, when they went to his cell, 
 
 They found him all huddled up there as he fell, 
 
 And they carried him out, when at last he would 
 
 own 
 That he felt rather chilly and sick and alone; 
 And, next, in a cot, where the walls are so white. 
 And the nurses so kind, and their footsteps so light. 
 He lay with the fever, which went to his brain. 
 Till he lived all his little life over again. 
 Tramping with daddy and leading him around 
 To where the most pennies were sure to be found; 
 Buying him drinks on the sly, good and hot. 
 Then doing something, but he wouldn't say what. 
 And there he lay keeping his secret and dying! — 
 No, no, don't say that — don't say that — say you're 
 
 lying! 
 Don't tell me he's gone — oh, don't tell me he's dead. 
 But give me a chance and I'll die in his stead! 
 My Ragsy, my little one, murdered, and I — 
 Oh, God! — I his murderer? — Hush, let me fly! 
 Don't hold me, don't hold me, have mercy! — A 
 
 scream : 
 I awake in my fright, and it's all just a dream! 
 
 And there comes my Ragsy, my brave little chap. 
 On guard while his daddy was taking his nap, 
 He's marvelling why I yelled out to him so; 
 Ah, Ragsy, ah, Ragsy, you never will know! 
 Right here on my knees I now offer a prayer, 
 And as for my bottle, I'll smash it right there! 
 For I don't want the snakes in my boots — if I do, 
 I don't want my Ragsy mixed up with them, too. 
 
 85 
 
Democracy 
 
 THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW LOVE 
 
 Oh, the old love and the new love 
 
 They met in my heart to-day, 
 The petulant old love which I deemed 
 
 A thousand miles away — 
 The wandering new love which I thought 
 
 Had never come to staj^ 
 
 Said the old love to the new love: 
 "Oh, get thee hence from here, 
 
 For thou art an intruder in 
 A place to me most dear!" 
 
 But the new love only laughed a laugh. 
 Nor showed the new love fear. 
 
 Said the new love to the old love: 
 
 "A pretty thing art thou, 
 To go and leave thy kingdom fair, 
 
 Then try to claim it now. 
 Fie, fie upon you, nevermore 
 
 Shall you have it back, I vow!" 
 
 Thus the old love and the new love 
 
 They met in my heart to-day, 
 The petulant old love which I deemed 
 
 A thousand miles away — 
 The wandering new^ love which I deemed 
 
 Had never come to stay. 
 
 86 
 
Teacher s Holiday 
 
 TEACHER'S HOLIDAY 
 
 Dear teacher, we are sorry that you are ill to-day; 
 Please give yourself a needed rest — oh, take a holi- 
 day. 
 
 We see you bravely trying to carry on your task, 
 But when 'tis more than you can dp, 'tis more than 
 we can ask. 
 
 You know we love to study, and do not care to play, 
 But rather than to see you thus, we'll gladly lose a 
 day. 
 
 You smile at us, not knowing how very ill you 
 
 look — 
 We, who have learned to read your face, can read 
 
 it like a book. 
 
 Just now you whipped the bad boy in a melancholy 
 
 way, 
 Without your usual relish, the blows went half 
 
 astray. 
 
 And, worse, it did not rouse you, as should such 
 
 exercise — 
 We missed the lion's wrath, the look of danger in 
 
 your eyes. 
 
 And now your voice sounds loaded with drowsiness, 
 
 alack, 
 Like that of some poor sleepy ghost who's lost and 
 
 can't get back. 
 
 87 
 
Democracy 
 
 You nod In grave approval at all our lessons, too, 
 And pass in silence dignified our errors not a few. 
 
 All this means sudden illness — on that we'll stake 
 
 our purse; 
 And when you yawn to hide it, you only make it 
 
 worse. 
 
 Don't say you're rather stupid, that you were up 
 
 last night, 
 And don't, pray don't, apologize, and break our 
 
 hearts — 'tain't right! 
 
 You know we will not chide you for being ill this 
 
 once, 
 So ring the bell and drive us out — disown us for 
 
 the nonce. 
 
 Oh, send us to the play-ground, to romp against 
 our will; 
 
 Tell us go fishing, make us climb the trees on yon- 
 der hill; 
 
 But do not tarry longer, and sit and squirm with 
 
 pain, 
 Just let the doctor have a chance to make you well 
 
 again. 
 
 You will ? Hurrah ! Well spoken ! Go, take your 
 
 holiday. 
 And we shall try, like men, to bear your absence 
 
 while we play. 
 
 88 
 
Cradie Song 
 
 CRADLE SONG 
 
 (A Translation) 
 
 Behind the hills so golden 
 
 The day now sinks to rest, 
 My babe lies in his cradle, 
 
 The birds are in their nest; 
 And one sweet birdling, wee and small, 
 In twilight deep, sends out this call: 
 
 "Good night, good night. 
 
 Beloved child, good night." 
 
 His playthings here are gathered, 
 
 His clothes are on a chair; 
 A mouse within the pantry 
 
 Is rustling here and there. 
 And outside winks the evening star 
 Unto my darling from afar: 
 
 "Good night, good night, 
 
 Beloved child, good night." 
 
 The birds, the stars that twinkle, 
 
 And all things here below. 
 Are pleased to see my baby. 
 
 The angels love him so ; 
 Beneath their wings they bid him creep; 
 They whisper as he goes to sleep: 
 
 "Good night, good night. 
 
 Beloved child, good night." 
 
 89 
 
Democracy 
 
 His cradle rocks so lightly, 
 
 The clock ticks merrily, 
 And lazy flies are humming 
 
 A drowsy lullaby; 
 The burden of their song so low. 
 What can it be? Oh, yes, I know; 
 
 **Good night, good night. 
 
 Beloved child, good night." 
 
 QUO VADIS? 
 
 O venerable hermit, why not tarry among us? 
 
 Why wander afar, shading thine eyes and gazing 
 at the horizon? 
 
 Wherefore that dreamy expression in thy deep- 
 sunken orbs? 
 
 That far-away look which w^e do not understand? 
 
 Oh, hermit, hermit, stay. 
 
 Out of thine humble abode in the desert thou hast 
 come forth: 
 
 Is it to take a last look, to say farewell to all things 
 earthly ? 
 
 Or art thou seeking us, thy friends of moss-grown 
 years ? 
 
 Oft have we smuggled food to thy sequestered habi- 
 tation. 
 
 And likewise additions to thine other necessaries; 
 
 Thou knewest it not, knewest not that we were the 
 ravens 
 
 Sent by the Hand that succors the just. 
 
 90 
 
Quo Vadisf 
 
 And gazing upon thee in thy piety, in stolen 
 
 moments, 
 We saw and we believed; 
 We saw and were made better; 
 We saw and rejoiced in thine integrity, 
 Thy loyalty, thy humbleness, thy devotion. 
 
 "Swing high, sweet spirits, your golden censers, 
 Swing high your offerings before the great White 
 
 Throne, 
 And rejoice, for here is one who must be deemed 
 
 worthy to join you, 
 In glorified company, beloved of the Father." 
 Thus we thought and thus we prayed. 
 
 And now that thou art come forth, gentle hermit. 
 
 We, thine ancient brethren, behold thee; 
 
 In our flowing robes and white beards we, too, are 
 venerable ; 
 
 As such our children and grand-children love and 
 respect us. 
 
 Yet we have fought another fight than that which 
 engaged thine own sinews; 
 
 Whether we deserve credit or honor, what matters 
 it? 
 
 We are not disputing about honors : 
 
 We only know that we love thee. 
 
 That thy venerable face illumined appeals to us. 
 
 We only know that within our poor arms we would 
 enfold thee, 
 
 And upon thy brow imprint the seal of our still- 
 glowing friendship. 
 
 91 
 
Democracy 
 
 We would bid thee to our hearth-stone, to our 
 
 home, 
 To listen to the mad prattle of infants. 
 To partake of good cheer, 
 
 To sit by the ruddy embers in mood reminiscent, 
 To peruse the Good Book, our guide through life, 
 Our guide to the all-welcome Beyond. 
 
 Merchants were wt, of a just measure and balance: 
 Our fiercest struggle not competition nor necessity 
 
 of gain. 
 But to keep ourselves from taking undue advantage. 
 To ward from our conscience the unjust usufruct 
 
 and increment. 
 To preserve our hands from robbery. 
 And so with our ledgers we perused this Book of 
 
 Books ; 
 And so in our daily lives we strove to carry out its 
 
 precepts : 
 We believe that we partly triumphed : 
 God be merciful and obliterate our shortcomings. 
 
 But what is that to thee, oh, gallant subjective 
 
 fighter? 
 We were in the open, with recognized conditions, 
 Thou in the narrow confines of thy cell, 
 Each in his own way grr^ppling with sin, 
 And he who grappleth with sin hath his Gethsem- 
 
 ane. 
 
 92 
 
Quo Vadisf 
 
 But a truce to our pleadings, 
 
 Thy countenance is still averted, 
 
 Still gazing at the distant wavering sky-line: 
 
 Thou art rigid as a statue. 
 
 Kissed by the breezes from the desert, 
 
 Reminders of thy hibernation. 
 
 Quovadis? Whither? Whither? 
 
 Tell us the answer, oh, apparition at eventide: 
 
 Are thine ears enraptured with music of spheres 
 invisible? 
 
 Art thou planning a long-delayed journey, 
 
 A journey to that darling planet 
 
 Which dispenses the most alluring strains? 
 
 Heaven must it be. 
 
 Happiness must it enfold, 
 
 A new existence must it provide, 
 
 For those who have tried, 
 
 For those who have succeeded, 
 
 For those who have failed 
 
 (According to earthly standards). 
 
 But who in all things, at all times, under all con- 
 ditions. 
 
 Have tried their best. 
 
 We see thee slowly fading from view, oh, hermit, 
 
 Our tear-dimmed eyes strain to behold thee, 
 
 In purest exaltation, mounting the stepping-stones 
 
 of heaven, 
 Each step a prayer. 
 
 And wordless and messageless thou fadest. 
 Rending our heart-strings that vainly would hold 
 
 thee. 
 
 93 
 
Democracy 
 
 Farewell, venerable hermit, 
 
 Best-beloved of friends, farewell. 
 
 Pregnant with reason and meaning may be thy 
 silence. 
 
 Have we not heard the sages proclaim this simile: 
 
 Each family a full-blown rose in God's garden 
 blossoms ; 
 
 Rich in maturity, one by one the petals drop; 
 
 Then come the breezes which gently waft them 
 across the river, 
 
 Cato'rying to^ other (lands Iheir sweetly-garnered 
 perfumes. 
 
 And, further quoth the sages. 
 
 When our fellow-petals go whirling. 
 
 Generation after generation, into the blessed abodes, 
 
 And we, the few, the lonely, the mournfully yearn- 
 ing, 
 
 Are left upon the stem; 
 
 When they beckon to us from heights elysian, 
 
 With outstretched arms. 
 
 With love which surpasses the human; 
 
 When they gradually become our silent majority; 
 
 When by faith we can behold their faces. 
 
 And dwell fondly upon their every look and ex- 
 pression ; 
 
 When our remaining friends in the flesh grow fewer 
 and fewer, 
 
 And the intimate circle becomes smaller and smaller, 
 
 Must it not follow that finally. 
 
 Imperceptibly, 
 
 Irresistibly, 
 
 Like the beam of the scales which weigh gold^and 
 fine jewels, 
 
 94 
 
Two Letters 
 
 Tipping the other way, 
 
 We are inclined, we tremble, we yield, 
 
 We set our countenance afar: 
 
 The petals drop from the stem, 
 
 The gentle winnower, miscalled death, wafts us 
 
 slowly 
 Into God's treasure-house. 
 Into new life, into new opportunities. 
 
 Therefore, gentle hermit, a brief farewell. 
 Thine but the advantage of priority — 
 Thine but the satisfaction of announcing us 
 To the gladsome majority. 
 
 TWO LETTERS 
 
 Way down, bang down, piteously low 
 
 Sinks my heart. 
 
 Like the mercury in the bulb of a thermometer, 
 
 In zero weather. 
 
 I congeal, I condense, I shrink, 
 
 I become cold and dead. 
 
 Way down, bang down, sunken is my heart. 
 
 And why, oh, why? 
 
 Why is my body like a lean crystal pierced by a red 
 
 line. 
 Why is my soul like the mercury in this long, red 
 
 line? 
 Why does it sink, colder and colder. 
 Until it reaches the earth, even the tomb? 
 
 95 
 
Democracy 
 
 I will explain, 
 
 I will elucidate, 
 
 I will enlighten, 
 
 I will confess: 
 
 Alas, I have just breath enough in me to do so, 
 
 Before I am dumb, before I solidify. 
 
 I have received two letters from the postman — 
 
 One perfumed and dainty. 
 
 The other rude and bearing a tradesman's imperious 
 
 imprint. 
 Alas, alas, alas, 
 From the perfumed missive 
 I might reasonably expect sweetness and light: 
 I hung breathlessly over it, feverish as Mount Etna ; 
 I could hardly control myself; 
 I broke open the seal; 
 But after reading the first few words 
 I quickly contracted the proverbial frozen horror. 
 The message was not one of sweetness and light: 
 It was a flat refusal from the loveliest creature in 
 
 all the universe. 
 Who will not marry me. 
 
 The second blow comes like the finishing touch of 
 
 Fate: 
 Lo, my tailor demands payment immediately, 
 For the many suits I ordered to press this one. 
 In a very vulgar way, and a decided, 
 He intimates he will not wait longer — 
 He will put me in the stocks, in the list of bad 
 
 debtors. 
 And circulate my name, 
 
 96 
 
JVe Trust in Thee 
 
 So that all avenues of credit shall be closed unto me, 
 All chance of ever again hanging up a tailor cut off. 
 
 Alas, and will you further marvel 
 
 Why I am colder than the Antarctic pole 
 
 And diving for its proximity? 
 
 Neither the sun's faint crimson at daw^n, 
 
 Nor his yellow glare at noon-day, 
 
 Nor his deep red at eventide. 
 
 Shall I ever see again. 
 
 For I congeal, I condense, I shrink, 
 
 I am cold, I am practically dead, 
 
 Overwhelmed by a double misfortune in one day — 
 
 Killed by a tailor and a girl. 
 
 WE TRUST IN THEE 
 
 Lord, Thou hast brought us here. 
 Upon this earthly sphere, 
 
 We trust in Thee. 
 We know not whence we came, 
 Nor our pre-natal name. 
 Yet, with our hearts aflame, 
 
 We trust in Thee. 
 
 Soon Thou wilt take away 
 Our tenement of clay; 
 
 We trust in Thee. 
 And once our souls are free, 
 Our faith will make us see 
 What now is mystery; 
 
 We trust in Thee. 
 
 97 
 
Democracy 
 
 Can atoms praises sing, 
 And make the heavens ring? 
 
 We trust In Thee. 
 Can dust give voice to love? 
 Then listen, heavenly dove. 
 And hear us, God above. 
 
 We trust In Thee. 
 
 BRYAN O'LYNN 
 
 Oh, Bryan O'Lynn tried to do without clothes: 
 And why this ambition — now can you suppose? 
 And Bryan O'Lynn tried to do without food : 
 You say, ''What the devil?" Now, do not be rude. 
 He gave up his home for a bench In the park: 
 And wherefore? No longer remain In the dark! 
 He had heard self-denial was pleasing to heaven, 
 And now he is In padded cell number 'leven. 
 
 A CHILD'S PETITION TO FATHER 
 CHRISTMAS 
 
 Dear Father Christmas, whiten the earth, 
 For without snow there can be no mirth ; 
 Deep mud and slush on the broad highway 
 Make, oh, such a dreary holiday. 
 
 From the fleecy clouds let the snow-flakes fly. 
 Till you clear them away from the deep-blue sky. 
 While the sextons are ringing the Christmas chimes. 
 Bringing us thoughts of the olden times. 
 
 98 
 
Labor Omnia Vincit 
 
 For the dear little lambs at Bethlehem 
 Were white as the messengers that came, 
 Were white as the fleecy clouds above, 
 Were white as the message full of love. 
 
 So, dear Father Christmas, whiten the earth, 
 Of ice and snow let there be no dearth. 
 And let Jack Frost paint the windows gay, 
 Upon our merry holiday. 
 
 LABOR OMNIA VINCIT 
 
 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 
 
 Are crowded with dancers fair. 
 The while each luckless myrmidon 
 
 Like Atlas crouches there ; 
 We hold the Gardens bravely up — 
 
 Hold fast, ye luckless wights! — 
 The while our masters laugh and sup 
 
 With all their parasites. 
 In pleasing and mellifluous verse 
 
 Their poets sing of love. 
 And all make merry while we curse 
 
 The throng who dance above. 
 Speak not of visions — who shall call 
 
 The power to free each tortured thrall? 
 
 And a soft, low voice in their hearts replied. 
 
 To every one in pain who cried : 
 
 "And the grass shall grow, and the skies shall 
 
 smile 
 And merry children romp the while. 
 
 99 
 
Democracy 
 
 The workers at their toil shall sing, 
 For the harvest which the workers bring 
 (No longer stolen on the way) 
 Shall all be theirs — oh, wondrous day! 
 And woe who him who dares say nay !" 
 
 TWO GRAINS OF SAND 
 
 Two little grains of sand. 
 
 Tossed by the tide of ocean grand, 
 
 At last came side by side. 
 They laughed, embraced and sweetly kissed, 
 But in a moment more were missed. 
 
 One by the other — sundered wide. 
 An envious wave, called Fate, the one out-bore 
 
 Into the fathomless blue; 
 The other, snatched up in a monster's jaw, no more 
 
 The pleasures of that coast forever knew. 
 
 He met a maid as beauteous as the dawn, 
 
 One fragrant summer, and they wooed and 
 wooed. 
 Beneath the silvery moon, upon the lawn — 
 
 Ah, brief illusion. Then there came the flood 
 Which whelmed them o'er; a sacrifice more pure 
 Than she was never caught by Mammon's lure, 
 
 And he was borne by a relentless wave. 
 O'er sands and jagged rocks, and sank afar 
 
 Beyond the shadow of an earthly grave, 
 In endless night, w^here shines no shimmering star. 
 
 lOO 
 
My Hero 
 
 MY HERO! 
 
 Had I the power on earth to name 
 The one great heir to deathless fame, 
 Who rises like a rock sublime 
 Out of these storm-tossed waves of Time: 
 It would not be the statesman who 
 Essays to mould the world anew; 
 It would not be the iron hand 
 Which seeks the throat of ev'ry land; 
 It would not be the war-god's kin, 
 Smiling without but foul within; 
 But it would be that loving soul 
 Which shines in yonder prison hole — 
 Sublime, like God's own other son. 
 Doing the work which must be done, 
 Bearing the cross which must be borne, 
 Wearing the glorious crown of thorn. 
 
 OH, WOMAN TRANSFIGURED 
 
 Oh, woman with the glorified expression, 
 Who are you? 
 
 A moment ago she was bending over her task, 
 
 Sewing, sewing and coughing — 
 
 Coughing softly so as not to awaken the little 
 
 sleepers — 
 The red blood trickling between coughs — 
 Her eyes wandering now and then to the cradle; 
 The needle piercing her heart as well as the cloth 
 
 of her sewing. 
 
 lOI 
 
Democracy 
 
 But now she is changed, this woeful midnight toiler: 
 
 She is transfigured — 
 
 White and saintly, like the martyrs of old in the 
 
 arena, 
 I behold her smiling and gazing. 
 
 What is it you are smiling at, in that winsome, 
 
 wistful manner? 
 I look again, and now I behold what you behold: 
 The millionaire's daughter is scattering favors at 
 
 her first ball — 
 Her coming out ball, so it is announced. 
 There is a mad crush on Fifth Avenue; 
 The air is full of alluring perfumes; 
 There are jewels fit for an empire; 
 Flowers there are also in profusion — 
 Dainty, fragile flowers, like the millionaire's 
 
 daughter. 
 
 The scene is dazzling. 
 
 The guests are shimmering in silken and golden 
 garments ; 
 
 But, insinuating himself among them, there is one 
 guest who does not shimmer. 
 
 He maketh me to shudder. 
 
 This strange, incongruous, gliding guest; 
 
 Yet I cannot avert mine eyes — 
 
 And you are not afraid of him. 
 
 You smile upon him so winsomely; 
 
 You seem to say to this guest: 
 
 "Here — here am I; not there! 
 
 You have entered the wrong habitation, oh, Ex- 
 pected One: 
 
 Here — here am I: you arc mine and not hers!" 
 
 1 02 
 
Kisses 
 
 He maketh me to shudder, 
 
 This strange, incongruous, gliding guest whom no 
 
 one sees save you and I. 
 But why does his aspect not terrify you as it does 
 
 me? 
 Why does he provoke such a heart-breaking smile 
 
 from you? 
 Why does he fascinate you so completely. 
 Oh, woman transfigured? 
 
 KISSES 
 
 Darling, to the terrace come; 
 Meet me when the beetles hum 
 In the mellow evening light, 
 And all else is quiet quite. 
 
 in the hours attuned to love 
 Let us o'er the terrace rove. 
 And hear what the breezes say 
 To the ivy in their play. 
 
 Then, perchance, my arm may creep 
 'Round thy waist, 'neath tresses deep. 
 While entranced we listen to 
 The notes with which the robins woo. 
 
 Should thy weary head recline 
 On my waiting breast, and mine 
 Seek thy ruby lips, anon. 
 Who shall blame us love? Oh, none! 
 
 103 
 
Democracy 
 
 For to love is but to live, 
 Kiss to take is but to give: 
 Therefore, give me kisses sweet- 
 Kisses, kisses, when we meet. 
 
 GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN 
 
 Vibrate, oh, ye wires, with sorrow. 
 
 Let the news be flashed afar, 
 Grim death has some to borrow 
 
 A bright particular star; 
 Wig-wag it over the ocean. 
 
 Or send a marconigram. 
 It will stir up a great commotion 
 
 From Thibet to Surinam. 
 George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
 When shall we see thy like again! 
 
 Say the trees near Madison Garden, 
 
 And the benches in the park, 
 And the spot which was his star den, 
 
 Are hushed in mourning dark ; 
 Say that troops and troops of little ones 
 
 Will miss him there, we ween, 
 Cracking his jokes, his brittle ones. 
 
 While they romp upon the green. 
 George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
 When shall we see thy like again! 
 
 104 
 
George Francis Train 
 
 To us he was king of eccentrics, 
 
 Great Psycho, playing a part; 
 A crusty old writer with pen tricks, 
 
 A cynic to make us smart; 
 To them he was one of the sages, 
 
 Or a playmate from fairyland — 
 Aye, he was the chum of all ages 
 
 When he clasped them by the hand. 
 George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
 When shall we see thy like again ! 
 
 For them his smiles and caresses — 
 
 But never a hand for us; 
 And here is one of the guesses 
 
 Just why he acted thus: 
 The fountain of youth he'd discovered 
 
 The little children among. 
 And with them on earth he hovered, 
 
 Just seventy-eight years young. 
 George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
 When shall we see thy like again! 
 
 A smile for his whims and foibles. 
 
 Our thanks for his counsels wise. 
 And on the nation's joy-bells, 
 
 Applause for his enterprise. 
 Gone is the great globe-trotter. 
 
 Who put Jules Verne to shame; 
 Gone is the great sham-spotter. 
 
 Who makes us all exclaim: 
 George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
 When shall we see thy like again! 
 
 105 
 
Democracy 
 
 SUNDAY MUSINGS 
 
 I love to hear the church-bells ring; 
 I love to hear the choir sing; 
 I love to hear the preacher pray, 
 "Forgive our sins, O Lord, this day"; 
 I love to see the people kneel, 
 And, oh, so meek and humble feel, 
 Then turn and see the ladies stare 
 At what those horrid Joneses wear. 
 
 THE WRATH OF HOMER 
 
 Great Pyrrho, who was king of skeptics crowned, 
 Deemed Truth a phantom, nowhere to be found; 
 But Baldus Factum need but ope his eyes 
 Her beauteous form to see and recognize. 
 For him she reigned supreme — he owned but her. 
 And scorned all who but Truth-resembling were. 
 Light Fancy, terrorized, before him flew, 
 And fair Imagination vanished, too. 
 His love for truth it was so manifest 
 That he could neither eat, nor drink, nor rest 
 If once, perchance, he heard, or saw, or read 
 That which had simply been "made out of head." 
 A tale (it mattered not how weak, absurd) 
 He loved, if only vouched word for word ; 
 The loftiest works that genius e'er brought forth 
 He dubbed "a pack of lies," not reading worth. 
 Unless, perchance, — O mark of saving grace! — 
 "Founded on fact" was writ across its face. 
 
 1 06 
 
The Wrath of Homer 
 
 This Factum, who was but a cobbler-sage, 
 Once kicked the Iliad round in valiant rage. 
 And scornfully addressed the prostrate tome, 
 Upon the sward before his village home: 
 
 "Have I for this in patience pored thee o'er, 
 Wading through fields of hero-talk and gore, 
 To find thee lying with thy lastmost gasp? 
 Wilt still thy fables to thy bosom clasp? — 
 Of shallow^ gods in murky regions penned, 
 Gods all at first but human in the end; 
 With amorous passions and base deeds defiled, 
 And of their rags divine at last beguiled 
 By one another in their w^arring mood, 
 Till man detests the vile up-conjured brood. 
 Have I for this neglected awl and last? 
 Nay, then, I'll prove a fell iconoclast! 
 
 "What are the chief est of your gods to-day? 
 Come, heathen tome and Trojan-requiem, say; 
 Of all their ire who cringes now afraid ? — 
 Your fog-compelling tyrant, blue-eyed Maid, 
 Immoral Venus and incestuous Juno, 
 Pain-bellowing Mars, and all the rest whom you 
 
 know : 
 The jumping-jacks of every scribbling scribe, 
 Those madcap knights of senseless diatribe, 
 Who spur their captured steeds for steep Parnassus 
 And urge them on with Greek theology. 
 And swear to them from Greek mythology, 
 Only to find their hippogriffs are asses 
 That at their very best can only be 
 Snail-plodders after immortality. 
 
 107 
 
Democracy 
 
 "Such were the powers that hovered in your brain, 
 
 Such were your gods — and what your lesser train? 
 
 Deep-weeping heroes, snivelling demi-gods. 
 
 Who make long speeches on the life-drunk sods. 
 
 Hence, herd self-heroed and self-deified — 
 
 Hence, babbling Greeks with mouths a-gaping wide! 
 
 Ho! Now invoke the idols of your brain, 
 
 Ere ye are kicked out on the dreary plain; 
 
 There sink (first drowned within some muddy 
 
 pond) 
 To the hot scenery of a dim beyond!" 
 
 Three thousand years their mantle spread in vain: 
 
 Th' insulted shade of Homer heard with pain, 
 
 There where he sat amid the furious hosts 
 
 Of war-like Jove and glorious warrior-ghosts. 
 
 And all the banished gods in dim array. 
 
 Sent down to Pluto by a mightier sway. 
 
 In quivering passion he beholds the deed. 
 
 And begs from Heaven an all-avenging speed. 
 
 Hoary as moss-grown rock at once he stands 
 
 Before the scoffer and revenge commands. 
 
 The fable-hater saw the immortal bard. 
 
 And with a deep-mouthed curse transfixed him 
 
 hard ; 
 But god-like fires leaped to the singer's eyes 
 (As when the lightning rends the storm-clad skies), 
 The subtle poison, racing through his veins. 
 As when a thousand lions shake their manes, 
 Roused his great rage, deep-stamping on the floor. 
 Which now the trembling cobbler scarcely bore. 
 
 io8 
 
The Wrath of Homer 
 
 **Base mortal!" (Thus the reverend shade now 
 
 breathed), 
 ''Unworthy our least sword to feel unsheathed, 
 I come to stretch thee (aged as I am). 
 And, howling brief to thy wolf-breeding dam, 
 To leave thee, morsel to a vulture's look. 
 For thine accursed railing at my book. 
 
 "When thrice ten centuries again have passed, 
 And Time upon the brow of dark At Last 
 Has writ your story with a crumbling hand, 
 Then come to me, in yonder shadow-land 
 And bring the records of your free-born line, 
 To proudly dare comparison with mine. 
 'These were the men all prodigal of blood. 
 Who rushed to battle in a sanguine flood ; 
 Who dared upon the tablets of great Fame 
 With swords to carve a memory and a name. 
 Rude were their manners (to their faults be blind), 
 The great fore-runners of all warlike kind.' 
 Thus I to thee, my heroes then my theme. 
 Then vaunt your loudest and your loftiest seem, 
 And show me from j^our race degenerate one 
 Who wrests the laurels from my favorite son. 
 
 "How dare they carp at creeds to us once given 
 By Him, the Sire all-wise of earth and heaven, 
 When scarce upon the ink is dry the sand 
 (From Latin Virgil down, or Milton grand) 
 With which their bards bestrew their pilfered 
 
 rhymes, 
 I their great fount and model for all times! 
 
 109 
 
Democracy 
 
 "And thou wouldst chide me worthless, tread upon 
 My regal head when I am dead and gone? — 
 Hence, impious imp, from out my presence go, 
 And tremble on the verge of hell below!" 
 
 He ceased, and terrible all earth now frowned 
 Upon the cobbler groveling on the ground. 
 The bard, upon the wings of Jove's great bird, 
 Flies sunward-pinioned and no more is heard. 
 And with the brand of shame upon his brow. 
 His neighbors dimly saw the scoffer now 
 Move palely, like a statue, in the gloom. 
 Next morn a corse was master of his room. 
 
 LOVE THINE ENEMY 
 
 Who is mine enemy? — 
 A pair of gray eyes. 
 Face fair as the skies. 
 Stray ringlet or curl, 
 Teeth brighter than pearl, 
 In fact, 'tis a girl 
 
 That is mine enemy. 
 
 Queer kind of enemy — 
 A glance from her eye. 
 A half-smothered sigh, 
 Are like shell and ball, 
 And wound where they fall, 
 I'm powerless all, 
 
 Over this enemy. 
 
 IIO 
 
The Pythian Flag up North 
 
 "Love thou thine enemy!" 
 Ah, there is the rub, 
 My head-shaking cub: 
 Though sore is my heart, 
 And woe is my part, 
 And wounded I smart, 
 
 I'll love mine enemy! 
 
 THE PYTHIAN FLAG UP NORTH 
 
 {Sunday, May 13, 1883. — ^Worked all forenoon 
 making a Knights of Pythias flag. Wednesday, 
 May 16, 1883. — At 6 p. m. I started for Dutch 
 Island, to take high tide readings. Sergeant Lynn 
 accompanied me. I took my Knights of Pythias 
 flag with me. When we arrived at the island we 
 found Lieutenant Kislingbury there. So we all 
 climbed up a large iceberg, and I unfurled the flag, 
 and Lieutenant Kislingbury fired a salute from his 
 rifle. — Diary of Sergeant William H. Cross, Fort 
 Conger, Arctic Regions.) 
 
 Far in the ice-bound regions, up in the silent north. 
 Many, ah, many a league away, their love for the 
 
 flag shone forth; 
 Lovingly one had fashioned it, on a Sunday morning 
 
 blest, 
 Deeming his task devotion — not a sin — on this day 
 
 of rest. 
 
 Ill 
 
Democracy 
 
 And he stitched, and pieced and dreamed there, in 
 
 the scanty Arctic sun, 
 And he saw his home and loved ones, while his task 
 
 was being done; 
 He saw still more — the castle, the hall all dimly lit 
 And the sons of modern knighthood, to whom his 
 
 soul wa§ knit. 
 
 Lovingly he stitched there, and planned and worked 
 away. 
 
 Till the blue and the red and the yellow together 
 were made to stay. 
 
 Such a flag! such a Pythian bannerl 'twas the grand- 
 est that ever waved ! 
 
 We would give a hundred others for this had it been 
 saved. 
 
 Three at the island gathered, far from the camp 
 were they ; 
 
 Three up the iceberg clambered, to its highest sum- 
 mit gray; 
 
 There to the breeze were the colors, in all their 
 glory, thrown; 
 
 There in the ice they planted them, the highest 
 north e'er known. 
 
 Then a rifle broke the stillness of the awful region 
 
 round, 
 And hearty cheers rang out upon the silence all 
 
 profound ; 
 'Twas Kislingbury's weapon that spoke it out on 
 
 high : 
 "Saluted be, thou Pythian flag, emblem that ne'er 
 
 shall die. 
 
 112 
 
 .i 
 
Thaumaturgy 
 
 "Though we should sink forgotten, covered with 
 Arctic snow, 
 
 Killed by the cruel hunger, such as few mortals 
 know. 
 
 Thou shalt wave on in thy glory, in every land and 
 clime. 
 
 Proclaiming to every nation thy lessons three sub- 
 lime, 
 
 "Thou shalt wave on in thy glory, under the red, 
 
 white and blue. 
 With love for our common country, with love for 
 
 her manhood true!" 
 Thus spoke the lieutenant's rifle, thus cheered the 
 
 little band — 
 Thus was the banner planted, in yonder Arctic land. 
 
 THAUMATURGY 
 
 My love and I went holidaying, 
 
 In a fair city by the lake. 
 And while we were a visit paying 
 
 A charming friend unto us spake: 
 
 "Oh, have you heard of — what's it? — urgy- 
 Of thaumaturgy — urgy, gurgy? 
 Let's go and marvel — I have tickets: 
 But we must hasten and be quick, it's 
 Just time to catch the opening act; 
 You'll be delighted — that's a fact." 
 
 113 
 
Democracy 
 
 Somewhat befogged but unresisting, 
 We hurried to the playhouse gay; 
 
 Soon in a soft chair I was twisting 
 To get a look at Mistress Fay, 
 
 In that unheard-of — what's it? — urgy — 
 That thaumaturgy — urgy, gurgy. 
 Upon the stage she sat, eyes covered ; 
 Beside her the professor hovered. 
 And from the audience questions came 
 On many cards — that was the game. 
 
 What happened? Oh, ye stars above me! 
 
 She read their minds! I must confess. 
 That was my chance: "Oh, does Jean love me?" 
 
 I wrote: then came the answer, "Yes." 
 
 God bless this curious — vs^hat's it? — urgy- 
 This thaumaturgy — urgy, gurgy ! 
 Friends, go and see it, purchase tickets; 
 If you're in love, 'twill do the trick, it's 
 The thing to make your girl confess — 
 But, then, the answer should be yes. 
 
 114 
 
The Americans 
 
 THE AMERICANS 
 
 "One little five-year-old Belgian boy, during an 
 air-raid, was indignant and grieved. Said he: *I 
 didn't think they would dare to come where the 
 Americans are.' " — Mrs. Joseph Linden S?nith. 
 
 Pretty little ones, with wide blue eyes of sublimest 
 faith. 
 
 Oh, for the sheltering arms of the Americans, your 
 protectors ! 
 
 The heart-strings pull, the silent tear seeks outlet — 
 
 We appreciate your indignation and protest. 
 
 And every soldier of Freedom who hears you 
 
 Will swear a holy oath to be worthy of that su- 
 blimest of faiths; 
 
 Will swear to keep the thundering raiders far from 
 the children. 
 
 The Americans, friends of all the poor, homeless 
 little ones of Belgium; 
 
 Friends of all the astonished and famished children 
 of Serbia, of Armenia, of Roumania, of Po- 
 land ; 
 
 Friends of all these dear, wee, many-tongued tod- 
 dlers. 
 
 Who understand one common language, 
 
 The language of faith and confidence — they are 
 coming! 
 
 Swing your little caps high In the air — the Ameri- 
 cans are coming! 
 
 115 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pretty soon, little dears, the enemy will no longer 
 
 dare to come where they are! 
 Their giant strides, from village to village and from 
 
 city to city — 
 Ever forward, forward, forward — 
 Their steady, determined, always advancing steps — 
 Shall prove their love for you, oh, tiny ones! 
 
 Brave, battle-scarred midgets, 
 
 With faith in your hearts and horror in your 
 brains : 
 
 Dismiss your fears, for the Americans are coming; 
 
 They will range themselves upon your side, little 
 ones — , 
 
 You shall see them; you, who are the real army — 
 
 You, who are the real power which moves this con- 
 flict— 
 
 For, unless we become like you, and believe in you, 
 and love you, and have faith. 
 
 We cannot enter the gates of victory. 
 
 GRABITALL & CO. 
 
 So Grabitall is dead. 
 
 And yet the world moves on- 
 And can it be it still revolves. 
 
 When Grabitall is gone? 
 Methinks that, even now, 
 
 I hear him talk for hours 
 About his scheme of buying up 
 
 This little earth of ours. 
 ii6 
 
Grabitall & Co. 
 
 He seemed to have a grip 
 
 Upon the universe, 
 And nature wore her broadest smile 
 
 When he untied his purse. 
 And now he's dead and gone; 
 
 No trace he leaves behind, 
 Six feet of ground is all that holds 
 
 The folly of his kind. 
 
 What, Knowitall dead, too? 
 
 (Death deals some heavy knocks) ; 
 How will the orphaned world survive 
 
 Without his knowledge-box? 
 How will it dare revolve 
 
 In clouds of ignorance, 
 Now that his shining intellect 
 
 So rudely torn is hence? 
 Methinks I see him yet. 
 
 This solemn man of mind, 
 Strew pitying glances from his height 
 
 Upon his lesser kind. 
 And now to think he burst 
 
 His chrysalis and soared 
 To realms above, while other men 
 
 Just lay and slept and snored. 
 
 And Rulemall as well — 
 
 You say you've a dispatch? 
 Nay, truly, truly, then old Death 
 
 Has made a royal catch. 
 How many millions once 
 
 To him like slaves did kneel; 
 How many nations licked the dust 
 
 Beneath his iron heel. 
 117 
 
Democracy 
 
 He did not hesitate 
 
 To couple with his name 
 Those of the gods, in mad belief 
 
 That he could give them fame. 
 And can it be that one 
 
 So high and mighty dies 
 And yet no badge of mourning flames 
 
 Across the darkened skies? 
 
 And who is that, our friend, 
 
 Dear Lady Charmemall — 
 She who in glory, yesternight, 
 
 Made conquests at the ball? 
 She who was wondrous fair, 
 
 She who, like Juggernaut, 
 Could hardly move for devotees 
 
 Who by her charms were caught? 
 Methinks I see her still, 
 
 Her pathway paved with hearts, 
 And strewn with coronets and things, 
 
 And Cupid's broken darts. 
 And now — it cannot be. 
 
 For were she really dead. 
 The sun and moon, and stars as well. 
 
 Their little tears would shed. 
 
 Nay, vex me further not 
 
 With mortuary news. 
 Nor further with new takings-oflE 
 
 My hearing now abuse. 
 For what, alas, are we 
 
 But flies upon a wheel, 
 
 ii8 
 
The Physician 
 
 Or dust upon a cannon-ball 
 
 Shot from a mouth of steel? 
 Sit still, ye great of earth, 
 
 Wealth, beauty, think it o'er. 
 Though ye depart the world moves on 
 
 Just as it moved before. 
 Then why be pompous, man ? 
 
 Why strut and lord it so, 
 When you, the beggar, and the king 
 
 So soon are forced to go? 
 
 THE PHYSICIAN 
 
 A king sat on his throne, before him low 
 
 The people bowed and knelt and prostrate lay, 
 
 And yet no milder sovereign ever reigned 
 
 Exalted o'er the multitude — they knelt 
 
 So humbly there before him all unasked. 
 
 Him had they crowned with boundless gratitude. 
 
 Because he came and saved their lives: a plague 
 
 Had left ten thousand corpses in the land. 
 
 He came and stayed the ruthless hand of death ; 
 
 They deemed him of the gods and worshipped him. 
 
 Then was it that a look divine o'ershone 
 His countenance, as he laid aside the crown 
 And put away the scepter, and in words 
 Simple yet great, announced his royal will, 
 Which was to save more lives, stay other plagues 
 In other lands; and then he blessed them all, 
 And took his stafE, and bade them dry their tears. 
 
 119 
 
Democracy 
 
 Oh, ancient life divine, thou throbbest still 
 In many thousand noble forms — thy face 
 Is mirrored round the world, wherever pain 
 And illness stretch men on their mortal rack. 
 Warrior of life and human happiness, 
 Receive this tribute as a member of 
 That band heroic which forever fights 
 The monsters preying on the human race. 
 Applauded be thy faithfulness, and may 
 Thy useful course at eventide be cheered 
 By all the comforts and the happiness 
 Which thy unceasing care and labors brought 
 To those who, living, bless and honor thee. 
 
 HAIL! 
 
 Hail to the morn 
 When thou wert born. 
 
 Beautiful land of the free; 
 Brothers we stand. 
 Hand In hand. 
 
 Pledging our manhood to thee. 
 
 Hail to the night. 
 Starlit and bright. 
 
 Swelling with music of spheres; 
 Telling of thee, 
 Land of the free. 
 
 Bannered and jewelled with tears. 
 
 1 20 
 
None but the Dead Shall Pass this Way 
 
 Hail to the star, 
 Trembling afar, 
 
 Sfrius, glowing in space; 
 Fixed as the fate 
 Which we await, 
 
 Sons of the new human race. 
 
 NONE BUT THE DEAD SHALL PASS 
 THIS WAY 
 
 Matthew Webb, the noted English swimmer, was 
 drowned while attempting to sw^im through the 
 rapids and whirlpool, below Niagara Falls, July 24, 
 1883, in the 35th year of his age. 
 
 "Unmoor me the boat," the swimmer said, 
 Coolly arrayed in his breech-cloth red; 
 And the skif¥ shot swiftly from the shore, 
 Dividing the dark-green waves before. 
 
 Like flies on the rocky heights there stood 
 The crowd, admiring his hardihood. 
 While many a doubting cry went round : 
 "He's the first to attempt it," "And he will be 
 drowned!" 
 
 From afar came the roar of the maniac deep, 
 Where it gnashes its teeth at the clifFs so steep. 
 And wildly struggles its passage to make 
 To the tranquil breast of the friendly lake. 
 
 121 
 
Democracy 
 
 But the swimmer listened unabashed; 
 In vain for him its teeth it gnashed. 
 He stood in his boat, erect and strong, 
 And waved his hand at the gaping throng. 
 
 "Not another stroke," said his guide, as they brushed 
 Against the current that deathward rushed. 
 "Farewell," quoth the swimmer, "no farther go," 
 And he leaped from the frail craft's reeling bow — 
 
 A human arrow — while all held their breath, 
 As he sped to his aim — renown or death; 
 As he sped to his aim, with a will and a smile. 
 To battle with fate for a weary mile. 
 
 Below the scene of the breakers mad 
 A form, in misty whiteness clad. 
 Rested upon another oar. 
 In another boat, from another shore. 
 
 "There'll be work to do," said the skipper gray, 
 "For none but the dead shall pass this way!" 
 And his ghostlike hands to his eyes he lifts. 
 As he peers through the howling water's rifts. 
 
 "Graceful and clean was the plunge, I grant; 
 That he swims like a fish, deny I can't — 
 But the way is long from the bridge to the pool, 
 And he little dreams what is coming, the fool. 
 
 122 
 
None But the Dead Shall Pass This Way 
 
 "Aha, well done! the first huge wave 
 Of the rapids ne'er shall be thy grave^ — 
 He rides on the crest of the waters wild, 
 As if he were truly a mermaid's child. 
 
 "But now for the test of his parentage. 
 Where Niagara plows the channel in rage, 
 Forming a ridge in the narrow pass — 
 A fierce, tumultuous, terrible mass. 
 
 "The waters have conquered ! He's ghastly white- 
 His eyes seem closing in endless night — 
 The river is eating his breath, as it throws 
 And lashes him on in his dying woes. 
 
 "Ye gods! for a moment he moves his hands — 
 He would swim, and if swim he can he lands!" 
 But in vain are his efforts, see him gasp 
 As he sinks in the whirlpool's final grasp. 
 
 Ah, deadlier far its treacherous hold 
 Than the foaming and raging of rapids bold. 
 See him spin like a top in Its greedy throat : 
 Oh, ferryman, ferryman, bring thy boat. 
 
 And the ferryman laughs, as the eddying wave 
 Now hurries the swimmer down to his grave. 
 "There Is work for me," I hear him say, 
 "For none but the dead shall pass this way." 
 
 123 
 
Democracy 
 
 A LULLABY 
 
 Woo him softly, woo him gently to his slumber ; 
 
 Woo him softly, woo him gently thus to rest; 
 Hold him, shield him, let no earthly care encumber 
 
 His sweet dreams of fair5dand upon thy breast. 
 
 Rock him to and fro, 
 Singing sweet and low. 
 While the angels look and smile 
 On him every little while. 
 
 Oh, my baby, precious baby, 
 
 With thy little ruby lips; 
 Hair so golden, ne'er beholden 
 
 Were such tiny fingertips; 
 Eyes the bluest and the truest 
 
 Ever smiled on mother blest — 
 Close them, close them, and repose them, 
 
 Little elf, upon my breast. 
 
 ENOUGH 
 
 An aged pilgrim, weak and worn. 
 Fell fainting 'neath his load, 
 
 And no one marked him where he fell. 
 Upon the lonely road. 
 124 
 
Enough 
 
 Alone he sank upon the sward, 
 Out where the moon was high ; 
 
 His pillow was, like Jacob's, stone, 
 His coverlet the sky. 
 
 An anguished prayer burst from his lips, 
 
 "It is enough," cried he: 
 "No more to-morrows on thine earth. 
 
 Dear Father, give to me!" 
 
 And what said God ? He chided not, 
 
 But gave the pilgrim rest, 
 And wife and child and home again. 
 
 And friends whom he loved best. 
 
 For in his dreams the pilgrim called 
 And summoned them by name, 
 
 And, no, not one refused him then, 
 Obedient they came. 
 
 " 'Twere pity now to wake him more," 
 
 The angels said at morn, 
 When white and all transfigured there 
 
 They found him newly-born. 
 
 No more the children thought him strange. 
 No more were jokes bestowed 
 
 Upon him by the thoughtless mongst 
 His brethren of the road. 
 
 125 
 
Democracy 
 
 Nay, in his new-born dignity, 
 
 Now that the night was fled. 
 They wished him all good morrow, but 
 
 The pilgrim he was dead. 
 
 And as they wondered at his face. 
 
 His white and lovely hair, 
 They saw mute laughter on his lips; 
 
 It played in triumph there. 
 
 TO THE PEACE CONGRESS 
 
 Don't let that monster save his face, 
 
 'Twould be the climax of disgrace! 
 
 Darkness for him should spread her wings 
 
 Forever on all earthly things. 
 
 For him no star of hope should rise 
 
 To point the way to paradise. 
 
 Until he expiates his crimes. 
 
 With his vile crew a thousand times. 
 
 % HEART THROBS 
 
 Sweet Christmastide, oh, season of good wishes. 
 Day of rare gifts and little deeds delicious! 
 What shall I send ? Something to give thee pleasure. 
 Purchased at vast expenditure of treasure? 
 Some gem of fabled worth, a color-fountain. 
 Dug up by slaves from yonder cratered mountain? 
 Or some rare dream of art, with costly setting. 
 For which a host would strive and die in getting? 
 
 126 
 
The Seventh Commandment 
 
 Not so, dear friend, to me it seemeth better 
 To send these heart throbs in a loving letter; 
 To light the Christmas-tree with many a taper 
 And watch it shimmer on the written paper; 
 To see, in fancy, while the Yule-log burneth. 
 The absent one to whom fond mem'ry turneth ; 
 To pledge thee, in my cup of Friendship's brewing. 
 This inmost sen,timent, each year renewing: 
 
 Here's to our absent friends, in mem'ry ever 
 
 Near unto us and absent really never. 
 
 Our sweetest thought is that we, too, remembered 
 
 Are always at your hearth-stone brightly embered. 
 
 In rain, in shine, in every kind of weather, 
 
 In spirit thus we always dwell together. 
 
 So, take these heart throbs as the truest token 
 
 That Friendship on this written page hath spoken. 
 
 THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT 
 
 A cultured copy-slaughterer in Boston, 
 The editor of a repository of good things, 
 Rejected a song which I sang of our country's great- 
 ness — 
 A song of expansion with the spirit of which he 
 
 agreed not. 
 "Thou art a poet — sing the truth," he wrote in his 
 letter. 
 
 127 
 
Democracy 
 
 What, said I, what new theory is this? 
 
 Poets shall sing the truth ? 
 
 They who have been branded as dreamers from 
 
 times immemorial? 
 Limners of fancies, chimeras, mirages, ignes fatui ; 
 Half-madmen, mental centaurs, sometimes wholly 
 
 mad, 
 Or something worse, according to Lombroso; 
 These fellows who, we are told, roll their eyes in 
 
 fine frenzy, 
 But cannot distinguish potatoes from turnips: 
 These dons quixotic whose fervid adorations 
 Rise like incense before their ideal dulcineas. 
 Fat and ill-favored in actuality, it may be ! 
 And our Boston critic expects truth from such 
 
 people? 
 Perchance he hath in mind the catalogue of the ships 
 
 of Homer; 
 But who will guarantee that even that was entirely 
 
 truthful ? 
 
 Dear Brother of the Antique Disposition : 
 
 I mused long and earnestly upon the new dictum — 
 
 I tried to laugh it down. 
 
 To lock it up in mine inner consciousness. 
 
 When a miserable mess in the daily papers met mine 
 
 eyes. 
 It was all about thee, oh, man of genius; 
 And it was all true, alas, too true. 
 For with it came thine own defiant acknowledgment. 
 
 128 
 
The Seventh Commandment 
 
 Ah me, quoth I; here is a subject for a song — 
 a true one! 
 
 A song with which to delight the cultured copy- 
 slaughterer in Boston: 
 
 But I would a thousand times rather not sing it, 
 
 For I am angry with thee, oh, man of genius, I am 
 indignant ; 
 
 I squirm when the children ask if this be the gentle- 
 man, 
 
 This the man whom I once praised to them as an 
 example. 
 
 I revolt, I rebel, I do not wish to tell the truth to 
 them — 
 
 Nor to the editor — nor to the world. 
 
 But, woe is me, hast thou read of the pang of the 
 
 Prophet 
 Who did not w^ish to prophesy, but had to, under 
 
 compulsion ? 
 Truth, guided by the icy, merciless modern 
 
 Athenian, 
 Waylaid me, knocked for recognition, 
 Broke into the innermost chamber of my being. 
 And, wnth sledge-hammer blows, 
 Demolished the door of pity, the last refuge of 
 
 friendship. 
 It seized me, it bound me, it pried open my lips; 
 It commanded me to speak. 
 
 So, dear Brother of the Antique Disposition (I am 
 
 forced to utter plain language), 
 Thou gloriest in being an adulterer. 
 And in having white-washed thine adultery .f' 
 
 129 
 
Democracy 
 
 Thou puttest it not in that brash way — 
 
 Thine hands are encased in kid gauntlets. 
 
 And loud is thy cry of having been mated unhappily. 
 
 Alas, the man of genius and the inferior scullion — 
 
 She who was once the bride of his own choosing — 
 
 She, for whom he would have died, at the drop of 
 
 her perfumed handkerchief — 
 She who bore him his children — is now lightly dis- 
 carded, 
 Dismissed from his superior life as a nightmare. 
 Tell me, is a man of genius necessarily a scoundrel, 
 A breaker of vows, of commandments — 
 A stranger to decency? 
 
 And so during the riotous feast at the club. 
 
 Amid one long, loud, gleeful, roar, 
 
 They announced thee as Fra Diavolo. 
 
 Oh, wonderful penetration of those who live in glass 
 
 mansions. 
 The revellers, in their cups, hit the taurian orb! 
 And your most dangerous Fra Diavolo 
 Is he who goeth about as an angel of light,- 
 Making preachments, easy and comfortable, 
 Scattering, unhindered and unhissed, his moral 
 
 leprosy. 
 
 There is not a pharisaical hair in my head, Fra 
 
 Diavolo ; 
 All of us are fallible, in one way or another, and 
 
 need charity: 
 But this is the deadliest of sins — 
 To seek to justify sin with sophistry. 
 
 130 
 
The Seventh Commandment 
 
 Will praise for a concubine wipe out the seventh 
 
 commandment? 
 Is everything serene at midnight, alone, 
 Now that thou, oh, man of genius, art mentally 
 
 mated ? 
 Many years this luminous mentality hath been bud- 
 ding- 
 Many years the lawful wife hath borne your joint 
 
 infamy. 
 In this thou art not alone, oh, man of genius. 
 Others there are who, too, have defied common 
 
 decency ; 
 See them bedeck their libidinous consorts with 
 
 j ewels ; 
 See them purchase the most gorgeous chateaus in 
 
 Europe 
 In which to house their paramours. 
 They, too, gave way to the mad desires of their 
 
 animal natures. 
 And some of them confounded the proceedings, or 
 
 pretended to. 
 With something intellectual. 
 
 Tell me, oh, man of genius, 
 Hast thou yet to learn, or to acknowledge, 
 That there is a higher weal than a personal one — 
 Hast thou forgotten the claims of society as against 
 
 the individual? 
 Or wouldst thou advise all men to follow thine ex- 
 ample, 
 Helping thee to sow the dragon-teeth of thy doctrine 
 And produce a myriad of marital misfits? 
 
 131 
 
Democracy 
 
 Our twofold nature is at times weak and utterly 
 selfish, 
 
 Wicked in accomplishing the desires of its selfish- 
 ness; 
 
 Therefore we expect help for humanity in high 
 places — 
 
 We look for examples of virtue and honor in our 
 teachers. 
 
 But if these abandon decency for license; 
 
 If they go hunting for mind-mates, 
 
 After, instead of before, marriage; 
 
 If they respect not the cries of their conscience and 
 duty, 
 
 We must despair of the struggle for progress. 
 
 Back then into the mire of the dark ages — 
 
 Back to the age of Rome and Greece, in their de- 
 cadence. 
 
 When harlotry and literature went hand in hand — 
 
 And even stern philosophy cackled at the feet of 
 courtezans. 
 
 When every man, mismated or otherwise. 
 
 Felt free to choose a new affinity. 
 
 And again to discard this affinity, for that matter. 
 
 I look aro\md me, I tremble. 
 
 For thou, oh, man of genius, art but one of the 
 
 symptoms. 
 One of the pustules of the great disease 
 Which threatens our divorce-ridden country. 
 It is infectious, contagious, epidemic; 
 
 132 
 
The Seventh Commandment 
 
 It creeps like a hideous reptile or epidemic, 
 
 Unhindered, unrebuked, unknifed by our moral sur- 
 geons ; 
 
 It grows fat in the palaces of the wealthy; 
 
 It gorges itself in the haunts of plutocracy — 
 
 Among the beasts whom Watterson once so valiantly 
 lashed : 
 
 Oh, for a thousand arms like his to wield the 
 scourge — 
 
 To whip the conscience of these gilded sensualists. 
 
 And not only these, but their accomplices. 
 
 The pot-bellied, well-fed, dumb dogs of the pulpit ; 
 
 Too fat, too gluttonous, too comfortable to bark — 
 
 Too comfortable to more than sniff at this break- 
 down of morals. 
 
 Yea, feed them still more lavishly, 
 
 And they will commiserate thee, oh, man of genius. 
 
 And with paws of fatness pat thee on the shoulder; 
 
 Pity thy poor, mismated condition; 
 
 Re-mate thee, for a fee, in one State, 
 
 Contrary to the laws of another. 
 
 Alas, are we hurrying toward a cataclysm? 
 Are we becoming moral jelly-fish? 
 Puling sybarites, 
 
 Whining and doting only upon our pleasures — 
 Our mind's ease, 
 Our heart's ease, 
 Our cuddlings, 
 Our babyings, 
 Our effeminacies, 
 Our carnalities? 
 
 If the world is running out of sterner stuff, 
 
 133 
 
Democracy 
 
 If we are no longer men, dismiss us, just God. 
 
 If we glibly promise, "for better or worse," 
 
 At the sacred altar. 
 
 And on the waning of the honeymoon. 
 
 Come whining to Thee for a release. 
 
 For mind-mating, for purse-mating, for passion- 
 mating ; 
 
 If we have not heart and courage to stand, to battle, 
 
 To accept the fate we ourselves invited, 
 
 Then bid us crawl back to the caves of beasts and 
 die. 
 
 And, oh, ye legislators, 
 
 Is it not the eleventh hour 
 
 Ere the great clock of Fate strikes to your damna- 
 tion? 
 
 Why not enact just laws and uniform? 
 
 Why say in one commonwealth : The adulterer shall 
 not re-marry. 
 
 And freely allow him to glide over the border to 
 another, 
 
 In which his wicked heart's desire, 
 
 And that of the shameless one at his side, 
 
 Shall be speedily gratified? 
 
 Why tempt them then to amble back, laughing at 
 
 the law, 
 Or hurling defiance into the teeth of justice? 
 Suppress these hideous subterfuges, these mockeries, 
 Oh, ye legislators, 
 Or bid the rising generations 
 To feed on transgression, 
 With utter contempt for all law. 
 
 134 
 
The Seventh Commandment 
 
 But, oh, man of genius, 
 
 I am nearly through with my sermon; 
 
 I hasten to the amen in the prayer, 
 
 And to the benediction. 
 
 What of thee and the future? 
 
 Truth hath forced me to cry from the housetops 
 
 against thee; 
 Against thy self-complacency. 
 Thy pernicious preachments, 
 As well as the vicious tendency of the times. 
 
 The deed is done: 
 
 Sugar it no more — 
 
 Profane not literature with the breath of adultery; 
 
 Or if needs be thou must connect literature with it, 
 
 Turn to thy Hawthorne — 
 
 Commune with this matchless prober of conscience. 
 
 Dost thou remember his brain-burning "Scarlet 
 Letter"? 
 
 What infinite pity and sorrow and tenderness he 
 threw into it? 
 
 Re-read it and note how the master regarded adul- 
 tery — 
 
 How the guilty one in his tragedy was not cuddled : 
 
 How his misdeed was not palliated with mind- 
 mating. 
 
 Perhaps with fine scorn thou wilt survey the Puri- 
 tan parson: 
 
 Perhaps — but for a moment only; 
 
 Then the fascination of the narrative 
 
 Must regain its mastery over thee. 
 
 Stir thee to thy innermost depths, 
 
 Make preachments and easy-going philosophy seem 
 hideous. 
 
 135 
 
Democracy 
 
 Perhaps, under the better impulse, 
 Thou wilt make a stand, 
 And say, "I am still a man: 
 Though I have erred, I am repentant. 
 I will not boast of mine infidelity to-morrow, 
 Nor the day after, nor next month, nor next year. 
 I will seek privacy, reflection; 
 
 I will remember that compassion is for the contrite. 
 And forgiveness for the penitent. 
 I may yet be relieved of my moral strabismus 
 And see straight once more ; 
 
 Yea, and shake off this odious character of Fra 
 Diavolo." 
 
 MOMOTARO 
 
 (A tale, simply told by the Hanashika.) 
 
 It was years and years ago, 
 In the kingdom of fair Japan, 
 
 There lived a poor old woman, 
 And also a poor old man. 
 
 One day he went to the hills, 
 And she where the river flows; 
 
 He to attend to the haying, 
 She to the washing of clothes. 
 
 And while she was thus employed, 
 Rubbing the sudsy things, 
 
 Something down came tumbling 
 Into the crystal springs. 
 
 136 
 
Momotaro 
 
 The woman, surprised and glad — 
 A bamboo-pole within reach — 
 
 Safely her prize soon landed, 
 A luscious and mammoth peach. 
 
 ''Some fruit for my dear old man," 
 Quoth she, and with footsteps fleet, 
 
 As soon as she'd finished her washing. 
 She brought it for him to eat. 
 
 But when they cut it in two, 
 
 There was still a greater surprise, 
 
 For out of it now fell, laughing, 
 A baby with wondering eyes. 
 
 A child such as this they had wished 
 For many and many a year; 
 
 And they called it their Momotaro, 
 Or, little peachling dear. 
 
 He received their tenderest care, 
 And lusty and healthy grew; 
 
 And his foster-parents gave him 
 An education, too. 
 
 Oh, no one so strong and brave, 
 In all the country round; 
 
 And as for his youthful wisdom, 
 No sager child was found. 
 
 137 
 
Democracy 
 
 One day to his parents said he: 
 
 "I go to the demons' isle; 
 Now pray that good fortune and riches 
 
 May on my venture smile." 
 
 They gave him a traveling pouch, 
 " 'Tis necessary," said they, 
 
 "To put in it also these dumplings, 
 To feed you upon the way." 
 
 So he sallied forth prepared 
 
 For his journey grim and bold; 
 
 When by the wayside followed 
 A dog, who now cried, "Hold!" 
 
 "Pray, what hast thou in this pouch?" 
 He asked as he sniffed with glee. 
 
 "The very best millet dumplings." 
 "For one I will go with thee." 
 
 So they struck the bargain there. 
 
 And next a monkey, too. 
 And a glorious winging pheasant, 
 
 Joined in the compact true. 
 
 Each for a dumpling served, 
 
 A happy little band; 
 And soon in the isle of demons 
 
 They arrived and took their stand. 
 
 138 
 
Mojnotaro 
 
 Down comes the mighty gate, 
 'Neath Momotaro's blows, 
 
 And monkey, dog and pheasant 
 Their valor, too, disclose. 
 
 Fiercely the demons fight, 
 
 By Akandoji led. 
 And with great voices yelling, 
 
 Fall here and there, like dead. 
 
 Then came the final tug, 
 Between the leaders twain; 
 
 With iron club the demon 
 Our hero sought to brain. 
 
 The latter deftly dodged. 
 Then grappled with his foe; 
 
 And soon he had him writhing, 
 And tied and lying low. 
 
 Then Akandoji bawled. 
 And ransom offered quick. 
 
 **A11 right," said Momotaro, 
 "But do not play a trick." 
 
 The demon kept his word. 
 And did his treasure bring. 
 
 Much gold and precious jewels, 
 Yea, many a costly thing. 
 
 139 
 
Democracy 
 
 And thus it came to pass, 
 Two people bent and old, 
 
 With jo5^ behold returning 
 Their Momotaro bold. 
 
 And thus it came to pass 
 That they did have a feast, 
 
 Their neighbors all invited, 
 From greatest unto least. 
 
 And Momotaro told 
 
 How he did win the day, 
 Assisted by the pheasant. 
 
 The dog and monkey gray. 
 
 The people all rejoiced, 
 And Momotaro's name 
 
 Was carried with high honor 
 Unto the hall of fame. 
 
 He lived a useful life, 
 
 A leader to the end. 
 And e'er in him the aged 
 
 Did have a loving friend. 
 
 ADOWN THE LEA 
 
 In gentle June our fate was sealed, 
 For had we not our love revealed? 
 The trees were green, and so were we, 
 A-wand'ring down the leafy lea. 
 
 140 
 
Brotherhood 
 
 The right to life, to happiness, 
 Was ours to claim and to possess. 
 The air was light, and so were we, 
 A-wand'ring down the leafy lea. 
 
 Like twins upon a rosebud stem, 
 We loved and kissed ; and like a gem 
 The moon smiled down and up did we, 
 A-wand'ring down the leafy lea. 
 
 Ah, love, it was a dream, forsooth. 
 It was a dream of guileless youth; 
 For trees are fading, so are we, 
 A-wand'ring down the autumn lea. 
 
 And yet what care we happy twain — 
 There's One can let us dream again; 
 For faith is strong, and so are we, 
 A-wand'ring down the wintry lea. 
 
 BROTHERHOOD 
 
 Regeneration is the word! 
 Not all have perished by the sword — 
 Red blood within their bodies flows 
 Once more with joyous hammer-blows 
 Theirs now the pulse-beat understood 
 By the new htiman brotherhood. 
 141 
 
Democracy 
 
 Love and not malice shall hold sway- 
 Gone are the hates of yesterday! 
 And nations, walking arm in arm, 
 Shall say farewell to war's alarm : 
 Blue skies have never looked so good 
 As now to human brotherhood. 
 
 Go, sink your navies in the sea — 
 No use for terror-ships have we; 
 Go, melt your cannon into bells. 
 While in one mighty chorus swells 
 The song conceived in thrilling mood 
 By this our human brotherhood. 
 
 Hail to the toilers great and small, 
 Our bulwark which shall never fall! 
 Proudly they bear their banners high, 
 Inscribed with ev'ry noble cry: 
 Democracy's beloved brood — 
 Champions of human brotherhood. 
 
 Right here the pearly gates are found — 
 They open wide on holy ground ; 
 Right here we learn that heaven began 
 For all who love their fellow-man ; 
 Right here, let it be understood, 
 We walk with God through brotherhood. 
 
 142 
 
If Thou Wert Dead 
 
 IF THOU WERT DEAD 
 
 If thou wert dead, my love, what would I say? 
 
 If thou wert gone, sweetheart, what would I do? 
 Weep o'er thy fair white mansion made of clay, 
 
 And kiss thy silent lips and weep anew? 
 
 Or would I utter loud distressful cries. 
 Like some robbed infant for its precious toy, 
 
 Beating my breast and calling to the skies, 
 To ^\yt thee back unto thy foolish boy? 
 
 " 'Twas but a lovers' quarrel," true, too true, 
 
 But lovers' quarrels end in tragedy 
 At times, and fondest hearts do rue 
 
 Such petulance as parted thee and me. 
 
 If thou wert dead — ah, then each thoughtless word 
 Would, like an arrow, pierce this heart and brain. 
 
 Aye, pierce my conscience like a two-edged sword. 
 And, having killed me, kill me once again. 
 
 MADONNA AND CHILD 
 
 (A New Setting.) 
 
 Oh, darlingest of all my dear delights, 
 Which greets me when arriving home o' nights! 
 Four arms — two larger and two smaller — wait, 
 With willowy figures at the garden gate. 
 
 143 
 
Democracy 
 
 . .. J 
 
 And, oh, how sweetly they embrace me there, 
 
 Declaring that all day they lonely were; 
 
 And now I'm theirs, encircled and alone, 
 
 And they are mine, enclosed in love's great zone. 
 
 The while I gaze on them a look divine 
 
 Comes over these two hallowed ones of mine: 
 
 Father, through them I worship Thee and know 
 
 The truest happiness of mortals here below, 
 
 For in my shrine, on which Thou, too, hast smiled, 
 
 Dwell my heart's own Madonna and our child. 
 
 HOW PEACEFUL ARE THE DEAD 
 
 / 
 
 How peaceful are the dead — those features calm 
 Tell nothing of the tempest which is past, 
 
 Tell nothing of the wounds which needed balm, 
 Tell nothing of the heart which broke at last. 
 
 How peaceful are the dead — what joy is theirs 
 To wing the flight of their unfettered souls, 
 
 There where the weary pilgrim homeward fares 
 And the eternal heaven before him rolls. 
 
 How peaceful are the dead — weep not for these. 
 Weep for the living and the tempest-tossed ; 
 
 Weep for the toilers on life's angry seas. 
 
 Weep for the struggling ones that may be lost. 
 
 Yea, weep for them wdiile they are homeward bound, 
 Or shipwrecked on the cruel rocks are cast. 
 
 But weep not for them when the haven's found 
 And they have peace and happiness at last. 
 
 144 
 
Hymen s Torch 
 
 HYMEN'S TORCH 
 
 Fairies, spread your gossamer wings, 
 Bring us showers of dainty things; 
 Gifts of love and usefulness, 
 Gifts with which a home to bless, 
 For these turtle-doves, who would 
 Enter married life for good. 
 
 And, lo, after the happy day, 
 
 When love has sobered down to stay, 
 
 And from his work he comes each night, 
 
 Looking for his guiding light; 
 
 May he find her, with arms outspread. 
 
 Ready for kisses and unafraid. 
 
 DREAMERS 
 
 And this was the song 
 Which all day long 
 Refrained from the ancient past: 
 And the dreamers shall wake, 
 Their stand they shall take. 
 And their dreams shall come true at last. 
 Dreamers, dreamers, 
 
 Visionaries sublime; 
 Worlds w^aiting for you, 
 To be fashioned anew, 
 In God's good time. 
 
 145 
 
Democracy 
 
 So do not despair 
 When men declare 
 That what you propose cannot be. 
 Like the heroes of old, 
 Let )^our soul become bold, 
 And your dreams realized you'll see. 
 Dreamers, dreamers, 
 
 Visionaries sublime; 
 Worlds waiting for you, 
 To be fashioned anew, 
 In God's good time. 
 
 AT PARTING 
 
 A sadness sits upon 
 
 My pen, while now I think ; 
 t cannot shake it off 
 
 By dipping it in ink, 
 And as I write, a tear. 
 
 Which started from my eye. 
 Rolls down my long, long nose, 
 
 And on the word, "Good-bye." 
 
 146 
 
Ten Little Wheelmen 
 
 TEN LITTLE WHEELMEN 
 
 Ten little wheelmen, starting all in line; 
 One of them he couldn't mount, and then there were 
 nine. 
 
 Nine little wheelmen, one without a mate; 
 The others kicked up such a dust, and then there 
 were eight. 
 
 Eight little wheelmen, going like two-eleven; 
 One he argued with a dog, and then there were 
 seven. 
 
 Seven little wheelmen trying fancy tricks ; 
 One he took a header, and then there were six. 
 
 Six little wheelmen, glad that they're alive; 
 One he punctured both his tires, and then there were 
 five. 
 
 Five little wheelmen — a wayside inn — a door; 
 One of them refreshed too much, and then there 
 were four. 
 
 Four little wheelmen, a train of cars they see ; 
 One gave out and got on board, and then there were 
 three. 
 
 Three little wheelmen, riding tried and true; 
 One he scorched against the law, and then there 
 were two. 
 
 147 
 
De?nocracy 
 
 Two little wheelmen, coming from the run; 
 One he saw a pretty girl, and then there was one. 
 
 One little wheelman, desperate and alone; 
 Sold his wheel and bought a horse, and then there 
 was none. 
 
 SOME DAY. 
 
 Some day, when on our journey, 
 
 We face the final goal; 
 When earth shall claim the body, 
 
 And heaven shall claim the soul, 
 My prayer is to survive thee, 
 
 But for a moment, dear, 
 That I may place sweet flowers 
 
 Upon thy gentle bier. 
 That I may press sweet kisses 
 
 Upon thy pallid brow, 
 And say, "Dear Lord, I'm ready 
 
 To join her — take me now.*' 
 
 A CHRISTMAS TRUCE 
 
 {Written three years before the World War, and 
 published in the Union Springs, N. Y., ''Advertis- 
 er' of December 2i, 191 1.) 
 
 Stop, roaring guns, stop swishing shells, 
 On battle-fields where murder dwells! 
 Stop, maddened foes, in death's embrace^ — 
 Line up each marred and bloody face! 
 Stop, musketry, ston, sabre clash! 
 
 148 
 
The Right and Freedom of the Soul 
 
 Stop, pistol click and cartridge crash! 
 
 Stop, cavalry, unfinished wheel! 
 
 Stop, infantry, and hither kneel! 
 
 Stop, cry and groan and curse and yell — 
 
 Stop, while the skies their story tell! 
 
 For, on this beauteous Christmas morn. 
 When He, the Prince of Peace, was born. 
 All internecine strife must cease, 
 All prisoners obtain release. 
 All mankind learn the lesson great, 
 That Love shall rule instead of Hate ; 
 That Heaven, instinct with better things, 
 Is what to earth the Man-God brings; 
 That Brotherhood from zone to zone, 
 Shall be the rule and that alone; 
 That nevermore shall peoples, free, 
 Make war at Tyrants' foul decree ; 
 That nevermore shall "Peace on Earth" 
 Arouse the cynic's bitter mirth; 
 But henceforth, in reality. 
 Shall truth and not hypocrisy 
 Prevail among all nations here, 
 At peace upon this earthly sphere; 
 Then, too, forever shall abide 
 The lesson of the Christmastide. 
 
 THE RIGHT AND FREEDOM OF THE 
 
 SOUL 
 
 Stop trying to pour us through old funnels 
 Into your bottles here below ; 
 
 149 
 
Democracy 
 
 Stop trying to push us through old tunnels 
 
 Into the great dim afterglow; 
 For there are as many ways to glory 
 
 As the stars that shimmer from pole to pole, 
 And we propose to broach the story 
 
 Of the right and freedom of the soul. 
 
 Glorious liberties have been wrested 
 
 From rank oppression's ancient rule ; 
 High roll the waves with progress crested, 
 
 But man is an infant still at school. 
 When will he crown his education? 
 
 When will he rise to heights sublime? 
 When will he find a new creation, 
 
 Linking the infinite here with time? 
 
 Then shall he tell his would-be sponsors. 
 
 Bursting the bonds which creeds impose: 
 Gentlemen, you have your answers — 
 
 Us in your heaven you can't enclose : 
 It would choke us and send us gasping 
 
 Into the purer air of hell; 
 Therefore, stop your sawing and rasping — 
 
 Go to your paradise, guard it well. 
 
 You, who have robbed and sent us howling. 
 
 Day by day, on this earthly sphere — 
 We with you go cheek-by-jowling, 
 
 Singing hosannas over there? 
 Nay, with great and solemn devotion. 
 
 We would implore the Father outside : 
 "Save us, oh, Lord, from such a notion. 
 
 Far from that gang self-sanctified." 
 150 
 
My Sonff 
 
 There must be room in God's great ether — 
 
 A myriad mansions yonder shine; 
 Therefore, you need not ask us whether 
 
 For the rich man's heaven we would pine : 
 For there are as many ways to glory, 
 
 As the stars that shimmer from pole to pole, 
 And we propose to broach the story 
 
 Of the right and freedom of the soul. 
 
 MY SONG 
 
 If I should have the power 
 To help thee, with my song, 
 
 To while awaj'^ an hour 
 
 Which erstwhile seemed too long. 
 
 What happiness 'twould be 
 
 For him who sings for thee. 
 
 Or if on bed of pain 
 
 Outstretched, or ill at ease, 
 Some note or sweet refrain 
 
 I sang should chance to please, 
 The pleasure would be mine 
 As much as it would thine. 
 
 And, oh, sweet, pensive thought, 
 
 Should I delighted be 
 To find the songs I brought 
 
 Have found response in thee, 
 Heaven would, indeed, descend 
 Upon thy loving friend. 
 
 151 
 
THE SEA-SERPENT 
 
 A TALE OF HYPNOTISM AND CRIME 
 
 Comic Opera in Three Acts 
 
 Characters Represented : 
 
 Captain Tartarus, a pirate. 
 
 Pendragon, New York Herald reporter. 
 
 Butch ERBOY, first mate. 
 
 IcHABOD, second mate. 
 
 Bamboula, a slave-dealer. 
 
 PiROLA;, a daughter of Capt. Tartarus. 
 
 Molly, pirate apprentice. 
 
 Polly, pirate apprentice. 
 
 Dolly, pirate apprentice. 
 
 Pirates, apprentices, savages, etc., and the Cook. 
 
 ACT I 
 
 Scene: On board the pirate man-of-war ''Blue- 
 Devil," off the Coast of Africa. Time: Day-break. 
 
 Chorus. Female Pirate Apprentices 
 
 How beautiful the dawn upon the waters deep 
 Which we behold upon awaking from our sleep! 
 
 How beautiful the day. 
 
 Upon its shimmering way, 
 But, alas, its beauty only serves to make us weep! 
 
 153 
 
Democracy 
 
 For we do not care to sail upon the ocean blue, 
 Apprentices unto a hateful pirate crew, 
 And if we had our way 
 No longer we would stay, 
 But home to our mammas we all would fly — boo! 
 boo! 
 
 The butcheries we often witness make us sick; 
 The hangings make us dizzy, they occur so thick. 
 
 Oh, if we had our way 
 
 No longer we would stay, 
 But from this scene of carnage we would fly, quick, 
 quick ! 
 
 The boobies, too, with them would have us fall in 
 love. 
 
 And let us do the courting, too, as well, by Jove! 
 Thus far we've held the day. 
 We will not court them — nay. 
 
 Each one can be his own dear little turtledove. 
 
 So, in revenge, they tell us we have got to fight. 
 As part of our co-education and our right. 
 But if we had our way 
 We would not fight, nor stay, 
 But home to our mammas we all would fly to-night. 
 
 Enter Captain Tartarus, Butcherboy and 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Pirates ( derisively ) 
 
 But if we had our way 
 We w^ould not fight, nor stay, 
 But home to our papas we all would fly to-night! 
 
 154 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 What, whining again, young sea-dogs! Is this 
 the reward for our efforts in your behalf? Is this 
 the gratitude you show for your emancipation and 
 the blessings of co-education? Let me hear no 
 more of it, but, on the contrary, let me hope that 
 you have by this time made up your minds to fall in 
 love with this gentlemanly crew {Pirates execute an 
 impromptu horn-pipe) , and that you will woo them 
 as they deserve, and as is your undoubted right. 
 
 Song ICHABOD AND PiRATES 
 
 Oh, gently woo us, maidens fair. 
 We would be wooed, we do declare; 
 
 We're not too young — ^we're not too 
 giddy — 
 
 We'd pull in harness, pretty steady — 
 So, gently woo us, maidens fair. 
 
 Pirates 
 
 We're not too young — we're not too giddy — 
 We'd pull in harness, pretty steady — 
 
 So, gently woo us, maidens fair. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 We've waited, oh, these many years, 
 
 For you to woo us, pretty dears; 
 
 But leap-^'^ears come and leap-years go, 
 And still we're waiting, so, so, so — 
 
 So, gently woo us, pretty dears. 
 
 155 
 
Deinocracy 
 
 Pirates 
 
 But leap-years come and leap-years go, 
 And still we're waiting, so, so, so — 
 
 So, gently woo us, pretty dears. 
 
 Recitative. Captain Tartarus 
 
 The depth of their mad yearning for affection 
 Surpasses all belief: 
 
 Yet see the heroes hold it in subjection 
 
 And wear a mask to hide their grief. 
 
 Thus, thus my orders they obey, 
 
 To wait forever and a day 
 
 If need be, ere they go proposing 
 Or making love, my will opposing; 
 
 "Restrain," said I, "each amorous glance, 
 
 And give the ladies a chance." 
 
 Song Captain Tartarus and Chorus 
 
 For, I'm a champion of fair dames, 
 An upholder of their claims. 
 
 In fact, that's what has brought me here, 
 On troubled waves my bark to steer; 
 For it is my motto 
 That we have got to 
 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 156 
 
The Sea-Ser petit 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Alas, It is his motto 
 That all of {theml have got to 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Should they cry for manly toil, 
 Such as tilling of the soil, 
 
 Or mining coal, or felling trees, 
 I'd say, "My dears, just as you please," 
 For it is my motto 
 That we have got to 
 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Again, again that motto — 
 He says that {tifey! have got to 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Should we find them strongly willed 
 A few pyramids to build. 
 
 Or aqueducts, or a ten-league gun: 
 Why, let 'em build—" 'Twill be such fun!" 
 For it is my motto 
 That we have got to 
 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 157 
 
Democracy 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Once more, once more his motto, 
 He holds that {ThVl have got to 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 If they'd rather go to war. 
 And their pretty faces scar, 
 
 I'd say, "My dears, just go and try 
 How jolly 'tis to fight and die!" 
 For it is my motto 
 That we have got to 
 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 We will obey his motto 
 Even though {They! have got to 
 Give the ladies a chance. 
 
 Recitative Ichabod^ Captain Tartarus and 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ahoy! Ahoy there! Ahoy! 
 
 Look, Captain, look! Look Butcherboy! 
 Can it be some new torpedo 
 To serve ourselves as others we do? 
 
 158 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Alas, alas, behold, the universal craving, 
 For love hath turned his brain — next we may see 
 him raving. 
 
 (Takes glass from Butcherboy and looks.) 
 But, by our skull and cross-bones! it is something 
 
 truly ! 
 Just turn the guns upon it, should it prove unruly. 
 Ahoy, ahoy there! ahoy! 
 
 Pendragon (In the distance). 
 Ahoy yourself, ahoy! 
 
 Enter Pirola 
 
 Air Pirola, Chorus and Pendragon 
 
 What voice is that that strikes so strangely on mine 
 ear? 
 
 Papa, oh, pray, w^hat voice is that? 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ahoy! Ahoy! 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ahoy! 
 
 Pirola 
 
 I do declare, it makes me feel so queer — 
 It makes my heart go pit-a-pat! 
 
 159 
 
Democracy 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ahoy! Ahoy! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ahoy ! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 I dreamed of mermaids going a-fishing, all last 
 night — 
 
 Papa, each mermaid caught a fish. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ahoy! Ahoy! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ahoy! 
 
 Pirola 
 
 But I was left alone, without a bite. 
 
 And all unanswered was my wish. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ahoy! Ahoy! 
 1 60 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pendragon 
 Ahoy ! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 And then the merry mermaids and the fishes sang, 
 And 'mid their song I heard a voice ; 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ahoy ! Ahoy ! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ahoy! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 And as I h'stened through my heart there shot a 
 pang, 
 
 For, lo, another had my choice ! 
 
 Recitative Ichabod and Butcherboy 
 
 Who can it be? 
 
 He surely is exhausted. 
 A marvel 'tis to me 
 
 That he thus long has lasted. 
 
 But shall he sink, while here we stand? 
 Or shall we lend a helping hand? 
 i6i 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 What's this I hear? 
 
 A pretty pirate you are! 
 My friend, I fear 
 
 You to our creed untrue are. 
 
 List! I'll explain, while here we stand, 
 Our doctrine of the helping hand: 
 
 Song BuTCHERBOY AND ChORUS 
 
 No friendly hand 
 
 To him outstretch ; 
 Just let him sink, 
 
 Unhappy wretch ! 
 This world Is ours 
 
 And not for him; 
 So, let him sink — 
 
 He cannot swim. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 How apt the words which rise at his command 
 To tell {their! doctrine of the helping hand. 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 True, once a hand 
 
 Did ours clasp 
 And help us, thus, 
 
 Our chance to grasp; 
 But that was us — 
 
 Not such as him; 
 
 162 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 So, let him sink — 
 He cannot swim. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Such are the principles of this { their 1 band; 
 To sinking people stretch no helping hand. 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 We'll brag of what 
 
 Success we've won, 
 Despising him 
 
 Who's nothing done; 
 For this was us — 
 
 Not such as him; 
 So, let him sink — 
 
 He cannot swim 
 
 Chorus 
 
 This doctrine all true pirates understand; 
 So, pause before you lend a helping hand. 
 
 Spoken. Ichabod 
 
 Ah, but he doesn't need our assistance, after all. In 
 fact, it looks very much like Paul Boynton, the 
 man-fish. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Paul Boynton, the man-fish ! Can it be that he is 
 here to court death in African waters? If so, 
 haul him in and let him walk the gang-plank. 
 
 163 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 Oh, must he walk the gang-plank? 
 Pirates {fiercely) 
 Yes, let him walk the gang-plank! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 Good ! Those are my sentiments. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Aye, aye, my lads ! He is no better, I dare say, than 
 those who have gone before — food for fishes, as 
 Falstaff used to say. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 Food for powder, were his exact words, Captain. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ha, fellow! Wouldst ever contradict me in public? 
 (draws) But, no — we will postpone this lite- 
 rary controversy for the present. Haul him in 
 there, you young sea-dogs, and stop your whim- 
 pering. Stand back and give them a chance, 
 my gallant crew. Ah, be careful of his swim- 
 ming-suit I want that for myself when he 
 
 adorns the yard-arm. 
 
 164 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Recitative Pirate Apprentices 
 
 When he adorns the yard-arm — 
 Thus hath our Captain spoken; 
 
 When he adorns the yard-arm — 
 Let's wail in accents broken. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 When he adorns the yard-arm — so! — so! 
 When he adorns the yard-arm — so ! — so ! 
 
 Ye-ho ! ye-hoi ! ye-ho ! ye-hoi ! 
 Hang there, oh, hang there, my pretty, pretty boy ! 
 
 Spoken. Butcherboy 
 
 Excuse me, Captain, but I must refresh your 
 memory. 
 
 Captain Tartarus {aside) 
 
 I'd rather he would refresh my oesophagus. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 You first intimated that he was to walk the gang- 
 plank. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ha! Did I? Wouldst pick a quarrel with me, in 
 spite of my forbearance? (Draws.) But, no 
 
 165 
 
Defnocracy 
 
 — we will settle this later. (To Pendragon) 
 Ah, Paul Boynton, to what are we indebted 
 for this early morning call? 
 
 Pendragon 
 I am not Paul Boynton. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 He is not Paul Boynton! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Then, pray who and what are you ? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 My name is Pendragon, and I am a New York 
 Herald reporter. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 A New York Herald reporter! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Now, by my faith, if I were a Mussulman — or, in 
 
 other words, an oyster-pirate^ — I would say, 
 
 Allah be praised for this good fortune! What, 
 
 ho! there — provide the best accommodations on 
 
 1 66 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 board this ship for the reporter. See him well 
 bestowed, as Falstaff said of the players. 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 It was Hamlet who made that remark, CaJDtain. 
 
 Captain Tartarus (severely) 
 
 As Falstaff said of the players — let the reporter take 
 off his armor and refresh himself; after that we 
 will listen to the adventures which brought ETm 
 here. {Exit Pendragon.) 
 
 Recitative. Pirola^ Molly^ Polly, Dolly, Cap- 
 tain Tartarus, Butcherboy and Chorus 
 
 Molly, Polly, Dolly, 
 Pray, forgive my folly, 
 
 Respect my idle whim — 
 
 Go, intercede for him. 
 
 Molly {kneeling) 
 
 Oh, have mercy, dearest Captain, 
 Pity our alarm. 
 
 Polly 
 
 Do not hang him, sweetest Captain, 
 To the grim yard-arm. 
 
 167 
 
Democracy 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Do not make him walk the gang-plank — 
 Save this one from harm. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Mercy? Yard-arm? Gang-plank? What a fuss! 
 
 Ho! ho! ho! ho! my pretty birds. 
 Nay, fascinate him — make him one of us, 
 
 And do not mind those hasty words. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ne'er mind the words — don't make a fuss- 
 But charm him, make him one of us ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Aye, wipe j^our eyes, my dear ones, thus; 
 He must indeed be one of us. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY {aside) 
 
 He must, indeed, old man, he must — 
 ''Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust!" 
 
 Song. BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Says the buzzard to the owl. 
 
 You are one of us! 
 Says the fox unto the fow4. 
 
 You are one of us! 
 1 68 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Says the lion to the lamb, 
 Says the shark unto the clam — 
 You are one of us! 
 
 Enter Pendragon 
 
 Spoken. Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ah, my good fellow, I hope my men have treated 
 you well. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Excellently, Captain. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 You were saying, you are a reporter? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Yes, I have been such almost from infancy. Beau- 
 tiful morning — beautiful scenery. Captain. 
 Beautiful young ladies! {Pirate Apprentices 
 all courtesy.) Quite a family! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Yes, and all mine — by adoption. 
 
 Recitative Pendragon and Captain Tartarus 
 
 You have evidently gone into the paternal business 
 On a most extensive scale; 
 
 169 
 
Democracy 
 
 And if beauty is a joy forever 
 
 Your spring of happiness should never fail. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Just so, my friend, just so — 
 You seem to catch my aim; 
 
 And now^ I'll briefly let you know 
 How you can do the same. 
 
 Song. Captain Tartarus 
 
 Would you have an option 
 
 On a handsome family? 
 Go, and by adoption 
 
 Make yourself a pedigree. 
 Pretty orphans gather. 
 
 As you would a string of pearls, 
 Be to them a father — 
 
 A father of a hundred girls. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 And though not one of them should be 
 The daughter of a hundred earls, 
 
 Tis clear that such a man could be 
 The father of a hundred girls. 
 170 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Ensemble. Pirola, Molly, Polly, Dolly, Pen- 
 dragon, Captain Tartarus, Butch erboy 
 AND Chorus 
 
 Molly, Polly, Dolly, 
 
 Pray, excuse this folly — 
 Make interrogation 
 About his life and station. 
 
 Molly 
 Please, sir, tell us now of your adventures. 
 
 Polly 
 Also, are you out of your indentures? 
 
 Dolly 
 Give us some particulars of your life. 
 
 Molly 
 And do tell us have you got — a wife? 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! Oh, what a jest! 
 
 Although 'tis quite amusing. 
 When such fair lips make such request, 
 
 There is no use refusing. 
 171 
 
Democracy 
 
 A wife? Alas, I must confess 
 
 I ne'er had such a treasure, 
 Although I would some day possess 
 
 A little wife, with pleasure. 
 I dreamed of such a happy fate, 
 
 This morn, at early dawning, 
 But found myself without a mate 
 
 When I awoke, still yawning. 
 And sad and lonely, back I sank 
 
 Upon my liquid pillow, 
 As in the dreary scene I drank 
 
 Upon the rolling billow. 
 Just then across the morning sky, 
 
 Like banners faintly gleaming, 
 ' In yonder rigging, high and dry, 
 
 I saw some stockings streaming. 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Our pretty stockings! Oh, good gracious! 
 How dared he look! Oh, how audacious! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Nay, pardon me if thus I guessed 
 
 The fact of your existence; 
 And knowing it, I could not rest 
 
 Till I had swum the distance. 
 Had I but dared, on closer view, 
 
 To thus disturb j^our slumbers, 
 I would have serenaded you 
 
 In amatory numbers. 
 
 172 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Hed serenade us, oh, good gracious! 
 Was ever man quite so audacious? 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 How lucky that he did refrain — 
 He ne'er would serenade again. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 And may I ask, how came you to espy, 
 At early dawn, our laundry hung to dry ? 
 In other words, how came 3 ou thus afloat, 
 Upon the waters deep, without a boat? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Last night, all unexpectedly, some infernal pirates. 
 By means of a torpedo, kindly offered us sky-rates; 
 In other words, they suddenly blew up the Herald 
 
 cruiser. 
 While of the great Sea-Serpent I was trying to get 
 
 a view, sir. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 The sea-serpent? 
 173 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 What, what, the sea-serpent? 
 
 Chorus 
 
 The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent! 
 
 Horrors upon horrors, see him glide! 
 The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent! 
 
 Horrors upon horrors, let us hide! 
 
 {Exeunt Chorus.) 
 
 Spoken. Captain Tartarus 
 
 'Tis the only thing, the bare mention of which will 
 utterly demoralize them. Ichabod, remember 
 the eyes of the Press are upon us: heed the ex- 
 ample of your superior officers. Never fear, 
 Pirola, nothing shall harm thee, child. {To 
 , Pendragon) And now, sir, may I ask, would 
 you recognize those devilish pirates again, if 
 you saw them? 
 
 Butch erboy 
 
 He said "infernal," Captain. 
 
 Captain Tartarus {aside) 
 
 Hair-splitting villain ! 
 
 174 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 It was very dark, and I do not know of a certainty 
 that they were pirates. I called them such on 
 general principles. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ah! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 I was just starting out from the vessel, in my rub- 
 ber suit, to take a flash-light picture of the 
 monster whose eyeballs, I was assured, were 
 glaring at us over the dark waters, when the 
 crash came and all on board went down. I am 
 the only survivor. 
 
 Recitative Pirola, Captain Tartarus^ Icha- 
 
 BOD AND BUTCHERBOY 
 
 He is the only survivor! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 How very few survive! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 He is the only survivor! 
 175 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 He may yet take a dive! 
 
 Quartette Captain Tartarus^ Butcherboy, 
 IcHABOD and Pirola 
 
 The only survivor — ah, pity, pity him! 
 
 Saved from the javvs of death, of death so grim, 
 While all around him sank. 
 Those who could not get a plank. 
 
 And, having not a plank, how could they swim? 
 
 The only survivor — oh, hear old ocean roar! 
 While down to cruel graves the awful billows bore 
 
 His many fellow-men. 
 
 The hero of the pen 
 Was singled out by fate to get ashore. 
 
 Recitative Captain Tartarus and Pendragon 
 
 And now, excuse us. 
 Pray, don't refuse us. 
 
 Some further information of your curious chase. 
 I have been musing. 
 How came you cruising 
 
 For serpents and such monsters in this far-off 
 place? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 I will excuse you, 
 I'll not refuse you 
 
 176 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Some further information of my curious chase. 
 It is amusing, 
 How I came cruising 
 
 For serpents and such monsters in this far-off 
 place. 
 
 Song Pendragon 
 
 A reporter goes for news 
 
 (Fearing no competitor), 
 In accordance with the views 
 
 Of his high chief editor; 
 And he asks not wh}^ nor wherefore but he goes. 
 
 Now on land, and now on sea, 
 
 Restlessly and fearlessly. 
 His daily avocation he pursues. 
 
 And if, in his wild career. 
 
 He does things a little queer 
 To those who uninitiated are, 
 
 'Tis because he's sorely pressed 
 
 Each day to outdo his best 
 For his readers who with horrors sated are. 
 
 He'll explore a burning mine; 
 
 'Round the world he'll draw a line; 
 He'll describe the Cholera or Yellow Jack; 
 
 Then to prison he'll be sent. 
 
 In a mad-house he'll be pent. 
 Just to give the beastly management a whack. 
 
 Up in aeroplanes to dwell. 
 
 Or down in a diving-bell, 
 Is a pastime for this man of adamant; 
 
 Now upon the North-Pole bent, 
 
 By his paper he is sent, 
 
 177 
 
Democracy 
 
 Or to go and look for Stanley he's despatched; 
 
 Now on battle-fields he writes, 
 
 And occasionally fights, 
 Should the army need his help when overmatched. 
 
 These and other things a true 
 
 Gatherer of news will do — 
 Nothing is too high or low for him to touch. 
 
 One day interviewing kings, 
 
 Emperors and other things, 
 Next ^mong the very slums he'll dig for news; 
 
 Giving Billy Sunday points 
 
 How to curse and raid the joints. 
 Or upon the latest prize-fight get some views. 
 
 Spoken Captain Tartarus 
 
 You amaze me! But all this does not — except, 
 perhaps by inference — explain how you came to 
 be chasing the 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Sea-serpent? It was all owing to our contest of 
 ideas. 
 
 Your what? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Our contest of ideas: The reporter who submits 
 the best news-idea during the year gets a 
 
 178 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Christmas turkey. My idea was that it would 
 be a big advertisement for us to explore the 
 sea-s&rpent — to prove whether it is a fact or a 
 hoax. I obtained my turkey, but with it a 
 sauce I had not expected. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 And what was that? 
 
 Pendragon 
 My chief gave me the assignment. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 The what? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 The undertaking — the work to do. A vessel was 
 fitted out, manned with scientists and other 
 learned men, and placed at my disposal. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 And thus handicapped you dared set sail? 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Alas! 
 
 179 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Yes, and we believed ourselves upon the very verge 
 of success when disaster overtook us. Not one 
 of the scientific gentlemen escaped, and, as I 
 said before, I alone am left to write up the 
 story. 
 
 Recitative Pendragon and Captain Tartarus 
 
 And now that I have given such an account of my- 
 self as from your guest is due, 
 
 Pray, will you have the kindness to inform our read- 
 ers who are you? 
 
 Captain Tartarus (aside) 
 
 What joy is mine! What joy is mine! 
 
 At last I'm to be interviewed. 
 What shall I say? What shall I do? 
 
 How shall I strike an attitude? 
 
 Pendragon, Butcherboy and Pirola 
 
 What joy is his! What joy is his! 
 
 At last he's to be interviewed. 
 What shall he say? What shall he do? 
 
 How shall he strike an attitude? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 In answer to your pertinent inquiry, I may say, sir, 
 if I please: 
 
 1 80 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 We are peaceable citizens sailing for pleasure and 
 profit on the seas. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 As a reporter I'm bound to believe you, and yet my 
 credulity staggers 
 
 When I look around and behold this superabun- 
 dance of pistols and daggers. 
 
 But I can imagine, if need be, and thus avoid being 
 personal, 
 
 That each man is a theological student, instead of a 
 w^alking arsenal. 
 
 Captain Tartarus {aside) 
 
 How deep the cunning of his art! 
 
 How admirable is his tact! 
 He is the genuine article — 
 
 He's a reporter, that's a fact! 
 
 Pendragon, Butch erboy and Pirola 
 How deep the cunning of his art, etc. 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Nay, let me entreat you, mistake not our men or 
 
 their quality, 
 For all that you have beheld, sir, is only an armed 
 
 neutrality. 
 
 i8i 
 
Democracy 
 
 Our intentions are peaceful and honorable — to the 
 
 contrary no one can say — 
 If we are only let alone and are allowed to have 
 
 our way. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ah, sir, and do I understand, when the angry bil- 
 lows roll, 
 
 Here and there, from passing merchantmen, you oc- 
 casionally take toll? 
 
 Of course, I do not intimate that for gain these 
 men you fleece^ — 
 
 'Tis only to repay you for the wear and tear of 
 keeping the peace. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 How very delicately put! 
 
 How diplomatic ! How refined ! 
 How greatly honored is this ship ! 
 
 To embrace him I have half a mind. 
 
 Pendragon, Butch erboy and Pirola 
 
 How very delicately put, etc. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! that is not bad! 
 You are a most ingenious lad. 
 In plainer or more gentlemanly language 
 182 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 You could not down have laid 
 The law that we are pirates — 
 Right you are — a spade's a spade! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Aha! 
 
 And pray, what caused you to become 
 
 A pirate — was it drinking rum? 
 
 How long have you a pirate been? 
 
 And would you do it all again? 
 
 And do you like the business quite? 
 
 And do you always think it right? 
 
 How many have you killed to date? 
 
 Your stolen treasure quickly state. 
 
 And is it buried good and deep? 
 
 And do you ever soundly sleep? 
 
 Your ancestors, from ancient times — 
 
 Give me their names and all their crimes; 
 
 How many years they served in jail; 
 
 State how they died ; and do not fail 
 
 To tell if their example bright 
 
 Caused you to steer your course aright; 
 
 In other words, do you believe 
 
 That from the dead you did receive 
 
 Your impulse to indulge in crime? 
 
 And do you feel it every time? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Support me — oh, support me! 
 
 I thought a blizzard blew. 
 And would you thus report me? 
 
 Is this an interview? 
 
 183 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 It is the skirmish-line of one, 
 The interview is scarce begun. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Then let us go below and drink till I am in con- 
 dition 
 
 To undergo, with steady nerves, this pleasant in- 
 quisition. 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 If he dares to repeat those questions I may be 
 
 obliged to shoot him down. 
 I despise this prying reporter, and don't care for 
 
 his smile nor his frown. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 No doubt he has cause to despise him and all of his 
 
 race — ha! ha! ha! 
 For they once wrote him up and he vanished at 
 
 night in disgrace — tra! la! la! 
 
 Butcher BOY {aside) 
 
 The voice of love is in her mocking laugh; 
 
 She is intoxicated quite. 
 It makes me yearn to write his epitaph 
 
 With murderous delight, 
 
 184 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 For now on my revenge I do decide; 
 
 Of him I will be rid; 
 And she — though drenched with tears — shall be my 
 bride! 
 
 I swear by Captain Kidd! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Come, come, now give your reasons why 
 The tariff will make wages high; 
 Your views upon the suffrage bill 
 Will help a column, too, to fill. 
 
 Of woman and the higher sphere 
 Give your opinion freely here. 
 And on co-education, too. 
 We must have quite a lengthy view. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 That sort of interview I do not mind, 
 So come below and I will talk you blind. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Papa, oh don't get ill again 
 
 As you did with Captain Milligan. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Nay, daughter, nay — perhaps one friendly sip: 
 Your mother ne'er did chide me for a friendly nip. 
 
 185 
 
Democracy 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Oh, stranger, tempt him not! 
 
 Respect his many years; 
 Remove from this poor heart 
 
 Its palpitating fears. 
 
 Captain Tartarus, Butcherboy, Ichabod and 
 Pendragon 
 
 Butcherboy and Ichabod. — Oh, stranger, tempt 
 
 him not, etc. 
 Captain Tartarus. — Oh, stranger, tempt me not, 
 
 etc. 
 Pendragon. — Nay, I will tempt him not, etc. 
 
 ( Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Molly^ Polly and Dolly 
 
 Thus we were, 
 
 And thus we are, 
 Each one grown 
 
 To a pretty little tar; 
 Blushing buds 
 
 In pink and blue 
 Now are members 
 Of a pirate crew. 
 Molly, Polly, Dolly dance! 
 For a husband you've a chance! 
 
 If you'll only catch him, catch him, catch him ! 
 If you'll only catch him, catch him, quick. 
 
 i86 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Polly 
 For this is leap-year. 
 
 Dolly 
 Why is it leap-year? 
 
 Molly 
 
 Because, 'tis said, old maids all leap for joy 
 
 As they go nosing 
 
 Around, proposing 
 To some unfortunate, poor little boy. 
 
 Dolly 
 And this is leap-year? 
 
 Molly 
 Oh, happy leap-year. 
 
 Dolly 
 When maidens coy may say, "I'll be your wife"; 
 
 Polly 
 
 And when, like frogs. 
 Headlong in bogs. 
 The wise old bachelors may leap for life. 
 
 187 
 
Democracy 
 
 Molly 
 I do believe we are becoming merry. 
 
 Dolly 
 Alas, not I. 
 
 Polly 
 Still harping on our lot, my little cherry? 
 
 Dolly 
 I'd like to cry. 
 
 Molly 
 My love, I fear you'll never make a pirate. 
 
 Dolly 
 I'd rather die. 
 
 Polly 
 If Tartarus should hear, 'twould make him irate. 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Yet care not I. 
 i88 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Molly 
 
 So young and sad ! 
 Ah, Polly, pray tell me, can't something be done 
 To liven her up, like a dear little one? 
 
 Polly 
 
 I'll make her glad! 
 I'll tell her of some one who's ready to kiss, 
 If she will but pop, like a dear little miss. 
 
 Molly 
 For it is leap-year! 
 
 Polly 
 Yes, it is leap-year! 
 
 Molly 
 And younger maidens, too, may leap for joy ! 
 
 Polly 
 For on this man-of-war — 
 
 Molly 
 
 We know there's many a tar — 
 189 
 
Democracy 
 
 Polly 
 Who would be glad to be her darling boy 
 Trio. Dolly, Molly and Polly 
 
 No such darling for me — 
 
 I want no little tar! 
 For I'm sick of the sea, 
 
 And this old man-of-war! 
 
 Molly and Polly 
 
 Oh, what rank heresy ! 
 
 She wants no little tar! 
 She is sick of the sea. 
 
 And this old man-of-war! 
 
 Dolly 
 
 You may rock me to sleep, 
 In my hammock at home. 
 
 And I'll dream of the deep 
 And its billows a-foam. 
 
 Molly and Polly 
 
 She will dream of the deep 
 And its billows a-foam, 
 
 As we rock her to sleep 
 In her hammock at home. 
 
 190 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Dolly 
 
 I will dream of each tar 
 
 Like a ghost that has fled, 
 And this old man-of-war 
 
 With its numberless dead. 
 
 Molly and Polly 
 
 She will dream of each tar, 
 
 In a shadowy wa)^. 
 And this old man-of-war 
 
 And its company gay. 
 
 Dolly 
 
 I will dream of the deep 
 
 In my hammock at home, 
 And I'll pray, while I sleep, 
 
 That no more I may roam. 
 
 Molly and Polly 
 
 While we rock her to sleep. 
 
 In her hammock at home, 
 She will pray, she will weep, 
 
 That no more she may roam. 
 
 Spoken Polly 
 
 Cheer up, sister, cheer up! You think you are 
 home-sick, but you are not. 
 
 191 
 
Democracy 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Ah, if I onty knew what it meant — there is a kind 
 of pain — a goneness here — such as I never felt 
 before. 
 
 Molly 
 
 Why, that is love! 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Ah, do you think so? Are you certain? 
 
 Molly and Polly 
 
 We are positive — at least, we have heard so! 
 
 Recitative. Polly, Dolly and Molly 
 
 For, there is one 
 Aboard this old hull she is dying to woo! 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Oh, how can you say it is I? It is you! 
 
 Molly 
 
 We're guilty one and all, 
 
 So let us make confession. 
 
 192 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Polly 
 
 In love with him let's fall 
 
 And scramble for possession. 
 
 Dolly 
 With him? Which him? 
 
 Polly 
 The hymn of our devotion. 
 
 Molly 
 Our morning hymn. 
 
 Polly 
 Our evening hymn. 
 
 Molly 
 
 And every other kind of hymn. 
 That goes well on the ocean. 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Oh, what a whim! 
 They sing of him 
 As if he were a kind of song. 
 
 193 
 
Democracy 
 
 Polly 
 
 Ah, then you see 
 Who it can be? 
 
 Molly 
 
 She understands — come, come along! 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Then, must we rivals be? 
 
 Polly. 
 
 For, friendly rivals three 
 Are Molly 
 
 Polly 
 
 Polly 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Dolly! 
 
 All 
 
 Thus we were, 
 
 And thus we are, 
 Each one grown 
 
 194 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 To a pretty little tar; 
 Blushing buds 
 
 In pink and blue 
 Now are members 
 Of a pirate crew! 
 Molly, Polly, Dolly dance! 
 For a husband you've a chance? 
 
 If you'll only catch him, catch him, catch 
 
 him! 
 If you'll only catch him, catch him quick! 
 
 (Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Butcherboy and Ichabod 
 
 Recitative Butcherboy and Ichabod 
 
 The lesson of the helping hand 
 Now you will heed. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Yes, yes, I understand 
 The pirate's creed. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 You are not wanting in intelligence, although lately 
 promoted from the ranks. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 For which promotion to the shark who gobbled my 
 predecessor I owe thanks. 
 
 195 
 
Democracy 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Ne'er mind his fate, 
 But listen, mate: 
 
 Duet BuTCHERBOY AND ICHABOD 
 
 I will teach you to be a villain — 
 I will train you to wade in gore. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Like Barkis, sir, I am willin', 
 
 But there is failure, I fear, in store. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Come, come, sir, now, no trembling: 
 I will show you just how 'tis done. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Aye, aye, sir, my fears I'm dissembling. 
 But I'm afraid it will be no fun. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 The first thing you want is a motive, 
 
 The best one, by far, is revenge; 
 For this many offerings votive 
 
 Have been burnt since the days of Stone- 
 henge. 
 
 196 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 ICHABOD. 
 
 Revenge ! I like that word ! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Aha, I've struck the chord! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 It says, Live! hVe! 
 
 And triumph over foes; 
 It says. Give, give, 
 
 For blow a hundred blows. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Then let us dedicate this day 
 Unto Revenge. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I'll do it, if you lead the way, 
 By great Stonehenge! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Swear by the rising sun you will be true! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I swear I will be true as steel to you! 
 
 197 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Swear by our Captain's nose, you will be game! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 The sun — our Captain's nose — 'tis all the same! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 And now that with revenge we burn, 
 Let us upon our victims turn 
 
 And boldly say 
 
 Who, who are they. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Ah, who can it be 
 
 But the Daughters of Eve, 
 So delightful to see, 
 
 And so prone to deceive! 
 They have laughed us to scorn, 
 
 They have shamefully guyed us. 
 Even this very morn 
 
 Their love they denied us. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Yes, and not only this. 
 
 When they might us enravish. 
 
 All the showers of bliss 
 
 Which on us they might lavish 
 
 198 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 They are ready to waste 
 
 At the feet of another — 
 With revenge let us haste, 
 
 Or with rage I may smother. 
 
 Both 
 
 With revenge let us haste, 
 
 Or with rage we may smother. 
 
 Spoken. Ichabod 
 
 I see blood in your eye. You evidently intend to 
 massacre them. 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 No, I do not intend to kill them — there is a worse 
 fate in store for them. They shall be sold 
 into slavery. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Into slavery ? Oh, have you no pity ? 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Throw pity to the sharks! You are not weakening? 
 
 199 
 
Democracy 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Oh, no, no, no! And still, shall we have no other 
 reward except this bare revenge? 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 We shall ! I have decided that each shall retain, 
 as his prize, at least one haughty beauty. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Yes, one is quite enough ! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 And with this exception, every soul on board, both 
 male and female, shall be sold to Bamboula 
 for spot cash. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Both male and female? You do not mean to con- 
 sign the whole ship to this infamous doom? 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 My scheme of vengeance makes a clean sweep ; no 
 other plan would be absolutely safe. 
 200 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Ah, but how shall we two overcome them all? 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Nothing could be easier. Listen: You shall re- 
 main behind and corrupt the crew. Inspire 
 them with superstitious horror so that they will 
 refuse to go In search of the sea-serpent. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 The sea-serpent! Yes, yes! Good, very good! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Also approach the apprentices: Work on their dis- 
 content: Show them the hardships of a pi- 
 rate's life and make them see that they are 
 shamefully underpaid. In short, get them to 
 strike for higher wages and to refuse to sing 
 the Evening Hymn of Praise to Captain KIdd 
 until their demands are complied with. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 It shall be done — nay, consider it done already. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Stir up a big rumpus, and w^hen it is at Its height 
 those shall arrive who will attend to the sequel. 
 20I 
 
Democracy 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 But are you sure Bamboula will not fail you? 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 As sure as I am that we are near his coast. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 You re-assure me — for a moment I saw a vision of 
 the gang-plank. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 The reporter shall walk it, so that your vision may 
 prove true! And now farewell, and see that 
 your courage will prove equal to your villainy. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 My courage? Ha, ha, ha, that's good! My cour- 
 age? Ha, ha, ha, sir, no man shall ever say 
 that Ichabod's courage failed him ! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 All right, Icky — remember our revenge — 
 
 202 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Duet Butch ERBOY and Ichabod 
 
 This very day 
 
 I'm taken ill, 
 And go below 
 
 To make my will — 
 
 Or words to that effect. 
 
 Ichabod, 
 
 Alack a-day! 
 
 He's taken ill 
 And goes below 
 
 To make his will. 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 This very night, 
 
 When you "raise Cain," 
 I shall return 
 With might and main, — 
 
 Or words to that effect. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 This very night 
 
 When we "raise Cain," 
 He will return 
 
 With might and main — 
 Or words to that effect. 
 
 (Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Pendragon 
 203 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 In sooth, a fairish morning's work — 
 I've pumped him dry, or I'm a Turk! 
 My note-book's ready now to burst 
 With pirate stories of the worst. 
 Oh, what a hue and cry 'twill raise 
 When this shall m.eet the public gaze. 
 Ah, what a gory page is there — 
 Blood, blood and slaughter everywhere. 
 Of scuttled ships and murdered crews 
 I have the first exclusive news. 
 The bloodiest of cut-throats he 
 That ever domineered the sea. 
 No quarter e'er he gave to man, 
 Since his career of crime began. 
 But strange to say, of womankind 
 There are a few that mercy find. 
 The prettiest he will adopt — 
 The rest into the sea are dropped! 
 
 Ah, fortunate am I 
 
 This pirate to espy, 
 
 And fortunate as well 
 
 To live the tale to tell! 
 But still more fortunate, I trow, 
 I have his solemn promise now 
 To take his crew and chase for me 
 The fabled monster of the sea. 
 
 Enter Pirola 
 204 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Sir, you have disregarded 
 
 A daughter's earnest prayer; 
 
 Sir, you have thus rewarded 
 A daughter's tender care ; 
 
 In spfte of my endeavor 
 My father thus find I! 
 
 No doubt you thought it clever — 
 But for this, sir, you shall die, 
 For this, sir, 5/ou shall die! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 What, die, and all unarmed? 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Nay, then be not alarmed. 
 But take this, while another 
 I'll borrow from some one or other! 
 {Casts pistol at his feet. Exit). 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Whew! What a little gypsy! 
 
 She means it, I declare; 
 Alas, he would get tipsy. 
 
 In spite of all my care! 
 
 Re-enter Pirola 
 
Democracy 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Although you've disregarded 
 
 A daughter's earnest prayer, 
 And though you've thus rewarded 
 
 A daughter's tender care, 
 Yet know that I have spoken 
 
 The words I would recall, 
 And though my heart be broken 
 
 Yet I'll forgive it all. 
 Nay, turn not on me those dark eyes- 
 I hope you will yourself despise. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Thanks for your clemency, 
 
 Oh, lady fair! 
 And you despise me not 
 
 I'll not despair. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Is that a compliment? 
 Pendragon 
 I said just what I meant. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Nay, nay, sir, have a care! 
 206 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 It Is the truth, I swear! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Yet I've been told 
 That men make bold 
 
 With flattery to win their way. 
 Well do I know 
 It must be so 
 
 For that is what my nurse did say. 
 She held me on her knee 
 And sang this song to me: 
 
 Air. PiROLA* 
 
 Pretty little eyes, how many 
 Glances shall he have from thee? 
 
 Tell him, little eyes, not any, 
 That will far the wiser be. 
 
 Pretty little lips, how many 
 Kisses shall he steal from thee? 
 
 Tell him, little lips, not any. 
 That will far the wiser be. 
 
 Pretty little ears, how many 
 Messages of love wouldst hear? 
 
 Tell him, little ears, not any, 
 That will be the wiser, dear. 
 207 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 Alas, a cruel nurse was she! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Nay, she was wise as wise can be. 
 
 (They walk. 
 
 Enter Captain Tartarus 
 
 Captain Tartarus {decidedly tipsy) 
 
 I've given him my history. 
 
 Divested of its mystery; 
 
 He's got my why and wherefore, too, 
 
 For getting up this pirate crew. 
 
 He's got a revelation 
 
 Upon co-education. 
 
 His inventory of my crimes 
 
 Will make me famous for all times. 
 
 Spoken 
 Said he, "You shall have a whole page in the 
 Heraldj if you will help me find the Sea-Ser- 
 pent." *'Done!" said I, fairly jumping at the 
 ofifer; for here had I been for many years en- 
 gaged in a most hazardous and sensational 
 business — displaying genius and courage, aye, 
 daring of the most reckless kind — without re- 
 ceiving the smallest recognition. And why? 
 Because no reporter had ever ventured to find 
 and write me up. Man) a time, after a tre- 
 
 208 
 
The Sea-Serpetit 
 
 mendous effort to win applause, have I eagerly 
 scanned the leading journals, only to find my- 
 self treated with silence. No free advertise- 
 ment—no notoriety— not even abuse ! Alas, it 
 was heart-rending. It seemed as if I had been 
 born to live in vain. But now all is changed 
 and I'm to be immortalized, and all for a com- 
 mon, ordinary little sea-serpent. Haven't the 
 least idea, though where to find it. Perhaps 
 Butcherboy knows. Extraordinary fellow 
 that Butcherboy — bank-cashier once! Must 
 have a talk with him. (Rings bell.) What 
 joy is mine! What jov is mine! At last I 
 have been— Hello! Another interview. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Sweet sea-nymph, I adore thee! 
 Sweet sea-nymph, I implore thee, 
 Love thou me in return! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Good! Good! And must I start, thus? 
 With hand upon my heart, thus? 
 To love thee in return? 
 
 Captain Tartarus (aside) 
 Bless you, my children, happy be! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Aye, aye, sir, did you ring for me? 
 209 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ah, Ichabod, where's Butcherboy, 
 The mate of this our ship — 
 
 My right-hand bower and my joy? 
 To find him quickly skip. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Alack-a-day ! 
 
 He's taken ill, 
 And gone below 
 
 To make his will — 
 
 Or words to that effect. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What, taken ill, 
 
 And gone below 
 To make his will? 
 
 Oh, no, no, no! 
 
 And yet, I must not judge 
 His action with severity, 
 
 For 'tis a duty that 
 
 We all owe to posterity. 
 
 So let him make his will — 
 
 We'll anchor weigh. 
 
 Up sails ! and let them fill 
 With breezes gay. 
 
 2IO 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Enter Chorus 
 
 All hands prepare 
 For chase most rare. 
 
 Chorus 
 A chase! a chase! ail hail! all hail! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 A chase, papa? I see no truant sail. 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 'Tis not a ship, my gallant crew. 
 This time to chase I summon you. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Tis not a ship he summons us to chase! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 With shot and shell no decks to rake — 
 No throats to cut — no prize to take! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 What can he mean ? Is it an ocean race ? 
 211 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 'Tis but a wager to decide 
 
 We must the waves of ocean ride. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 A wager? Then we've guesses aright. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Not quite! 
 
 Not quite! 
 
 My friend here of the Herald is a reckless youth. 
 
 Chorus 
 Yes, yes, a reckless youth. 
 Captain Tartarus 
 And he has bet a hundred casks of rum, forsooth. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 A hundred casks of rum — oh, reckless youth ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 That in three days, before the wind. 
 The Sea-Serpent we cannot find. 
 
 2X2 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Chorus 
 The Sea-Serpent? 
 Captain Tartarus 
 Yes, yes, the Sea-Serpent! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 The Sea-Serpent! The Sea-Serpent! 
 
 Oh, horrors upon horrors, see him ghde ! 
 The Sea-Serpent ! The Sea-Serpent ! 
 
 Oh, horrors upon horrors, let us hide ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 (Drawing sword and pistols) 
 
 Stay! Stay! say I. 
 The first to fly 
 Like dogs shall die! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Have mercy, man of iron, here we prostrate lie; 
 Chose for us any other death and we will die ! 
 But do not feed us to a monster of the deep 
 Whose very name to mention makes us creep! 
 
 213 
 
Democracy 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Rise, grovelling slaves, 
 
 My orders now obe}^. 
 Or flay you all alive 
 
 I will this very day! / 
 
 Pendragon 
 How deep his rage, alack! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 'Tis but a mild attack — 
 
 You should see papa when in battle. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 He drives them like so many cattle! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Have mercy, man of iron, here we prostrate lie; 
 Choose for us any other death and we will die! 
 But do not feed us to a monster of the deep 
 Whose very name to mention makes us creep ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 • Rise, grovelling slaves, 
 My orders now obey, 
 
 214 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Or flay j^ou all alive 
 I will this very day! 
 
 Chorus 
 Have mercy, man of iron, etc. 
 
 ( Curtain ) 
 
 ACT II 
 
 Scene — The "Blue-DeviV at anchor, in Pirates' 
 Grotto. Time: Evening. 
 
 Enter Ichabod 
 
 Recitative. Ichabod 
 
 Ah, woe is me! 
 
 I'm worse than dead! 
 Each trembling knee 
 
 Is crooked with dread ! 
 I promised him 
 
 To start the riot, 
 And haven't yet 
 
 Begun to try it; 
 For when at last 
 
 It came to act, 
 I found that I 
 
 The courage lacked. 
 Yes, I'm afraid 
 
 I'm not a villain. 
 However much I might be willin'! 
 
 215 
 
Democracy 
 
 Enter Pirate Apprentices and Pirates, two and two. 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 If a little maiden loves a little pirate 
 Should a little pirate be of her afraid? . 
 
 Rather tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
 That the little pirate also love thd maid ? 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Oh, how delicious! 
 
 At last they love us. 
 And come, like angels, 
 
 Down from above us. 
 And yet we must not yield 
 
 Our love too soon, 
 Or they may change 
 
 Like the inconstant moon. 
 
 Molly 
 
 He bade us to sing you a song: 
 
 And like bird on the wing 
 
 I would merrily sing, 
 I would sing to you all day long. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 He bade {them) to sing 
 Like a bird on the wing. 
 And to sing as {ttfeyl Ay 
 Through the bright blue sky. 
 
 2x6 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Polly 
 
 Hark ! Hark ! 'Tis the nightingale trills- 
 Tell me not that too far 
 From the singer we are 
 
 That with rapture my heart now fills. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Tell us not that too far 
 From the singer we are 
 That with rapture each heart now fills. 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Oh, list to the coo of the dove! 
 
 Oh, how weirdly I hear 
 
 All those voices so dear! 
 Ah, I love thee, I love thee, my love! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 'Tis the coo of the dove, 
 'Tis the voice of sweet love. 
 
 How entrancing to hear 
 
 All our loved ones so dear! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 This billing and cooing 
 
 Will be my undoing! 
 They'll not listen now 
 Till I've broken my vow! 
 
 217 
 
Democracy 
 
 Hypnotic Trio. Molly, Polly, Dolly 
 
 Is this a dream, 
 
 Or are we waking? 
 What happiness 
 
 Are we partaking? 
 Oh, tell us, pray, 
 
 What sweet enchantment 
 Makes all the world 
 
 Breathe pure contentment? 
 Why, why is all so fair? 
 W^here, where is old dull care? 
 
 And where is stubborn pride? 
 
 And where doth envy hide? 
 
 Chorus 
 
 'T must be a dream — 
 Yes, so 'twould seem — 
 
 For universal gladness 
 Was never known 
 To wake alone 
 
 One-half is always sadness. 
 
 Molly, Polly and Dolly 
 
 Is this a dream. 
 
 Or are we waking? 
 What happiness 
 
 Are we partaking? 
 Pray, why is love 
 
 So sweet a duty. 
 
 And why its slave 
 
 218 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Is ev'ry beauty? 
 
 Oh, tell us why, 
 
 Before we sigh, 
 For e'en a sigh might break the charm; 
 
 And who could bear — 
 
 Ah, who would dare^ — 
 E'en with a sigh sweet love alarm? 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Break not the charm, 
 Do not alarm 
 
 Sweet love so gently dreaming, 
 Ah, do not sigh 
 While he is nigh 
 
 With love-light 'round him streaming. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Their sweet appeal 
 Doth make my senses reel; 
 I never saw such wooing; 
 I know not what I'm doing: 
 Forgive this mad intrusion ! 
 If love be not illusion! 
 Oh, love me, love me too! 
 {Cash himself at the feet of the Apprentices). 
 
 Pirates (^mockingly) 
 
 To-whit, to-whoo! 
 The owl would loved be, too! 
 219 
 
Democracy 
 
 Molly, Polly and Dolly 
 
 What ugly thing doth now provoke 
 The evening air with such a croak? 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Oh, Polly dear, is this a croak? 
 
 Nay, nay, with pain and grief I choke! 
 
 Molly, Polly and Dolly 
 
 Back, back, into the marsh. 
 Go thrust that voice so harsh ! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 How dare he croak 
 
 Amid our song. 
 And us provoke? 
 
 'Tis very wrong! 
 Yes, back into the marsh 
 Let's thrust that voice so harsh! 
 {The Apprentices roughly push him about) 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! oh, see his plight! 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! it serves him right! 
 220 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Oh, mercy, mercy, me! 
 
 {Breaks away from them) 
 Thank heaven, once more I'm free! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 If a little maiden love a little pirate. 
 
 Should a little pirate be of her afraid? 
 
 Rather, tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
 That the little pirate also love the maid? 
 {Exeunt J wooing Pirates), 
 
 Spoken, Ichabod 
 
 Oh, Polly, Polly, Polly! To pass me over for a 
 common sailor! Oh, that I had the courage 
 of my convictions — I'd make him grin and 
 smirk at you! I tremble wdth rage and my 
 knees knock together! So long as I remained 
 a consistent and respectable pirate I was never 
 thus afflicted. This comes of making a league 
 with the devil! Says he, ''Corrupt the crew — 
 get the men to refuse to chase the sea-serpent; 
 get the women to strike for higher wages!" 
 Easy as jumping off Brooklyn Bridge! But 
 doesn't that reporter go and undo me in ad- 
 vance by promising my fellow-pirates to make 
 the apprentices fall in love with them ! And 
 doesn't he hypnotize them and keep his prom- 
 ise, too? And doesn't every man on board 
 fall to and chase after that sea-serpent as if 
 221 
 
Democracy 
 
 he had never been afraid of a water-snake in 
 his life? And doesn't old Tartarus weep for 
 joy upon seeing the change that has come over 
 his precious lambs, and doesn't he call an in- 
 termission, and cast anchor, so that all hands 
 may enjoy an evening's wooing? And I — I 
 am utterly unable to make my villainy work! 
 Balked, baffled, foiled, thwarted at every turn! 
 Oh, how I dread the night and what it has in 
 store! How Butcherboy will rave — the very 
 thought of it makes me perspire! I have half 
 a mind to confess the whole 
 
 Enter Butcherboy^ disguised, climbing an anchor 
 cable. 
 
 Recitative. Butcherboy and Ichabod 
 
 Pst! Pst! 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 What can it be? 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Pst! Pst! 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Is that for me? 
 222 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Pst! Pst! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I will not stay! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Pst! Pst! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I'll run away! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Ho! ho! ho! ho! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 The devil — oh! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 No, not his majesty in person. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Then his ambassador. 
 223 
 
Democracy 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 Your compliment, sir, is a terse 'un. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I beg you pass it o'er. 
 
 Butch ERBOY * 
 
 I will. If you'll but lend a hand 
 And help me on my feet to stand. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 What, lend a hand? No, no, indeed! 
 That Is against our pirate creed. 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Oh, hang your creed! Be lively! Come! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Aye, aye, sir, but — where are you from? 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 I'm from New York — 
 I'm a reporter. 
 224 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 IcHABOD {helps him aboard) 
 Another one ! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 A reg'lar snorter. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Ah, welcome, Mr. Snorter. 
 
 {Aside.) 
 But what a queer reporter! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Thanks, for your timely aid 
 I'll puff you in my paper. 
 
 Now to your Captain, please, 
 Before me nimbly caper. 
 
 That I in vigorous terms 
 The villain may expose. 
 
 IcHABOD {aside) 
 
 The villain? Can it be 
 He's treading on my toes? 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 That is, if he's aboard 
 This gay old soup-tureen. 
 
 225 
 
Democracy 
 
 IcHABOD {aside) 
 
 I breathe again — and yet — 
 Whom can he mean? 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Come, lead the way. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Aye, I obey. 
 
 {Exeunt.) 
 
 Enter Cook and several Pirate Apprentices 
 
 First Apprentice 
 
 Oh, Cook, sweet Cook, 
 What is the matter? 
 
 Second Apprentice 
 
 Perh.nps she's spoiled 
 The pancake batter? 
 
 First Apprentice 
 
 Perhaps the biscuits aren't light? 
 226 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Second Apprentice 
 
 Perhaps the pie-crust isn't right? 
 
 ( To each of which suggestions the Cook 
 dolefully shakes her head.) 
 
 Cook 
 
 No, cherubs, no; it isn't victuals — 
 It isn't pots — it isn't kittles — 
 But it's love! 
 
 All 
 
 It's love? 
 
 Cook 
 
 Yes, it's love — 
 Don't be astonished. 
 
 All 
 
 Just our own case! 
 
 Cook 
 
 Then be admonished: 
 227 
 
Democracy 
 
 Song Cook 
 
 These many years 
 
 Have I held sway, 
 A kitchen queen 
 
 Of humble way; 
 Content to dwell 
 
 Below the rest, 
 And, day by day, 
 
 To do my best. 
 
 All 
 
 That's so! 
 
 Cook 
 
 For well I knew — 
 
 'Twixt you and me- 
 That though a queen 
 
 Of low degree, 
 I reigned supreme 
 
 Three times a day, 
 And who could ask 
 
 For more, I say? 
 
 All 
 
 Ah, who? 
 228 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Cook 
 
 I touched the pirates' 
 
 Tender spot, 
 With tempting dishes 
 
 Piping hot; 
 I even made 
 
 Our captain own 
 I was the power 
 
 Behind the throne. 
 
 All 
 
 Just so! 
 Cook 
 
 And often, when 
 
 His work was done, 
 Down to the kitchen 
 
 He would run, 
 To tell me how 
 
 The battle went 
 And ask me for 
 
 Some liniment. 
 
 All 
 
 Dear soul! 
 229 
 
Democracy 
 
 Cook 
 
 Oh, those were days 
 
 Of happiness — 
 That liniment 
 
 Did charms possess; 
 Had I but an 
 
 Apprentice been 
 I might have wooed 
 
 And won him then. 
 
 All 
 
 She might! 
 
 So long as maids 
 
 Refused to woo 
 A jealous pang 
 
 I never knew. 
 But now, alas. 
 
 What do I hear ? 
 That most of them 
 
 Are acting queer ! 
 
 All 
 
 They are! 
 
 Cook 
 
 They're wooing right, 
 They're wooing left, 
 230 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 As if of ev'ry 
 
 Sense bereft : 
 They'll fall upon 
 
 Our captain next 
 And marry him 
 
 Without pretext! 
 
 All 
 
 Alas, they will! 
 
 Cook 
 
 Oh, but they shan't, if I can help it! 
 
 All 
 
 But how prevent it? 
 
 Cook 
 
 No, no, they shan't, if I can help it! 
 
 All 
 
 She seems demented! 
 231 
 
Democracy 
 
 Cook 
 
 This little scheme I have devised : 
 I will pretend I'm hypnotized! 
 
 All 
 
 She will pretend — 
 
 How clever! 
 Success to her 
 
 Endeavor I 
 And when we found 
 
 To our alarm 
 Of no effect 
 
 Was any charm, 
 Instead of weeping 
 
 O'er our age, 
 Or flying hence 
 
 Into a rage, 
 Oh, why with delicate perception, 
 Did we not stoop to this deception? 
 
 Cook 
 
 'Tis not too late to try it yet, 
 And each one may a husband get! 
 
 All 
 
 A husband? How attractive, 
 Since the demand is active! 
 
 232 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Enter Ichabod and Butcherboy 
 
 Yes, yes, we vow, 
 We'll try it now! 
 
 {They assume a hypnotic air,) 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 This way, Mr. Snorter; I think we'll find him gaz- 
 ing at the stars. 
 
 Cook and Apprentices 
 
 If a little maiden love a little pirate 
 Should a little pirate be of her afraid ? 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 After my experience, I should say, decidedly, my 
 pretty tars! 
 
 Cook and Apprentices 
 
 Rather, tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
 That the little pirate also love the maid ? 
 
 Butcherboy, 
 
 Not by any manner of means ! 
 233 
 
Democracy 
 
 ICHABOD AND BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Oh, no! 
 {Exeunt Ichabod and Butcherboy.) 
 
 Cook 
 
 Don't be discouraged by 
 
 This skirmish slight; 
 It will prepare us all 
 
 To make a fight. 
 
 Mock-hypnotic chorus. Cook and Apprentices 
 
 For we are the army 
 
 Of the Great Rejected, 
 And that we must struggle 
 
 May thus be expected. 
 If we would be recognized 
 
 We must win by action, 
 For we now are hypnotized 
 
 To our satisfaction. 
 We are hypnotized ! 
 We are hypnotized ! 
 Hypnotized ! 
 Hypnotized ! 
 We are hypnotized 
 
 To our satisfaction ! 
 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
 Enter Pendragon and Pirola 
 234 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Duet. Pendragon and Pirola 
 
 Look, starry nfght, 
 
 Look down in all thy splendor, 
 
 And gaze upon a happy, happy heart! 
 Dance, rippling waves, 
 
 Oh, sea, in measures tender, 
 
 And I will be as merry as thou art! 
 For my love to me hath yielded 
 
 And her love for me confessed ; 
 Oh, the potent charm she wielded 
 
 Hath made me doubly blest. 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Look, starry night, etc. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 And art thou truly happy, 
 Dearest maid? 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Too happy — ah, too happy, 
 
 I'm afraid. 
 For, hark! again that voice: 
 
 Fve heard it all day long; 
 Again I make my choice; 
 
 Again the mermaid's song! 
 
 235 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 I hear not these — 
 
 'Tis but the sighing of the breeze. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Nay, sorcerer, do not smile, 
 And thus my fears beguile. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Soon we shall sing 
 
 Our farewell to the sea; 
 Then, little one, 
 
 Then we shall wedded be. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Yes, yes, I know, 
 
 Ere long we hence shall go; 
 
 But now that I have found thee, 
 And my arms are twined around thee, 
 
 Yet thy poor maid 
 
 Is sore afraid 
 Some envious fate may snatch thee, 
 Or ugly mermaid catch thee. 
 
 Enter three Pirates 
 236 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Lucky are we, 
 Pirates three, 
 
 Courted by Molly, and Polly and Dolly; 
 Each one a fairy, 
 Graceful and airy — 
 
 Oh, to refuse them were worse than a folly. 
 
 Enter Molly, Polly and Dolly 
 
 Molly, Polly and Dolly 
 
 If a little maiden love a little pirate, etc. 
 
 {Pirates and Apprentices dance.) 
 
 Molly 
 I do declare, he's playful as a kitten! 
 
 Polly 
 How could we ever give such men the mitten ! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 And thus you make them do? 
 
 I'm half afraid of you! 
 
 How can I tell. 
 
 But on me, too, you may have cast a spell? 
 
 237 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Nay, love, convinced be, 
 Thine own sweet will is free. 
 Not so with these — my will 
 Leads them for good or ill. 
 Thou lov'st with reason 
 
 And with mind alert; 
 They love as in a trance 
 
 With soul inert. 
 See, love, now they shall mourn — 
 Each maid is all forlorn. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Stop, stop, you fill my soul with terror! 
 Pendragon 
 
 Now they shall spurn each swain; 
 Now take him back again. 
 
 Pirola 
 
 You are a sorcerer, or I'm in error! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Now I shall let them kiss 
 As if in endless bliss — 
 
 (Pirates and Apprentices embrace.) 
 238 
 
 1 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Just as we do! 
 
 Pendragon, 
 Just like us two! 
 
 Pendragon, Pirola and Apprentices 
 
 Look, starry night, etc. 
 
 {They walk.) 
 
 Cook and Pirate Apprentices 
 {Behind the scenes). 
 
 Rather, tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
 That the little pirate also love the maid? 
 
 Enter Captain Tartarus, Butcherboy and Ichabod, 
 followed by the Cook and Pirate Apprentices. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Away, old woman, away! 
 
 Cook 
 
 Old woman — old, did he say? 
 239 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Alas, he did ! 
 He plainly did! 
 
 Cook 
 
 Most beautiful of men! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Don't, don't say that again ! 
 
 Cook 
 
 I love thee, passionately, fondly, madly! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Perhaps she has been drinking — drinking badly! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Go, go below, and quickly attend to thy duties; 
 Leave the business of love to those who are younger 
 
 and beauties, 
 Or I shall be obliged, though a faithful old servant 
 
 thou art, 
 To accept thy resignation and allow thee to depart. 
 
 240 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Cook 
 
 I ve loved thee, oh, these many years, 
 Cast me not ofF with naught but tears ! 
 Remember, sir, your motto ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 I swear by yonder grotto. 
 
 Unless at once you fly, 
 Upon a desert island 
 
 I'll set you high and dry! 
 
 Cook 
 
 Oh, to be rudely torn from bliss 
 By such an avowal as this! 
 
 Oh, oh, deceiver — 
 
 Oh, disbeliever 
 In thine own philosophy ! 
 
 I go below — 
 
 I go— I go! 
 But my broken heart I leave with thee ! 
 
 {Exit Cook.) 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Alas, that it should become necessary 
 To deal harshly even with her! 
 
 But, soft — in the face of the adversary 
 All tender sentiments I must defer. 
 241 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Behold the villain — ah, I do believe 
 That even now he's laughing in his sleeve. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 And the maidens and their lovers — how will they 
 ever grant me absolution 
 
 For interrupting their innocent gambols by an exe- 
 cution ? 
 
 And yet, it must be done. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Yes, yes, it must be done ! 
 
 Ensemble. Captain Tartarus, etc. 
 
 Sir, know you this distressful stranger? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 The honor, sir, of his acquaintance I have not. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY {aside to Captain Tartarus) 
 
 That he should recognize me thus there is no danger. 
 
 Pendragon {aside) 
 
 He looks to me like some poor drunken sot. 
 
 242 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Know then, he's a reporter! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 He's a reporter! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Indeed ? 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Indeed? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Yes, yes, observe him closely — 
 I did not say jocosely 
 
 He is a member of the press. 
 Perhaps before you've met him— 
 Perhaps death didn't get him. 
 
 Come, come, sir, now confess ! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 These, sir, are riddles^ — Nay, 
 I know not what you say. 
 
 243 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 What do you think of him, my daughter? 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 I must pronounce his looks — not very prepossess- 
 ing — 
 Do reporters always wear a leer like that? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 He's not a dude of the first water — 
 t Eh, my daughter? 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 I must declare his whole appearance quite distress- 
 ing- 
 Do reporters always smell of beer like that? 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Beer, Beer? Oh, that's immense. 
 
 I'll treat the crowd — at your expense! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ah, generous soul, you shall, 
 But tell us, first of all. 
 
 What paper do you represent? 
 
 244 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 I represent the New York Herald. 
 
 Chorus 
 He represents the New York Herald! 
 
 Pendragon 
 Is this a joke? 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 How impudent! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 And what your name arid fame? 
 
 Butcherboy 
 Pendragon is my name. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Two Richmonds in the field, 
 And both for battle steeled ! 
 245 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon 
 Homely villain, thou dost lie! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Handsome villain, thou shalt die! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Papa, this is a plot — 
 Papa, believe him not! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Hear ye and judge ye between us: 
 
 Last night each one thus might have seen us — 
 
 I the reporter, and he the lackey, 
 Bringing refreshments and pipe and tobaccy — 
 Waiting upon me, a prince of the Press; 
 Icing my temples in times of distress. 
 Soft were the cushioned arm-chairs and the pillows, 
 
 Prime was the fare and my duties \\ere light; 
 Gay as a lark did our ship ride the billows, 
 
 Chasing the Serpent by day and by night. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Chasing the Serpent? Did \\t hear aright? 
 Chasing the Serpent by day and by night! 
 246 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 While thus my crew for the monster was cruising, 
 
 Command of myself I was foolishly losing. 
 
 My servant there knew this and saw at a glance 
 
 To be a reporter he now had a chance ! 
 
 So he plied me with liquor, until in my bunk 
 
 He left me, as some would say, hopelessly drunk! 
 
 Then straightway he dressed 
 
 Himself in my best; 
 
 My credentials he took, 
 
 And my pencil and book — 
 
 My good rubber suit. 
 
 And my kodak to boot! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Oh, what a plight! 
 Oh, what a sight! 
 
 Of all his possessions 
 He stripped him quite. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Aye, therefore now these rags — 
 That borrowed splendor ! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 I thank thee from my heart, 
 My dear defender! 
 247 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pendragon {aside) 
 
 Can this be a rascal from the World 
 By Pulitzer across my pathway hurled? 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 But to resume my story, 
 
 Which turned out rather gory: 
 No sooner did this plotting scamp 
 With all his plunder thus decamp 
 
 Than we went to the bottom! 
 There was a flash — there was a crash — 
 And all the crew were blown to smash — 
 
 The little fishes got 'em! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 There was a flash — there was a crash — 
 And all the crew were blown to smash! 
 
 Thus they went to the bottom! 
 
 And thus the fishes got 'em! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Believing us all dead, he came 
 Aboard your vessel in my name, 
 Upon your kindness to impose — 
 Perhaps to carry off more clothes: 
 For in matters of clothes a valet 
 Is unlike the corps du ballet. 
 
 248 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Alas, deceived and mortified, 
 How deeply humbled is my pride ! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 But I — lo, I — escaped from all the danger — 
 Damaged somewhat in external beauty. 
 
 But otherwise quite well as an avenger — 
 And to denounce him deem it now my duty. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Do you believe this vagabond's preposterous tale? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Do I believe before my eyes a sail's a sail? 
 
 Do these same eyes thus blaze with indignation? 
 Do these same eyes, thus speak your condemna- 
 tion? 
 And doth my sword in scabbard itch to smite thee, 
 Thus for thy gross deception to requite thee? 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Papa, in mercy say not so; 
 Papa, to anger pray be slow ! 
 
 249 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Peace, peace, poor child — poor little one: 
 Thou, too, hast been imposed upon ! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Nay, sir, if seriously you are inclined. 
 Take me to any port where we can find 
 A telegraphic station, and by cable. 
 To prove just who is who, I will be able! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Trust him not — he would deliver you 
 To the authorities w^th all your crew! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 He would — yes, I can see it in his eye: 
 He'd call it all a joke to see us die! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Besides, we can determine here 
 Who's the impostor, never fear: 
 You shall yourselves in judgment sit, 
 And say which is the counterfeit. 
 
 250 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pendragon (aside) 
 
 Who can It be? my heart inquires: 
 Perhaps Mulhatton, Prince of Liars! 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 In the first place, Captain, tell me true, 
 When he came aboard did he drink with you? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Not a drink! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 No, not a drink! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 And when introduced to your jolly tars 
 Did he help himself to your choice cigars? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Not a cigar! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 No, not a cigar! 
 251 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 And when you did the Press exclude 
 
 Did you find his ears to the key-holes glued ? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Not an ear! 
 
 Chorus 
 No, not an ear! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Did he ever threaten to do you up brown 
 Unless very handsomely you came down? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Not a threat! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 No, not a threat! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 'Tis, therefore, plain to me — 
 
 As plain as plain can be — 
 
 That he knows no more of my calling 
 Than a clam of caterwauling! 
 
 252 
 
 I 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Chorus 
 
 He knows no more of his calling 
 Than a clam of caterwauling! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Ah, but he caused the maids to woo. 
 Well, I can hypnotize them, too, 
 
 And men as well! 
 
 Yes, men as well! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Although he caused {theml all to woo — 
 'Tis nothing, he can do it, too. 
 
 And hypnotize the men as well — 
 The men as well ! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 If I should say to yonder officer so brave, 
 Spin up into the rigging, like a lively knave. 
 And from the main-mast down upon the deck 
 Descend headforemost till you break your neck 
 Swift as an arrow to the mark. 
 Upon the fatal errand he'd embark. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 The Lord forbid! 
 
 Did I ever? 
 No, I never did ! 
 
 253 
 
Democracy 
 
 Butch ERBOY {aside) 
 
 Villain, obey! 
 Do what I say! 
 
 And let it not appall thee; 
 Fear not to climb, 
 I'll stop thee in time. 
 
 And harm shall not befall thee! 
 
 {Aloud.) 
 Ah, see, he yields unto my will already: 
 This is the first stage — (so — so — steady — steady !- 
 Called Lethargy — see, now he's all unstrung. 
 No power remains of muscles, limb or tongue! 
 Now comes the second stage — the Cataleptic! 
 
 {Aside.) 
 Pay close attention, now, my old dyspeptic! 
 
 {Aloud.) 
 Wide-opened eyes, impassive as the sphinx; 
 He looks just straight ahead and never winks! 
 His body, like a puppet's, soft as dough; 
 May now be moulded so and so ! 
 Yet do his muscles all such force retain 
 That his position he will thus maintain 
 Until the power I wield 
 Shall bid him yield ! 
 I'll stand him on one leg — so — so — 
 And yet he will not over go; 
 Although I twist him thus and thus, 
 Yet he will never make a fuss! 
 There's no sensation — no fatigue! 
 
 254 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 IcHABOD {aside) 
 
 There isn't, eh? 
 
 Butch ERBOY {aside) 
 
 Keep still, I say! 
 
 Pendragon {aside) 
 
 'Tis very plain they are in league! 
 
 Butch ERBOY {aloud) 
 
 Though I took a pin 
 And drove it in, 
 
 He wouldn't squirm ! 
 
 IcHABOD {aside) 
 
 I wouldn't, eh? 
 
 Butch ERBOY {aside) 
 
 Be still, I say! 
 {Aloud.) 
 He wouldn't squirm ! 
 But now into the third and last 
 Hypnotic stage he's going fast ! 
 I slightly knock him on the pate 
 And the Somnambulistic state 
 
 255 
 
Democracy 
 
 Is brought about! 
 Now he can laugh and shout! 
 {Aside.) 
 Obey! Obey! 
 Say yes to everything I say! 
 
 Song. BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Yes, this Is the state in which women and men, 
 As old as they are, become children again ! 
 In this they believe you, whatever you say; 
 In this your suggestions they all will obey! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Oh, happy state ! Oh, happy state 
 
 Of innocent simplicity! 
 Oh, happy state ! Oh, happy state 
 
 Of harmless eccentricity! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 There's naught too absurd for his gravity now; 
 He'll take it all in with a courteous bow! 
 At your call he will share all your sorrows and fears, 
 At your beck he will burst into laughter or tears! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Though not a child, yet like a child, 
 
 In innocent simplicity! 
 And though a man, forgive we can 
 
 His harmless eccentricity! 
 
 256 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Recitative. Butcherboy and Ichabod 
 
 It seems to me that hungry you must be. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 I am — I am, indeed! 
 
 Butcherboy. 
 
 Well, here is pie, and cheese and crackers, see! 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Just what I need ! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Here is some rare old wine. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Nay, that I'll not decline. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Now, look at me, I have a silver nose. 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Your nose is very handsome — see it shine ! 
 257 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Here is a flower for thee — a pretty rose. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 How sweet it smells — exquisite — ah — divine! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 It seems to me 'tis very cold to-day. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 It is — I'll have a fur cloak right away. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 How hot ! And upward still the mercury goes. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 How hot ! I must put on my summer clothes. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Look! Look! a stream of water here we meet. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I'll step across, so's not to wet my feet. 
 258 
 
 4 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Now he'll obey: 
 Now I will say — 
 Go, climb into yon rigging, dive headforemost to 
 the deck! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 And must I go? And will he call me back before 
 I break my neck? 
 
 {Climbs.) 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Ah, never mind the jump — come down again! — 
 That is the way I hypnotize my men! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 A little more, and on the floor, 
 
 With blindest intrepidity. 
 He would have dashed, he would have smashed, 
 
 And died with great rapidity! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Oh, w^ondrous exhibition! 
 You are the true magician! 
 
 259 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Of course this must be gratifying to my pride, 
 Yet I might have done much better had I tried! 
 And now that I am freely acknowledged to be 
 A better reporter, a better magician than he, 
 If you and your sweet daughter will allow me, 
 
 I'll discover 
 To all of you that I am also a much better lover! 
 
 {Approaches Pirola and attempts to kiss her hands.) 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Insolent wretch, how dare you ! 
 No longer will I spare you ! 
 
 {Knocks him down.) 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Seize him! 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Oh, no, no, no! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Squeeze him 
 
 Into fetters! 
 260 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Oh, no, no, no! 
 Captain Tartarus 
 We will teach him — 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Mercy ! Mercy ! 
 Captain Tartarus 
 To strike his betters! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Papa, have mercy! 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Instead of falling on his knees 
 
 And asking pardon, 
 It is with acts like these 
 
 Our hearts he'd harden. 
 Had he for his deception 
 
 But repented, 
 We might, perhaps, a little 
 
 Have relented. 
 And now the die is cast; 
 That blow shall be his last ! 
 
 261 
 
Democracy 
 
 Chorus 
 
 He says that blow shall be his last! 
 It sets our hearts a-beatfng fast! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Papa, I must be heard! 
 Papa, recall that word! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What I have said admits no contradiction ; 
 We know that death must follow his conviction; 
 At sunrise, one, two, three, the guns shall roar, 
 Then he shall walk the plank and be no more ! 
 
 So take him away. 
 
 Until the break of day, 
 Lock him up securely — 
 
 Don't let him get away. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Take him away and put him in a dungeon, 
 At early morn the guns shall tell his doom ; 
 
 Take him away — the sharks shall have a luncheon 
 At early morning when the cannons boom! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 No, no, no, no, 
 
 He must not go ! 
 
 262 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 My own sweet daughter, oh, how much It grieves 
 
 me 
 To be thus harsh when mortal man deceives me. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Bid him remain! 
 Remove each chain! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Had he not been unmasked, unto my sorrow 
 
 He might have been my son-in-law to-morrow! 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Oh, harsh decree! 
 He's deaf to me! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Just think how hard it would have been to sentence 
 And execute him, too, without repentance, 
 Had he once been our flesh and blood, oh, daughter ! 
 While now 'tis sport to throw him in the water! 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Oh, cruel fate! 
 Oh, wicked hate! 
 
 263 
 
Democracy 
 
 And yet, by heaven and the blue stars above, 
 You cannot rob me of his love! 
 
 Song. PiROLA 
 
 My love is bound in cruel chains, 
 
 My love is led away; 
 But in my heart my love remains, 
 
 Forever and for aye! 
 Farewell, sweet love, though bound, disgraced, 
 
 Though prisoner thou art. 
 Thine image here is not effaced — 
 
 Thou'rt free within this heart ! 
 But love me, love, as I love thee, 
 
 And death is sweetest pain; 
 I'll die for thee, and thou for me — 
 
 Thus we shall meet again ! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Fear not, Pirola, 
 
 Truest love can never die; 
 Believe me, loved one. 
 
 Such a love for thee have I. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Away! Away! 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Oh, stay! Stay! Stay! 
 
 {Faints.) 
 
 264 
 
 1 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BuTCHERBOY {aside) 
 
 ^' . . 
 
 < All's fair In love and war, and in reporting, too; 
 {Aloud.) 
 The Herald of this scene shall have a view! 
 {Takes a flashlight photograph.) 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Away! Away! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Take him away and place him in a dungeon — 
 At early morn the guns shall tell his doom! 
 
 Take him away — the sharks shall have a luncheon 
 At early morning when the cannons boom! 
 
 {Exeunt Pendragon and guard.) 
 
 {Curtain.) 
 
 ACT III 
 
 Scene — The Same 
 
 Enter Pirates^ marching and bearing jugs of liquor 
 and drinking vessels. 
 
 Chorus and march. Pirates 
 
 Yes, he will hypnotize, 
 Yes, he will hypnotize, 
 
 Our enemies, our enemies, 
 
 Our enemies, our enemies, 
 
 265 
 
Democracy 
 
 We needn't strike a blow, 
 
 When we to battle go — 
 
 He'll take each prize, just with his eyes. 
 Yes, with his eyes, yes, with his eyes. 
 
 Tralalala! Oh, hoi! Oh, hoi, ho! 
 
 Here is the grog, but where is the boy, ho? 
 
 All we have got to do 
 
 Is to be a jolly crew, 
 
 And drinking rum will help us some. 
 Yes, drinking rum will help us some. 
 
 'Ray, for a pirate life! 
 
 Each shall have a pirate wife. 
 
 And beat her some, while drinking rum. 
 And beat her some, while drinking rum, 
 
 Tralalala! Oh, hoi! Oh, hoi, ho! 
 
 Here is the grog and there is the boy, ho. 
 Tralalala! Oh, hoi! Oh, hoi, ho! 
 Here is the grog and there is the boy! 
 
 Enter Captain Tartarus^ Butcherboy and 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Spoken, Butcherboy 
 
 You have done nobly. Captain. You have proved 
 yourself a Roman father, as I shall take pains 
 to state in my despatches. And now that the 
 enemy is subdued, let us celebrate and make a 
 night of it. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Yes, let us have a stag party. 
 
 266 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 So we shall — a regular, old-fashioned pirate carou- 
 
 V^sal. There shall be singing, and yarn-spinning 
 
 and drinking. {Aside.) If Butcherboy were 
 
 here now ! Hasn't he finished making his will ? 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Three cheers and a tiger for our captain ! Hurrah ! 
 Hurrah! Hurrah! Tiger! 
 
 Recitative. Captain Tartarus 
 
 Yes, I must drown remorse, 
 
 Or else a daughter's curse 
 May drive me to distraction 
 And unfit me quite for action. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Come, come, what cheer? 
 What have we here? 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Here is rum brought from Jamaica; 
 
 There is wine from sunny France; 
 And if you'd like to take a 
 
 Little rye, just this way glance. 
 267 
 
Democracy 
 
 First Sailor 
 
 There Is famous gin from Holland — 
 
 There is sake from Japan ; 
 If something else you'd like, just call and 
 We will get it if we can. 
 
 Captain Tartarus {dejectedly) 
 
 Oh, for the blood of the poppy! 
 
 Oh, for Nepenthe's dream! 
 Oh, for the juice of the lotos! 
 
 Oh, for a Lethean stream ! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Nay, nay, what's this? 
 Now, what's amiss? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Alas, what could be worse 
 Than an only daughter's curse? 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Come, come you must not think — 
 You promised us to drink! 
 268 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Pirates 
 
 No, no, you must not think — 
 You promised us to drink! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Here Is beer fresh from Milwaukee- 
 Here is Jersey Lightning, too: 
 
 But, perhaps, that is too balky, 
 And a little punch would do? 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 No, I've had all the punch I want — 
 Yes, I can feel it yet! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Oh, he's had all the punch he wants, 
 And he can feel it yet ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ha, ha, ha, ha! 
 
 That's very good ! 
 You've put me In 
 
 A merry mood ! 
 Now let us drink — 
 
 What shall It be? 
 269 
 
Democracy 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Why not try this? 
 
 Pirates 
 Let's see! Let's see! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 'Tis labelled Pulque from Mexico. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 Just crack its skull and let it flow. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Pulque! pulque! pulque from Mexico! 
 
 We don't know what it is, but we've brought it 
 
 from below! 
 We're tired of rock and rye, of punch and whisky 
 
 straight — 
 Champagne and rum and gin we positively hate; 
 But pulque ! pulque ! pulque from Mexico — 
 We don't know what it is, but we'll drink it, here 
 
 we go! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Hold ! First allow me to propose 
 
 The health of our latest acquisition — 
 
 270 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 The true Pendragon he, despite his clothes — 
 vTJtie great reporter and magician! 
 
 All 
 
 Hurrah for the true reporter! 
 ( They drink.) 
 
 Spoken. Butcherboy 
 
 Ah, thank you, merry gentlemen. And now allow 
 me to propose the health of — the Sea-Serpent! 
 
 Pirates 
 
 The Sea-Serpent? 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Yes, for are we not going to search for him, to- 
 morrow, Captain? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Yes, as soon as that little gang-plank business is 
 over. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 And what more natural than that I should wish to 
 find him in good health and spirits, so that I 
 may have a chance to hypnotize him? 
 271 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Aye, aye, correct! Let's drink a health to the Sea- 
 Serpent. What shall it be this time, Mr. 
 Reporter ? 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Let us have some beer. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 All right, then, here she goes! Messmates, now 
 altogether ! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Beer! Beer! Foaming lager beer! 
 
 We all know what it is, and we'll make it disappear! 
 
 We're tired of rock and rye, of punch and whisky 
 
 straight — 
 Champagne and rum and gin we positively hate! 
 But beer! Beer! foaming lager beer — 
 We all know what it is, and we'll make it disappear! 
 
 All 
 
 Hurrah for the Sea-Serpent! 
 272 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 \ 1 
 Sea-Serpent Song. Butcherboy 
 
 Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, I am king of the sea, 
 I come and I go mysteriously; 
 Alone, alone, I glide along. 
 Attended by no courtier throng. 
 Upon my head no kingly crown — 
 An ugly crest, an angry frown — 
 
 Two blazing eyes, a tongue of flame 
 
 And yet a monarch all the same. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Hurrah ! Hurrah ! for the king of the sea, 
 Who comes and goes mysteriously. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, I am king of the sea, 
 At my approach all creatures flee, 
 For well they know I must prevail. 
 With a hundred feet of head and tail. 
 I glide along in my sinuous way, 
 I ride the waves and I seize my prey, 
 I laugh aloud and I shriek with glee' 
 For I am monarch of the sea. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Hurrah! Hurrah! for the king of the sea, 
 Who laughs aloud and shrieks with glee. 
 275 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 What though my head be a barrel in size 
 To all who gaze with naked eyes? 
 What though it swell to a mountainous mass 
 To those who view me through a glass? 
 I care not what the slanderers say, 
 I ride the waves and I seize my prey, 
 I laugh aloud and I shriek with glee, 
 For I am monarch of the sea. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Hurrah! Hurrah! for the king of the sea, 
 Who laughs aloud and shrieks with glee. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Good! Good! Let's have another drink. 
 I love to hear the glasses clink. 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Aye, aye, fill up with pulque again. 
 And let us sing with might and main. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Pulque, pulque, pulque from Mexico. 
 We don't know what it is, but we've brought it 
 from below. 
 
 274 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 We are tired of rock and rye, of punch and whisky 
 
 straight — 
 Champagne and rum and gin we positively hate; 
 But pulque, pulque, pulque from Mexico — 
 We don't know what it is, but we'll drink it, here 
 
 we go. 
 
 {They drink.) 
 
 All 
 
 Hurrah ! Hurrah ! for the Sea-Serpent. 
 
 Song. First Pirate 
 
 In Penobscot Bay 
 We sailed one day, 
 
 When right ahead, across our track, 
 With eyes aflame. 
 The monster came. 
 
 And thirty bunches on his back. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 With eyes aflame. 
 The monster came. 
 
 And thirty bunches on his back. 
 
 First Pirate 
 
 "You great big fool. 
 It is a school 
 
 Of porpoises that swim in line!" 
 
 275 
 
Democracy 
 
 Our captain roared; 
 But all on board 
 
 Soon heard him change his tune to mine! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 The captain roared, 
 But all on board 
 
 Soon heard him change his tune to thine! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 While the serpent is somewhat elusive, 
 And our search for him at times delusive. 
 He is not by any means a fiction, 
 And my words admit no contradiction; 
 I myself have seen him with these eyes 
 Suddenly appear to my surprise. 
 
 Several Pirates 
 
 And I — and I — have seen him, too! 
 And so have you, and jou, and you! 
 
 Song. Captain Tartarus 
 
 Off old Cape Roque 
 One day we spoke 
 
 Some whales a-playing, kitten-like. 
 When from the deep. 
 It made us creep, 
 
 To see the serpent rise and strike. 
 
 276 
 
 » 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Around the fish, 
 With mighty swish, 
 
 The monster wound his glittering coils; 
 Ah, hapless whale. 
 Lash with your tail, 
 
 Till all around the water boils! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Ah, hapless whale. 
 Lash with your tail, 
 
 Till all around the water boils! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 You should have seen 
 The fight between 
 
 This anaconda of the sea 
 And that poor whale — 
 'Twould make you pale 
 
 To see him struggle to get free? 
 Another hug — 
 A mighty tug — 
 
 And then we heard his ribs divide; 
 There was a crack — 
 A broken back — 
 
 His cable parted and he died! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 There was a crack — 
 A broken back — 
 
 His cable parted and he died! 
 277 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Fill up again, 
 My merry men ! 
 
 Enter Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Oh, pray forgive this rude intrusion, 
 We do not wish to cause confusion. 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Most welcome, ladies, welcome all, 
 Thus we appreciate this call! 
 
 (They attempt to kiss the apprentices^ but 
 are repulsed.) 
 Alack, their love is growing cold! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 One moment, please, you are too bold! 
 
 Molly 
 
 Nay, do not wink! 
 
 Polly 
 
 And do not drink! 
 278 
 
 t 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Dolly 
 
 But stop and think 
 On this petition! 
 
 Pirates 
 
 We must not wink— 
 
 We must not drink, 
 But stop and think 
 On this petition ! 
 
 Molly 
 
 'Tis signed by all. 
 
 Polly 
 
 Both great and small. 
 
 Dolly 
 
 It is a call — 
 
 A Requisition. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 A requisition, 
 
 A petition? 
 Nay, I can't read without my glasses — {drinks) 
 Some other time, my pretty lasses. 
 
 279 
 
Democracy 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 I cannot make it out. 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 'TIs badly writ, no doubt. 
 
 Molly 
 Oh, how we hate — 
 
 Polly 
 How we detest you ! 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Ah, if we could, 
 
 We would arrest you ! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Oh, how we hate — 
 How we detest you ! 
 
 Yes, if we could. 
 
 We would arrest you! 
 
 Molly 
 
 If our petition you would read, 
 You'd see we've come to intercede 
 
 For one whose life is forfeit 
 
 280 
 
The Sea-Sej'pent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What? 
 Polly 
 
 The handsomest of men 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What's that? 
 Dolly 
 Nay, give him back his life! 
 Molly 
 And let him choose a wife! 
 
 Polly 
 Condemn him onlj^ thus: 
 
 Dolly 
 To marry one of us! 
 Pirates 
 
 Ah, but which one? 
 281 
 
Demoa-acy 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Oh, any one! 
 
 First Pirate 
 
 Oh, what would I do, 
 If he should choose j'ou? 
 
 Second Pirate 
 
 And I! 
 Third Pirate 
 
 And I! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 And I! 
 
 Pirates 
 
 Oh, what would we do. 
 If he should choose you? 
 
 Spoken. Captain Tartarus 
 
 The only way out of it is for you to hypnotize 
 them! 
 
 282 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 (Aside). The Devil! (Aloud.) Excuse me, but 
 the hour is unpropitious. Better deny their re- 
 quest. 
 
 Recitative. Captain Tartarus 
 
 Leave us alone, my children, oh, retire. 
 
 Till we have time into this business to inquire. 
 
 Dolly 
 
 He'd put us off 
 
 Till it's too late, 
 By the advice of one we hate ! 
 
 Molly 
 
 But no, sir, no! 
 We will not go! 
 
 Polly 
 
 We want an answer 
 
 So, sir, so! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 No, sir, no. 
 We will not go ! 
 
 283 
 
Democracy 
 
 We want an answer- 
 So, sir, so! 
 
 Molly 
 
 Just listen, if you please; 
 Your prisoner release, 
 
 Or we swear by this and that. 
 However much you miss us, 
 
 No more we'll let you kiss us 
 
 That's flat! 
 
 Pirates 
 
 That's very flat! 
 
 Polly 
 
 And if we are in error. 
 
 And this has for you no terror, 
 
 Then we will say, 
 
 Oh, Captain gay, 
 Release your victim, sir, or 
 In mis'ry we'll immerse you — ^ 
 Your daughter, sir, shall curse you! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Oh, dear, oh, dear. 
 
 They'd have my daughter curse me! 
 More beer! More beer! 
 
 In drink I will immerse me! 
 
 284 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Molly 
 Then, if still your heart is hardened — • 
 
 Polly 
 And the prisoner unpardoned — 
 
 Dolly 
 
 No longer we'll implore, 
 But demand to go ashore! 
 
 Molly 
 Pursue your course inhuman, 
 
 Polly 
 And we'll resign — 
 
 Dolly 
 
 Yes, to a woman! 
 
 Pirates 
 
 If we pursue our course inhuman, 
 They will desert — yes, to a woman ! 
 
 285 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 Yes, to a woman ! 
 
 Pirates 
 Yes, to a woman ! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 If {we"i pursue \l^^] course inhuman, 
 I They) ^^'i^l resign — yes, to a woman! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Alas, what shall I do? 
 Must I lose half my crew? 
 And what is far more worse, 
 Must I hear Pirola's curse? 
 Why don't you hypnotize 'em, 
 And something else advise 'em? 
 
 Butcher BOY {aside) 
 
 He soon will grow suspicious! 
 
 {Aloud). 
 The time is unpropitious! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Come, come, sir, now give answer, 
 And tell us, if you can, sir, 
 
 286 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Shall the prisoner be free? 
 {Bamboula and followers appear in the distance, 
 swimming toward the vessel, in serpentine file, 
 with lighted lanterns on their heads.) 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Behold, what do I see? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 I don't (hie!) see anything! 
 
 Pirates ( unsteady ) 
 
 He don't see anything! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Oh, see it trail 
 Like monster snail! 
 
 The sea is phosphorescent with its light! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 It must be the sea-serpent! 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Quite right! Quite right! 
 The sea-serpent! 
 
 287 
 
Democracy 
 
 Chorus 
 
 The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent! 
 
 Horrors upon horrors, see him glide! 
 He comes this way! He comes this way! 
 
 Horrors upon horrors, let us hide! 
 
 {Exeunt Apprentices), 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 'Twas but a ruse! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Good news! Good news! 
 Now for a long pull and a steady. 
 And then for them we shall be ready, 
 If they should come again! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Now then, 
 My men! 
 {Pirates seize jugs). 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Drink! drink! drink till overcome! 
 
 We don't care what it is, whether wine, or beer, or 
 
 rum, 
 So long as it will bring from woman's tongue relief, 
 So long as it will sei-ve to hide our Captain's grief I 
 
 288 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 So, pull, pull, pull together, pull! 
 
 And drain each little jug till all of us are full! 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Good ! Good ! ha ! ha ! 
 
 Good ! Good ! ha ! ha ! 
 Haste! haste! Bamboula, 
 
 Haste, ho! ho! 
 
 {Pirates fall in a drunken stupor). 
 
 Spoken. Butcherboy 
 
 And now to business! Come, Ichabod! ho, Icky! 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Go, 'way, old sea-serpent — go 'way! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Why, you downright sot, who told you to get mud- 
 dled, too? {Dashes water in his face.) Here, 
 wake up! Do you recognize me? {Throws off 
 his disguise.) 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Butcherboy! 
 
 289 
 
Democracy 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Ah, that sobers you! Now stop your trembling 
 and get me some shackles — quick! 
 
 {Exit Ichabod.) 
 
 Here is a prohibition lecture for you! Luckily 
 Bamboula would sooner take drunken slaves 
 than sober ones! And he shall have all on 
 board — all, save the peerless Pirola! We two 
 shall have one-half the buried treasure; Bam- 
 boula shall have the other half and the slaves! 
 He is approaching and I must hurry and se- 
 cure her, so that there may be no mistake! 
 Ah, proud, mocking beauty, what gypsy could 
 have foretold that after all you should wed the 
 despised Butcherboy! 
 
 Enter Ichabod 
 
 Bamboula has kept his word ! He is here, with his 
 warriors. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Indeed? Then quickly assist me with these orna- 
 ments, and we will give him a royal welcome. 
 (They put shackles on the pirates.) 
 290 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 If I mistake not, they are preparing some kind of 
 welcome for him on the gun deck. 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 What do 30U mean? 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 The reporter has been released. 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Perdition! Who released him? 
 
 {Drawing his sword.) 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 It wasn't I, I assure you on my bended knees! It 
 was Pirola! 
 
 BuTCHERBOY 
 
 Where is he? What is he doing? 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 He's rallying the women and hypnotizing them for 
 the fray. (Noise as of fighting below.) 
 
 291 
 
Democracy 
 
 Recitative. Butcherboy 
 
 Hurry! Hurry! on with the gyves! 
 Hurry! Hurry! out with our knives! 
 {Puts on more shackles, and finally springs them 
 upon Ichabod), 
 
 So! So! 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 Help! Ho! 
 You've made a mistake ! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 'Tis no mistake! 
 Lie there, faint-hearted dog! 
 Lie there, faint-hearted dog! 
 {Exit.) 
 
 Spoken. Ichabod 
 
 Ah, heartless monster — he would sell me with the 
 rest ! He can't resist the temptation of making 
 a few extra dollars. But luckily he neglected 
 to take away from me the keys which will un- 
 lock all our fetters. If I could but use my 
 hands, I might yet turn the tables on him. In 
 vain! I am done for! Alas, this comes of 
 292 
 
 I 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 trying to be a villain ! This comes of making 
 
 a league with the devil! 
 
 {Enter Bamboula, Butcherboy and Pirola.) 
 
 Bamboula 
 {Dancing over the prostrate pirates.) 
 Ugh! ugh! Kallela! Kallei! 
 
 Duet. Butcherboy and Pirola 
 
 Behold my work, rebellious little beauty! 
 Thus one reporter now 
 Has done his duty. 
 
 Pirola 
 Monster, you have killed my father! 
 
 Butcherboy 
 Worse, far worse for you the fate impending! 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Die a thousand deaths here I would rather, 
 Than go hence with you ! Oh, how heart-rending 
 Are the crimes I witness! I'm a woman, 
 But this gives me strength that's superhuman ! 
 
 {Struggles zvith Butcherboy.) 
 
 293 
 
Democracy 
 
 Song. Bamboula 
 
 Pretty little tiger, 
 
 Far up on the Niger, 
 Stands Bamboula's palace in a village! 
 Thou shalt be his jewel, 
 Make him still more cruel. 
 When he sallies forth for thee to pillage! 
 Slaves around like apes shall caper there, 
 And my other wives shall have a care, 
 And that care shall be to serve Pirola — 
 Great Bamboula's queen, Pirola! 
 
 Spoken. Butcherboy 
 
 But you forget — this is my prize, Bamboula. 
 
 Bamboula 
 
 Nay, she is too pretty for thee — thou art quite ugly ! 
 I want her! I will fight for her! 
 
 Ichabod 
 
 That's right ! Fight him, good Bamboula, and lick 
 him, too. 
 
 Pirola 
 
 Papa! Papa! He lives! 
 
 294 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 BUTCHERBOY 
 
 Be content, Bamboula, you shall have all the rest. 
 
 Bamboul/^ 
 
 I want her! I will fight for her! 
 
 Butch ERBOY 
 
 Then fight it shall be, treacherous baboon! 
 
 ( They fight; Butcherboy is overpowered and shack- 
 
 eled, by the aid of Ichabod, who is, however, 
 
 himself still in chains.) 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 Turn about is fair play, and he who diggeth a pit 
 for his neighbor shall fall down the hatchway 
 himself! Yea, verily! 
 
 Recitative. Bamboula 
 
 Come, little queen, 
 Now thou art mine! 
 {Enter Fendragon, and Pirate Apprentices and 
 Bamboula s followers, fighting.) 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Pendragon, help! 
 Help, love divine! 
 
 295 
 
Democracy 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Kis, kfs, kis, kis, 
 Take this! Take this! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 My love, I come — 
 Go, get thee home ! 
 Go, get thee home, 
 Black rascal ! 
 
 Pirate Apprentices 
 
 Cling, clang, steel ! 
 
 Our blows they feel ! 
 
 Give them one more beating! 
 
 Send them off retreating! 
 Cling, clang, steel! 
 Our blows they feel ! 
 
 Bamboula 
 
 The wild bull paws the dust! 
 He says. Die, die vou must! 
 {They fight). 
 
 Spoken. Pirola 
 
 off 
 296 
 
 Arise, papa, arise! Would you let them carry 
 your only daughter? 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 ICHABOD 
 
 If you will excuse me for making a suggestion — 
 here are keys that will unlock our bracelets. 
 {Pirola unlocks fetters.) Ah, thanks! Now 
 I will soon revive them. Here is water. 
 {Dashes some in the face of Captain Tartarus.) 
 
 Recitative. Captain Tartarus 
 
 What battle is this? 
 
 Have we taken a prize? 
 One moment, please, 
 
 Till I rub my eyes. 
 
 Bamboula {Disarmed) 
 
 Fair youth, it is a pleasure 
 
 By thee to be disarmed. 
 At thy mercy, I enjoy it — 
 
 With thy fighting I am charmed. 
 But lay aside thy weapons. 
 
 And let us try our strength ; 
 With thee I long to wrestle. 
 
 And to lay thee out at length. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 A singular request — 
 Perhaps a savage jest. 
 
 {They grapple.) 
 297 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What, Bamboula, 
 
 Our ancient enemy! 
 Then we are boarded- 
 
 Boarded, by gemini ! 
 Awake! awake! 
 
 My pirates all, 
 And draw your swords 
 At duty's call ! 
 {Pendragoji forces Bamboula over the bulwarks into 
 the sea. The savages, perceiving this, and the 
 pirates reviving, abandon the fight and follow, 
 in serpentine file.) 
 
 Oh, what a sight ! 
 'Twas nobly done; 
 They take to flight. 
 The battle's won. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Yes, nobly done — 
 
 Oh, what a sight! 
 The battle's won — 
 
 They take to flight. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What mean these handcuffs? 
 
 What mean these gyves? 
 Who has had designs 
 
 Upon our lives? 
 
 298 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 It is the work of one 
 
 Who did deceive you, 
 But not Pendragon 
 
 Captain Tartarus. 
 
 I do believe you ! 
 For now my head is getting clearer, 
 
 And now I recollect, 
 I never did come nearer 
 
 To losing all my self-respect. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Yes, yes, {their} heads are getting clearer, 
 
 And now [they] recollect, 
 {Sey} never did come nearer 
 
 To losing all {^^eVl self-respect. 
 
 Pirola 
 It was a villain's doing — 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 My children, now I see it all! 
 He plotted our undoing, 
 
 And slaves he would have sold us all ! 
 
 299 
 
Democracy 
 
 Chorus 
 
 He plotted our undoing, 
 
 And slaves he would have sold us all ! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 He made me w^rong a hero — 
 
 One whose forgiveness I implore; 
 
 With many a heartfelt tear, oh, 
 How could I seek his manl)^ gore? 
 
 Chorus 
 
 With many a heartfelt tear, oh, 
 {xhey} his forgiveness all implore; 
 
 How could iSiey} wrong this hero — 
 How could {they} Seek his manly gore? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 I will in reparation 
 
 Grant anything he may desire; 
 'Twill meet my approbation 
 
 And should he my poor life require. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 'Twill meet (?heirl approbation 
 
 And should he (?heirl poor lives require; 
 {xhey! will, in reparation, 
 
 Grant anything he may desire. 
 
 300 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Spoken. Pendragon 
 
 That is certainly very reasonable, dear father-in- 
 law. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Father-in-law? 
 
 Pendragon 
 That is to be! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Of course! Of course! What a delicate way he 
 has of putting it! 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 And about the treasure — how much have you man- 
 aged to lay aside for a rainy day? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Oh, a trifle of six or eight millions. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Cold cash? 
 
 301 
 
Democracy 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Nearly all cash — a few diamonds, perhaps a thou- 
 sand carats or so. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 All must be returned to the rightful owners. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Impossible! They are either dead, or I've lost 
 their names and addresses. 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Ah, then you have arrived at a point in your career 
 where it is absolutely necessary for you to re- 
 form and lead a better life. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 That means that I must retire from business and 
 devote myself to a more peaceful cultivation of 
 my social and political theories? 
 
 Pendragon 
 It does, 
 
 S02 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 And divide a million or two among my men, so as 
 to enable them to marry and reform too? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 Certainly. 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 And that I must settle one-half of what remains 
 upon my daughter, for her dowry? 
 
 Pendragon 
 
 That will be quite agreeable. 
 
 Recitative. Pirola 
 
 Now all is well — 
 
 My love is here! 
 The mermaid's voice 
 
 No more I fear. 
 
 {Pirates and Apprentices pair off; Ichabod, being 
 zvithout a mate, makes lore to the Cook, luho 
 still has her hopes centered on Captain Tar- 
 tarus. ) 
 
 303 
 
Democracy 
 
 Spoken. Captain Tartarus 
 
 But, hold ! I had quite forgotten that it is cus- 
 tomary upon occasions of this kind to first pun- 
 ish the villain. 
 
 All 
 The villain? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 Yes, the villain! Where is he? 
 
 ICHABOD {dragging him forth) 
 Behold him — Butcherboy! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 What, can it be? My old and faithful right bovver? 
 Ah, the will j^ou have been so industriously 
 making shall at once be admitted to probate, 
 unless you clear yourself! Come sir, how do 
 you plead? 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 I will not plead until I have had an opportunity 
 to obtain legal advice. 
 
 304 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Ah, he would play the old dodge. He would get 
 us into tedious litigation — the keenest of all 
 tortures. That settles it ! He is guilty. Away 
 with him ! To-morrow at sunrise he shall walk 
 the gang-plank. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Take him away and place him in a dungeon, 
 At early morn the guns shall tell his doom; 
 
 Take him away — the sharks shall have a luncheon. 
 At early morning when the cannons boom. 
 
 Recitative. Butcherboy 
 
 One last request, 
 
 For sake of old acquaintance, 
 In mercy grant, 
 
 'Twill help me to repentance! 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 One last request 
 
 I can't deny : 
 'Tis granted, that 
 
 Is my reply. 
 
 Butcherboy 
 
 Instead of gang-plank, sir, 
 With indignation, 
 3<^5 
 
Democracy 
 
 Allow me to hand in 
 My resignation! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Instead of gang-plank, see, 
 
 With indignation, 
 He now hands in 
 
 His resignation! 
 
 Cook 
 
 Now that you are to lead better lives, 
 And settle down as husbands and wives, 
 What is to become of me, unless 
 You, sir, take pity on my distress? 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Nay, nay, the memory of that excellent woman — 
 her mother — 
 
 Will never permit me, even though I were so in- 
 clined, to marry another. 
 
 But I will make you just as comfortable, as though 
 you were my wife, 
 
 For you shall have a snug pension for the remainder 
 of vour life. 
 
 BUTCHERBOY AND ICHABOD 
 
 A snug pension for life — 
 A desirable wife! 
 306 
 
The Sea-Serpent 
 
 Captain Tartarus 
 
 Congratulate th.vself that thou art free, 
 
 For these two worthies shall draw lots for thee. 
 
 PiROLA 
 
 Now all is well; 
 
 My love is here! 
 The mermaid's voice 
 
 No more I fear. 
 
 Air. Pirola. 
 Oh, the rapture of love 
 
 When its sorrows are past, 
 When its trials are o'er 
 
 And^ it triumphs at last. 
 Were it not for the pain, 
 
 Were it not for the woe, 
 Half its sweetness and joy 
 
 No one ever would know. 
 Therefore sing of the love 
 
 That will triumph at last; 
 It is sweeter by far 
 
 For the pain that is past. 
 
 Chorus 
 
 Therefore sing of the love 
 That will triumph at last; 
 
 It is sweeter by far 
 
 For the pain that is past. 
 
 {Curtain.) 
 307 
 
309 
 
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 312 
 

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 319 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 One Hundred Expressions of 
 Opinion Concerning * 'Democracy" 
 
 "Good stuff." — Emerson Hough (Author). 
 
 "Its sentiment is admirable." — Booth Tarkington (Nov- 
 elist). 
 
 "Your poem is very good." — Annie S. Peck (Moun- 
 tain Climber). 
 
 "The words are very fine." — Prime Minister Lloyd 
 George, of England. 
 
 "Your poem, 'Democracy,' is very beautiful." — Victor 
 Herbert (Composer). 
 
 "Many thanks for your fine poem." — William S. 
 Woods (Editor, Literary Digest). 
 
 "Your poem, 'Democracy,' is an excellent one." — John 
 Philip Sousa (Composer). 
 
 "It expresses, extremely well, high, patriotic ideals." 
 — Arthur Brisbane (Editor). 
 
 "I wish you great music for your glorious poem." — 
 Percy Grainger (Pianist). 
 
 "I like your hymn. It is good and inspiring." — Boris 
 Sidis (Psychopathologist). 
 
 "Your 'Democracy' has the right pitch. Sing it out!" 
 — George W. Cable (Novelist). 
 
 "I like your poem and wish it the greatest success." — 
 John Luther Long (Author). 
 
 "Your verses are excellent and fitting to the times." 
 — Geraldine Farrar (Operatic Star). 
 
 "Its spirit is good and I think it is eminently sing- 
 able." — Rossiter Johnson (Author). 
 
 320 
 
Appendix 
 
 "It is certainly a very beautiful production." — J. E. 
 Jeffers (Editor, Illinois Masonic Review). 
 
 "Your hymn impresses me as remarkably inspira- 
 tional." — John Mitchell (American Labor Leader). 
 
 "Your poem is timely and inspiring." — Gren'ville 
 Kleiser (Author and Instructor on Public Speaking). 
 
 "I fully endorse the spirit you so splendidly express." 
 — Rudolph Spreckels (Civic Reformer and Banker). 
 
 "I congratulate you on the excellence of your compo- 
 sition." — F. D. Gardner (Governor of Missouri). 
 
 "Thank you, my dear Mr. Butler, for the good letter 
 and fine verses." — Ella Wheeler Wilcox (Author). 
 
 "I like the spirit of the poem." — Anthony Fiala (Arctic 
 Explorer, Major, Ordnance Department, U. S. A.). 
 
 "It is a fine expression, in verse, of a great prin- 
 ciple." — Louis Wiley (Manager, New York Times). 
 
 "I admire your splendid poem very much, especially 
 the wonderful spirit of it." — Thomas A. Wise (Actor). 
 
 "The sentiments and patriotism of your poem are ad- 
 mirable." — Louis C. Ebon (Musical Critic and Lec- 
 turer). 
 
 "I commend your effort most highly." — A. P. Warring- 
 ton (National President, American Theosophical Soci- 
 ety). 
 
 "This effort alone stamps William Mill Butler as a 
 poet of a very high order." — C. A. Daniell (Editor, 
 Presto). 
 
 "It gives me a thrill and makes me proud I am an 
 American." — W. R. George (Founder, George Junior Re- 
 public). 
 
 "I am sure 'Democracy' will sing well, and I wish you 
 every success with it." — Edith Wynne Matthison (Ac- 
 tress). 
 
 "The text expresses, stirringly, the feelings of a great 
 free country." — Prof. Daniel Gregory Mason (Com- 
 poser). 
 
 "It is worthy to be sung into the hearts of the forth- 
 coming new world." — Marietta Holley ("Josiah Allen's 
 Wife"). 
 
 321 
 
Appendix 
 
 "I thoroughly appreciate your national hymn. It is 
 very inspiring — entirely fine." — De Wolf Hopper (Come- 
 dian). 
 
 "I have read your beautiful lines and find their mes- 
 sage certainly timely." — Frank Crane (Essayist and 
 Editor). 
 
 **The spirit of your admirable poem meets my full ap- 
 proval." — David Starr Jordan (Chancellor, Stanford 
 University). 
 
 "Its lines truly contain richness of thought and stirring 
 patriotic import." — Joseph Krauskopf (Jewish Rabbi 
 and D.D.). 
 
 "I have read these well-expressed verses with a great 
 deal of interest." — J. W. Gerard (Former Ambassador 
 to Germany). 
 
 "You have very well expressed an essential truth of 
 history.''— Wilfred H. Schoff (Secretary, Philadelphia 
 Commercial Museum). 
 
 "Your fine lyric should certainly inspire some com- 
 poser." — G. W. Chad^ick (Director, New England Con- 
 servatory of Music). 
 
 "I can truthfully say your poem typifies that which is 
 most beautiful in life." — John N. Willys (Automobile 
 Manufacturer). 
 
 "I hope that this song may meet with the success 
 which it deserves." — Alexander Graham Bell (Inventor 
 of the Telephone). 
 
 "Your poem abounds in fine idealism and breathes 
 the true spirit of Democracy." — P. E. Ziegler (Editor, 
 The Railway Clerk). 
 
 "To my mind it is the greatest and strongest hymn 
 so far composed since the war." — Charles J. Greller 
 (Editor, Pythian Star). 
 
 "We have read your hymn, 'Democracy,' with much 
 interest and appreciation." — Alice Paul (Chairman, Na- 
 tional Woman's Party). 
 
 "I felt an inspiration after reading your splendid 
 verses." — John Wanamaker (Former Postmaster-General 
 of the United States). 
 
 322 
 
Appendix 
 
 "The Secretary of State, Mr. Lansing, expresses sat- 
 isfaction at the spirit evinced by the poem." — Richard 
 Crane (Private Secretary). 
 
 "I have read it not only with interest but with a thrill 
 of pleasure." — S. McKee Smith (Principal, Staten Island 
 Public Schools). 
 
 "Set to appropriate music, it will, I am sure, make a 
 splendid hymn." — William R. Brooks (Professor of As- 
 tronomy and Comet Finder). 
 
 "I have read your song entitled, 'Democracy,' with a 
 great deal of pleasure." — John M. Baer (Member of 
 Congress from North Dakota). 
 
 "It is fine and I congratulate you upon being the au- 
 thor of such a splendid bit of American work." — Edgar 
 A. Guest (Poet and Humorist). 
 
 "Cardinal Gibbons directs me to send you his appreci- 
 ation of your poem, 'Democracy' — clear, strong and 
 true." — Louis O'Donovan (Secretary). 
 
 "The spirit of the verses must meet with the approval 
 of every American citizen." — Charles W. Eliot (Presi- 
 dent Emeritus, Harvard College). 
 
 "Your verses on 'Democracy' are splendid, grand, and 
 I am sure will make a great success. They are soul- 
 stirring." — Robert B. Mantell (Actor). 
 
 "The spirit of your song is appropriate to the glori- 
 ous accomplishments of this era." — W . M. K. Olcott (New 
 York Lawyer and Former Judge). 
 
 "I have read these well-expressed verses on 'De- 
 mocracy' and like them very much." — William H. Taft 
 (Former President of the United States). 
 
 "Your poem is a fine piece of work and from start to 
 finish it breathes the true spirit of its subject." — William 
 T. Hornaday (Zoologist and Author). 
 
 "You express a beautiful sentiment in a truly logical 
 way." — Frank C. Haley, Jr. (President, Conference of 
 Embalming Boards of North America). 
 
 "I am in entire sympathy with the very patriotic sen- 
 timents expressed in your poem." — Charles J. Bonaparte 
 (Former Attorney-General of the United States). 
 
Appendix 
 
 "It is full of patriotism, loyalty and all that goes to 
 make a true citizen of our great republic." — Lee S. Smith 
 (Grand Master, Knights Templar of the U. S.). 
 
 "Your poem is a classic. It breathes the inspiration 
 of freedom in every line." — John F. McNamee (Editor, 
 Brotherhood of Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine). 
 
 "I have taken great interest in your ease at expressing 
 the greatest cause and greatest emotion of our day." — 
 Talcott JVilliams (Dean Columbia School of Journalism). 
 
 "The sentiment is right; the poetry is good; the rhythm 
 lends itself to stately music. I congratulate you." — 
 Thomas E. Green (Lecturer, Author and Red Cross 
 Worker). 
 
 "I commend highly your poem on 'Democracy.' The 
 words are, indeed, clear, strong and true." — John J. 
 Broivn (Past Supreme Chancellor, Order of Knights of 
 Pythias). 
 
 "Your song has a cosmic, majestic sweep, befitting em- 
 battled Democracy at last triumphant." — Richmond Pear- 
 son Hobson (Hero of the Merrimac, and Member of 
 Congress). 
 
 "Read and re-read in the quiet of my study, it seems 
 even more notably good than when I first heard it read." 
 — M. Luther Stimson (Former Baptist Foreign Mission- 
 ary). 
 
 "The sentiment is expressed with wonderful strength, 
 and I have no doubt but the poem will attract nation- 
 wide attention." — Clark Hoivell (Editor, Atlanta Con- 
 stitution). 
 
 "You certainly have expressed briefly the American 
 ideal, and with good music it should have a soul-pene- 
 trating effect." — Mis ha Applebaum (Founder, Humani- 
 tarian Cult). 
 
 "I thank you for sending me a copy of your poem, 
 'Democracy,' and I think it breathes forth the very spirit 
 of the day." — Edzvard Bok (Editor of the Ladies' Home 
 Journal). 
 
 "The sentiments expressed in your hymn are excellent. 
 To these wishes we must all say 'Amen.' " — Alice Stone 
 Blackivell (Author, Journalist and Worker for Woman 
 Suffrage). 
 
 324 
 
Appendix 
 
 "The spirit in which you have written is, indeed, 
 that which we need keep before us today." — Emma Bailey 
 Speer (President, National Board, Young Women's 
 Christian Association). 
 
 "A splendid expression of the spirit which is now com- 
 ing to its own among the nations of the earth." — Oiven 
 C. Broivn (Editor, American Baptist Publication Soci- 
 ety's Adult Publications). 
 
 "I am much interested in your hymn, 'Democracy.' I 
 cannot see how it can be improved. You have certainly 
 struck a high note." — Joe Mitchell Chappie (Editor, Na- 
 tional Magazine). 
 
 "With its new fifth verse, your hymn should have a 
 great peal of bells or a grand clash of a mighty organ 
 for its obligato." — Appleton Morgan (President, New 
 York Shakespeare Society). 
 
 "It is a very touching poem, and causes us to reflect 
 and study deeply our institution, the United States, and 
 all that it means to the world." — G. W . Gehran (Wis- 
 consin Journal of Education). 
 
 "Your poem, 'Democracy,' ic quite interesting and I 
 trust you will meet with every success in its publica- 
 tion." — C. M. Schivab (Director General U. S. Shipping 
 Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation). 
 
 "The sentiment expressed in the verses is very fine and 
 inspiring. I am happy to think it is the sentiment of 
 our great nation." — John Spar go (Chairman, Social 
 Democratic League of America). 
 
 "We very much wish we might have the privilege of 
 publishing your inspiring poem in the Union Signal." — 
 Frances E. Parks (Corresponding Secretary, National 
 Woman's Christian Temperance Union). 
 
 "I consider your verses well suited to the times when 
 we are all fighting and working for the great democ- 
 racy of the world." — Mrs. Lois K. Knatijf (President, 
 National Woman's Relief Corps, G. A. R.). 
 
 "The President of the Republic requests me to extend 
 to you his appreciation of your beautiful song in honor 
 of Democracy, which you have sent him." — The Gen- 
 eral Civil Secretary of the Republic of France. 
 
Appendix 
 
 "You are very kind to send me your spirited verses 
 on 'Democracy.' The doctrine in them is certainly sound 
 and true." — Henry Van Dyke (Author and Poet, Former 
 U. S. Minister to the Netherlands). 
 
 "I can hardly tell you how much 1 appreciate and ad- 
 mire your poem, 'Democracy.' It seems to come from 
 your heart and it goes to mine." — Alfred T. Story (Au- 
 thor of "Songs of a New Age," London, England). 
 
 "Your song has all the necessary attributes of an 
 American hymn. The spirit of the song is good, as well 
 as the verse and selection of words." — Champ Clark 
 (Speaker of the House of Representatives). 
 
 "The spirit of your song is the spirit of the time, the 
 spirit that moves upon the face of the waters, toward 
 that haven where freedom shall mean justice and justice 
 freedom." — Amelie Troubeizkoy (Novelist). 
 
 "I read your beautiful poem and thank you for mail- 
 ing me a copy. It is fitting, indeed, to usher in the new 
 epoch of world democracy with appropriate words and 
 melody." — Eugene Zimmerman (Cartoonist). 
 
 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of a copy of your poem, 
 'Democracy.' It is a very beautiful poem and the sen- 
 timent expressed therein has the right ring to it." — 
 Josephus Daniels (Secretary of the Navy). 
 
 "1 certainly hope that you will publish these verses 
 which seem to me to be strong and free in their spirit 
 and broad in their horizon." — Lyman Abbott (Editor of 
 The Outlook, and Author of Many Books). 
 
 "I don't see how the spirit of that song could fail to 
 meet the approval of anyone who appreciates the value 
 of democracy — still less of one who has tasted its bless- 
 ings." — fV. Bourke Cockran (Orator, Former Congress- 
 man). 
 
 "The Secretary of War directs me to express his ap- 
 preciation both of the poem and of the sentiment which 
 led you to send it for his approval." — Stanley King 
 (Private Secretary to Hon. Newton D. Baker, Secretary 
 of War). 
 
 "Your two opening stanzas are very good. They 
 sweep big horizons and stir the spirit of forward-look- 
 
 326 
 
Appendix 
 
 ing men. I am glad you sent me the hymn. I want 
 to hear the music, some day." — Edivin Markham (Au- 
 thor of "The Man with the Hoe"). 
 
 "Permit me to thank you for giving me the opportu- 
 nity of reading your beautiful hymn, 'Democracy.' It 
 rings true throughout with a spirit of human freedom." 
 — JV. B. Wilson (Member of the President's Cabinet, 
 Secretary of Labor). 
 
 "Your great poem, 'Democracy,' strikes the keynote 
 of a new life — it strikes the keynote of the new order. 
 It has a power that seems to me to fairly resound through 
 starry spaces. I am deeply impressed with its inspir- 
 ing significance." — Lilian Whiting (Author). 
 
 "I hardly think that I can make a suggestion which 
 would improve your verses on 'Democracy.' They are 
 stirring, and certainly your theme is that of the present 
 need. Success to your song." — Ida M. Tarbell (Author 
 of "Life of Lincoln," and other works). 
 
 "If the still small voice of conscience satisfies you 
 that you have sung the best that is in you for democ- 
 racy, no words of mine can possibly add to the satisfac- 
 tion you must feel in having achieved so noble a task." 
 — Frank H. Vizetelly (Lexicographer, Editor and Au- 
 thor). 
 
 "I thank you for sending me your remarkable poem, 
 'Democracy.' I believe it will be an inspiration to 
 every man whose soul is attuned to the purpose of God 
 as revealed in this world conflict. I would like to see 
 it have the widest possible publicity." — Charles A. 
 Eaton (Clergyman, Editor and Author). 
 
 "I am directed by the Minister to acknowledge the 
 copy of your hymn on 'Democracy' and to thank you for 
 it. The Minister is very much interested in your verses 
 and directs me to say that he thinks they reflect faith- 
 fully the spirit of the times." — Alexander Cruger (Clerk 
 of the U. S. Legation in France). 
 
 "It is with much pleasure that I have read your verses 
 on 'Democracy.' I think you have struck the right note 
 and that your song will prove a popular one. I agree 
 with my friend, Edwin Markham, your words 'sweep 
 
Appendix 
 
 big horizons.' " — Dan Beard (Artist, Explorer and Orig- 
 inator of the First Boy Scout Society in the World). 
 
 "Your poem, 'Democracy,' which I have just had the 
 pleasure of reading, is a welcome addition to our patri- 
 otic literature. If set to music it should be effective as 
 a war song. It is com.prehensive enough in its terms 
 and sentiments to be sung everywhere." — J. Hampton 
 Moore (Member of Congress from Philadelphia, Pa.). 
 
 "I have read your national hymn, 'Democracy,' with 
 much pleasure. It seems to me a very admirable ex- 
 pression of the spirit of democracy. I hope it will be 
 sung from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and the spirit of 
 the song exemplified by all our people." — Francis E. 
 Clark (Founder, United Society of Christian Endeavor). 
 
 "I congratulate you on the comprehensive way in which 
 you have gathered together the ideals for which we are 
 fighting. With suitable music I am sure 'Democracy' 
 will be sung with enthusiasm by every one who realizes 
 the unity of the human race." — Arthur Henderson (Mem- 
 ber of Parliament and Secretary of the British Labor 
 Party). 
 
 Author of ''Perfect Day" Wins in 
 
 Contest to Furnish Music for 
 
 "Democracy" 
 
 {Nenv York Special published by daily and musical 
 journals) 
 
 New York, December lo, 1918. — Carrie Jacobs Bond, 
 composer of the "Perfect Day" and many other songs, 
 scored another triumph today when she was unanimously 
 declared the winner in a contest to supply a musical set- 
 ting for William Mill Butler's poem, "Democracy," 
 which has been warmly praised by many prominent 
 people, including President Poincare, of France; Premier 
 Lloyd George, of England Former President Taft; four 
 
 328 
 
Appendix 
 
 members of President Wilson's cabinet; Speaker Champ 
 Clark, Cardinal Gibbons, Dr. Lyman Abbott, Edwin 
 Markham, Francis E. Clark, founder of the Christian 
 Endeavor Society; Rabbi Krauskopf, Ella Wheeler Wil- 
 cox, W. Bourke Cockran, Amelie Rives Troubetskoy, 
 Geraldine Farrar, Booth Tarkington, Richmond P. Hob- 
 son, and hundreds of others. It has been printed in 
 thousands of daily, weekly and monthly publications, 
 and is hailed as a new national anthem of world-wide 
 significance which reflects faithfully the spirit of the time. 
 A dozen American composers vied with each other to 
 supply appropriate music for it, and Sigmund Spaeth, a 
 well-known New York musical editor and director of 
 community singing, as chairman of the committee, an- 
 nounced today that all the compositions which were sub- 
 mitted, without the names of the composers being known, 
 were of unusual merit and the choice was a difficult one 
 to make. 
 
 However, Mrs. Bond's version was placed first and 
 that of Dr. Lee B. Woodcock, Scranton, Pa., was a close 
 second. Among the contestants were a Russian operatic 
 composer, and two professors of music in American 
 universities. 
 
 $1,000 Prize Offer to Composers 
 
 Is it possible to exceed in beauty, strength and original- 
 ity the eleven musical settings of "Democracy," eleven 
 of which are given in this appendix? The twelfth ver- 
 sion, by Mrs. Carrie Jacobs-Bond, has been published and 
 thousands of copies have already been enjoyed by the 
 public. The question now is whether the best has been 
 accomplished or whether some rare genius of the peo- 
 ple — some Rouget de I'Isle — can be found to give us a 
 truly immortal performance. 
 
 An invitation is extended to the composers of the 
 whole world. All compositions received on or before 
 July 4, 1 921, will be judged by an impartial jury, who 
 
 329 
 
Appendix 
 
 will not know the names of any of the contestants. The 
 right to reject any and all settings is reserved. For 
 the composition found entirely satisfactory, and the best, 
 in the opinion of the judges, $i,ocx5 in gold will be paid. 
 Address, 
 
 William Mill Butler, 
 Beachwood, New Jersey. 
 
 THE FIFTH VERSE 
 
 The fifth verse of ''Democracy f* as originally 
 written and as sung during the World War, read 
 as follows: 
 
 To-day the climax of the fight ; 
 A world embattled for the right, 
 We brave the tyrant's frenzied hour, 
 Till shattered thus shall be his power 
 And all the world made safe for thee — 
 Hall, glorious Democracy! 
 
 330