PS 3525 
 .P2766 
 fl7 
 1922 
 Copy 1 
 
 I 
 
 i AMERICA FIRST | 
 
 I 
 
 SIR GEDDES 
 
 AlVI) OTHER I>OE>IS 
 
 OF 
 
 FUN, FICTION AND FANCY 
 
 FREDERICK McMILLEN 
 
THE AUTHOR 
 
and other poems 
 
 of 
 
 Fun, Fiction and Fancy 
 
 Hs * * 
 * * * 
 
 Copyrighted 1922 
 
 by 
 
 FREDERICK McMILLEN, 
 
 Minneapolis, Minn. 
 
 Price 75 cents per copy 
 
 Saturday post Printing & Publishing co.. Inc. 
 
 MINNEAPOLIS. MINN. 
 

 ^5 
 
 PUBLIC OPINION, 
 
 The good people opine, I may often surmise, 
 That a poet tho learned, may be not very wise; 
 That his mind is confined, and reason will bear. 
 To the ways of the worm, the fowls of the air; 
 To the leaves on the trees, the blades of the grass 
 And the various mammals, including the ass; 
 Of its station in life, inclination to drink 
 And the mould of its mind, by which it may think. 
 
 But the public opinion is often as thin 
 As the delicate web that the spider may spin; 
 Controlled in advance by the masterful mind 
 With a purpose to serve, and some axes to grind ; 
 Who will seek to invite the dear public to share 
 In his bountiful wisdom, with knowledge to spare. 
 Which is groundless in fact as the fanciful fright 
 That may startle a child from its slumbers at 
 night. 
 
 m -1 71 
 
 ©CU674362 
 
 V , - / 
 
THE CRITIC. 
 
 A critic said *Vour lines are bare 
 Of quality and virtue rare 
 By which the greater masters won 
 Applause from all — offending none. 
 
 **And that the poet of today, 
 Should choose the light fantastic way. 
 And gain the clamor of the throng 
 By innuendoes in his song.** 
 
 Poor critics frequently ignore 
 The hidden truths the poets pour 
 Because their vision fails to scan 
 The nobler purposes of man. 
 
 The poet's object and his worth 
 Are like the miner's in the Earth 
 Whose constant care and watchful eye 
 Discern the wealth the throng pass by. 
 
 Pity the mind whose moving cause 
 Appeals alone to vein applause. 
 And fails the truth from dust to raise 
 For want of common public praise. 
 
 Pity the day the public scorn 
 The power within the poet born. 
 And cherished as his richest prize; 
 The right and will to criticize. 
 
 —5— 
 
A MINER'S PHANTOM. 
 
 Within an isolated cabin on 
 
 Mount Lincoln's lonely side. 
 Where the wind in spiteful 
 
 gestures bore a dominating pride, 
 And the moonbeams seem to falter 
 
 but occasionally might dare 
 To lend their modest presence to 
 
 the mistress of the air. 
 
 A miner was reclining on his rough 
 
 and uncouth bed. 
 Without a trace of linen or a 
 
 cushion for his head, 
 Watching the moonbeams dancing 
 
 in the clouds fantastic form 
 Where all elements of the evening 
 
 seemed combining for a storm. 
 
 His eyes were flushed and starey, 
 
 his lips were parched and white. 
 His brain was tossed by fever, 
 
 in harmony with the night. 
 For hours he calmly listened to the 
 
 tempest's mad career 
 Without the least misgiving or the 
 
 semblance of fear. 
 
 But suddenly gazed Eastward where 
 
 three figures seemed to form 
 On the canopy of coma, through 
 
 the fury of the storm; 
 The radiance of their faces, as 
 
 beacons of the night 
 Possessed the stricken miner with 
 
 a wholesome, calm delight. 
 
 —6— 
 
And the fever seemed to weaken, 
 
 as he saw the figures there, 
 Coming with the moonbecims 
 
 through the night's tempestuous glare, 
 And listened to the clatter of the 
 
 children's scampering feet 
 As hail stones fell in numbers through 
 
 the rain and storm of sleet. 
 
 The miner raised up higher and made 
 
 a gesture wide 
 As if to lead the children to his fond 
 
 parental side; 
 And to their call he answered, in 
 
 accents loud and glad, 
 '*! greet you all my children — 
 
 yes, it is your Dad." 
 
 —7- 
 
THE JOURNAL. 
 
 The Journal is a stately sheet, 
 
 beyond the slightest doubt, 
 That gets the news, by every ruse, 
 
 from sources all about; 
 And in the place of vacant space 
 
 'most anything will do. 
 Provided that its sentiment 
 
 is British thru and thru. 
 
 They say that Jonsie crossed the line 
 
 from Britain's wide domain, 
 In quest of *'easy" money and 
 
 an honorary name, 
 By advertising **loyalty ' and 
 
 ''patriotism" too. 
 Of that peculiar foreign brand 
 
 that's British thru and thru. 
 
 And now he is a man of power, 
 
 and political renown, 
 Who used to write up stocks and bonds 
 
 and often mark them down, 
 But lately gathered all the news, 
 
 the false as well as true. 
 And that which seem to please him most 
 
 is British thru and thru. 
 
 Should the secret lid be lifted, 
 
 from the Journal melting pot. 
 Would it disclose a trace of truth, 
 
 or only common rot? 
 Through its many editorials, 
 
 may readily be seen. 
 The method that NorthclifF may use 
 
 to spread the British spleen. 
 
 —8— 
 
ALLEN JOE. 
 
 Old Allen Joe, on one dark day, 
 Was born in Ireland, so they say. 
 Away up north, where Royal stock 
 The peasantry of Ireland mock. 
 
 Where Craig and Carson, Noble Lords, 
 Partake of Britain's favorite hoards. 
 And comfort give the Monarch's claim 
 Of right and power to **rule the main.'* 
 
 But Allen in his early life. 
 Departed from that land of strife — 
 Renounced allegiance to the Crown 
 And fortune sought in our home Town. 
 
 He grew to manhood still possessed 
 Of thoughts that fire the British breast 
 And while beneath our glorious flag 
 Of **Rule Britannia " he would brag. 
 
 He found the ways the statesmen give 
 The politician's right to live. 
 And soon in Edd Smith's county fold, 
 His political story often told. 
 
 He sought by secret steps to tread 
 The pathway where immortal dead 
 From Masons heard the theme of truth 
 For manhood and aspiring youth. 
 
 He seemed to listen and to learn 
 Degrees that Masons' lives concern 
 Until, at length, upon him shine 
 The secrets of the Mystic Shrine. 
 
And in the Shriner's banquet hall, 
 Where spirits of the Masons call 
 We hear our heroes proud acclaim, 
 Of **rule Britannia" land and main. 
 
 We see.^his hostile gesture wide 
 Defying him who said, **you lied,*' 
 And hear his lips proudly confess 
 Pro-Britishjifnjpulse in his breast. 
 
 A heart on which the impulse clings 
 Of pride in palaces and kings. 
 Who all ^lori^the centuries tread 
 On bones and flesh of human dead. 
 
 I say to manhood that he grew. 
 In years and part in stature too 
 But still his infancy of mind 
 Was by pro-British rule confined. 
 
 The Orange air he hales with pride. 
 In England's church he may confide 
 But still his venemous tongue will tell 
 **The Roman creed is worse than hell.' 
 
 But British power and Orange creed— 
 The Justice which the Masons plead. 
 And mysteries of the Shriner's light 
 All fail to lead poor Joe aright. 
 
 The hand of destiny seems to swing 
 His conscience on a slender string; 
 Too anxious for an extra toll 
 He overweighs the load of coal. 
 
 -10- 
 
And in the common prisoner's row, 
 Before our magistrate must go 
 And hear pronounced upon his cause 
 **Transgressor of our Country's laws." 
 
 Poor old Allen, dear old Joe, 
 A shame it is he stumbles so — 
 Must pay his fine and meekly hide 
 His conscience in his British pride. 
 
 He'd better seek Divine ablution 
 For his dark souls' most vile polution 
 At other, and superior shrine 
 If Episcopalians pour his wine. 
 
 If Joseph is a specimen fair, 
 That British and Orange may bear. 
 We'll give support, on land and sea, 
 To Ireland's independence plea. 
 
 CONGRESS. 
 
 Away down in Congress may be found 
 Examples of the merry-go round; 
 That start out forward and then turn back 
 Around and around on a single track. 
 
 Go up at first and then flop down 
 Resembling a circus clown — 
 Day after day and mile after mile 
 The **bazoo " blowing all the while. 
 
 -11- 
 
The speed at first is somewhat slow, 
 But faster around and around they go, 
 Just watch the wheels their speed increase 
 While **Andy" spreads the axle grease. 
 
 Oh, Andy is the man of grace 
 To pour the oil in just the place 
 And as he spreads the grease around. 
 Observe the figures leap and bound. 
 
 There ought to be no wear or tear 
 Where motive power is heated air, 
 And accidents they need not fear 
 While Andy is their engineer. 
 
 WEARY FOOT-STEPS. 
 
 Don't waste your precious moments 
 
 in the pleasures that are dark 
 And educate your conscience to 
 
 regard it all a lark. 
 Or venture on life's ocean in a 
 
 weather beaten bark. 
 In which a conflagration may be 
 
 started by a spark. 
 When your steps are growing weary 
 
 and your form is somewhat bent; 
 When you've lost your last position 
 
 and your money has been spent; 
 And you hear the agent calling for 
 
 the payment of your rent 
 In vain you may be searching for the 
 
 friends to whom you've lent. 
 
 —12— 
 
If you take a little liquor with a friend 
 
 you seldom meet, 
 Or gamble just a little for some 
 
 recreation sweet, 
 Or choose for your companions all 
 
 the people of the street; 
 In the waging of life's battles you 
 
 will likely meet defeat. 
 
 If you wade a little deeper, in the 
 
 darker pools of sin. 
 To draw a shining treasure from 
 
 their slimy depths within 
 You will gain no lasting pleasure, 
 
 but instead may mire therein 
 For men continue growing in the 
 
 way that they begin. 
 
 ALWAYS IN THE HOLE. 
 
 A bold young man one wintry day 
 Accompanied a lady to the West Cafe 
 But found his cash had slipped away 
 As the cashier showed him the bill to pay. 
 
 Chorus. 
 He's always in the hole, he's always in the hole; 
 He spills the beans and spends his roll, 
 He pays the price and takes his toll 
 Always in the hole, he's always in the hole. 
 
 This same young man one moonlight night 
 Accompanied a lady for a windward flight; 
 The engine balked and the aeroplane pitched 
 And down they went to a watery ditch. 
 
 He thought he'd try his luck one day 
 
 At a merry game of chance that two can play — 
 
 He threw his coin around so fast, 
 
 That he lost first and partner last. 
 
 -13- 
 
FALSE SOCIETY, 
 
 Many women true and kind 
 Of lofty purpose, noble mind 
 Perfect manners, well refined. 
 In society you'll find; 
 Women striving night and day 
 To help another on her way 
 Ever laboring indeed 
 To meet a sister' trying need. 
 
 But the straggler will get in 
 Bearing earmarks of her sin, 
 Looking this way, peeking that. 
 Shifting shoulders, tossing hat. 
 Sliding elbows from her side. 
 On her seat a gentle glide 
 That, unknown to sister s dear, 
 A worldly man she may draw near. 
 
 Her perfume odor and her paint 
 Nearly make the strong man faint; 
 And the length her skirts are made 
 Would indicate she s not afraid 
 That the worldly eye shall greet 
 The gaudy stockings on her feet 
 Or the gay silk lining's thread 
 Just above her forward tread. 
 
 A few women how they dress, 
 Seek their vanity to bless 
 And their form to half disguise 
 From the prying worldlings' eyes. 
 Women's mind and women's wit 
 Strive their pretty form to fit. 
 One-half expose and half conceal 
 Tighter than the orange peel. 
 —14— 
 
Gaudy skirts and shoes of tan, 
 To attract a worldly man 
 Toward her feet and lower part 
 Rather than her hand and heart. 
 Oh, the faithful hook and eye! 
 A yard of rope around her tie — 
 Almost cut herself in twain — 
 Attraction for a vulgar swain. 
 
 Will saints immortal tell us why 
 A woman opens half her eye 
 And blinks with many a side glance sly 
 As young and flashy men pass by? 
 Or slant her nose and curl her lips. 
 Twine her gown around her hips, 
 Slightly raise her hobble skirt 
 To imitate the common flirt? 
 
 Nature placed her eyes before 
 
 The bridge to view, 'ere she cross o'er. 
 
 Nature made her form to grow 
 
 Not to paint and squeeze for show. 
 
 Nature made her tongue to use 
 
 Not to slander and abuse. 
 
 But what of nature's poky plan 
 
 If she impress a worldly man? 
 
 Gabbling women, old and young, 
 
 Almost tear a leather lung 
 
 With their everlasting tongue 
 
 When gossip in their circle has been flung. 
 
 Gossip false and gossip fair, 
 
 Like the make-up of their hair — 
 
 The vilest slander, is sweet to taste, 
 
 A shame if aught should go to waste. 
 
 —15— 
 
See the tall man in the East 
 Speak and laugh at every feast; 
 Always walking in and out 
 Like the Devil's private scout 
 Seeking whom he may betray 
 Ere the dawning of the day, 
 By his squinty eyes that dance 
 Like the serpent's deadly trance. 
 
 Watch the patron of instruction 
 Lead the girls toward destruction — 
 That married man whose glances sly 
 Decoys Electa' s watchful eye. 
 See him wriggle in his chair, 
 Fix his collar, stroke his hair. 
 And with his ready handkerchief 
 Perform the signs of dire mischief. 
 
 Sly and still lest he betrays 
 The subtle message he conveys 
 To Electa, open-eyed the while. 
 The youthful maiden to beguile. 
 Vain and fickle foolish maiden 
 With wisdom ever lightly laden 
 Who, unmindful of her work and duty. 
 Thinks the fool admires her beauty. 
 
 Western Star, Oh what a shame, 
 To cloak such conduct with its name. 
 Flashy married man and w^ife 
 Girls portray the rudest life; — 
 Poor remnants of the stalwart kind 
 The Pilgrim fathers left behind — 
 False and wayward wandering Chowder 
 To blow him up would waste the powder. 
 
 ■16— 
 
And there's the man of innocence 
 Who's always short of common sense. 
 Weak in features, meek and mild, 
 Playful as a little child; 
 Of bounds his pleasure never know 
 When he is the center of the show^. 
 A friendly sort of man to meet 
 But simply busting with conceit. 
 
 Endowed with super-natural power 
 To learn his work in half an hour — 
 Mental marvel of creation, 
 In his own high estimation. 
 He'd better seek a surgeon's art 
 To test Lis mind and sound his heart 
 For brains grow soft and hearts are weak 
 When burdened down by so much cheek. 
 
 A wonder 'tis that skull retains 
 Such quantity of worthless brains. 
 Loudly laughs and silly talks. 
 And like the Peacock proudly walks, 
 Foolish women's pride and joy 
 Simple maiden's common toy 
 Happy, hollow, Charley boy. 
 Vain and fickle girlish Roy. 
 
 —17— 
 
SIR GEDDES. 
 
 When all the teachers of our State 
 In conference meet, their wits to mate, 
 A Royal Mission may possess 
 The right our teachers to address. 
 
 Amazing statement, yet it's true, 
 A high Ambassador sent to you; 
 A Mission from a Monarch's land, 
 Is sent to guide our teacher's hand. 
 
 For stronger proof we have no need 
 Of Britain's cunning, craft and greed; 
 Her statesmen now, no doubt, aspire 
 To guide our youth as they desire. 
 
 Convinced am I he seeks to sway. 
 Our teachers from America's w^ay, 
 And may I warn you each and all. 
 Be not deceived by Geddes' call. 
 
 To members of the Teachers' Association in 
 convention assembled, St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 4, 
 1920. 
 
 18— 
 
AMERICA FIRST. 
 
 In haughty England's yachting name 
 Sir Thomas Lipton proudly came 
 And challenge made to us again 
 To prove superior yacht and men. 
 
 United States at once displayed 
 The records that our seamen made 
 And quickly answered that **we will 
 Contest our strength with British skill." 
 
 The Skipper Burton and his crew. 
 Their pennant on the Shamrock flew 
 While Admiral Adams did prepare 
 The Resolute with tender care. 
 
 With friendly eyes the people greet 
 The sailing of the racing fleet; 
 And boats aglow with National pride 
 Prepare to sail the yachts beside. 
 
 But far beyond the mirthful thrills 
 The omen of approaching ills 
 And symbols of base hatred 
 Are often heard and clearly read. 
 
 Although in peace they say he came 
 111 chosen is his vessel's name 
 Since Ireland bears the smouldering fire 
 Of Centuries' oppression's ire. 
 
 —19— 
 
And if that fire bursts forth in flame, 
 The ravages of war to claim, 
 Proud England only reaps her own 
 From seeds her men of State have sown. 
 
 Go fling your pennant to the breeze. 
 For peaceful sport in Irish seas, 
 And to the new Republic send 
 Your challenge as an equal friend. 
 
 Did not Balfour and George proclaim. 
 And for the people proudly name 
 The rights to which they may aspire — 
 To make their laws as they desire? 
 
 For good or ill the seed was sown 
 The tempest blast may soon be blown 
 For surely will the people plead 
 Performance of the things agreed. 
 
 From Ireland's shore to India's realm 
 A hidden hand directs the helm 
 Of those stern vessels that demand 
 The people rule their own, their land. 
 
 Go bring from India's humble tombs 
 
 Ten million skeletons and bones 
 
 The victims of starvation pains. 
 
 To grace the Court where Edward reigns. 
 
 The British monumental claim 
 Would put the Pyramids to shame 
 If India's mighty towers were piled 
 With bones of every starved child. 
 
 ■20— 
 
Don't ask your rectors to engage 
 In prayer for increased daily wage 
 For fear employers might pay 
 An average of eight cents a day. 
 
 But ask your missionary throng 
 To chant the latest Indian song 
 And all the British tongue invite 
 To sing the chorus every night. 
 
 Indian Lullaby. 
 
 '*Safe in the arms of Balfour 
 Safe on his British breast 
 Dying of hunger and wounded 
 Safely my soul shall rest. 
 
 **Oh, the pangs of starvation and horror 
 Among our poor people may spread 
 But the British will rule us with **honor" 
 While millions are dying for bread. 
 
 **We were told that the God of the Christian 
 Had compassion for misery and pain 
 But the Lord of this British Dominion 
 Seems to hanker for commerce and gain. 
 
 **They may boast of the States they are making 
 And their aid to our suffering lent, 
 While the landlords are greedily taking 
 The seventy per cent for their rent. 
 
 —21- 
 
Perhaps too hastily I write 
 
 These visions of my mental flight 
 
 For on reflection, I confess, 
 
 The **British tongue'* they don't possess. 
 
 ill omen bears the hand of fate 
 In worlds where avarice and hate 
 With lust of conquest still remain 
 To fire the heart and wreck the brain. 
 
 Deep mystery veils the future years. 
 Which may be wrought with smiles or tears, 
 And darkness doth today defy 
 The human mind to prophecy. 
 
 Ill luled the hour when Wilson sped 
 The power of discontent ahead; 
 111 ruled the day when Allied art 
 Agreed to tear the world apart. 
 
 The power of discontent may grow 
 Until a deadly powerful foe 
 Of giant size and lightning speed 
 May rise to crush commercial greed. 
 
 The mighty spectre in the West 
 Is rousing from his century's rest 
 While in the East the Tiger's eye 
 Is startled by the Spectre's cry. 
 
 If these great forces shall combine 
 And move along a common line. 
 Return to seek a worthy prey 
 All monarch's crowns may melt away. 
 
 —22— 
 
Before six years were hardly past, 
 Since Russia's fate with hers was cast, 
 They turn and would destroy the men 
 Who saved you from destruction then. 
 
 When all but vanquished by attack 
 
 The British moaned * 'Russia come back**; 
 
 Poor Russia will her time abide 
 
 She may **come back" but on whose side? 
 
 By * 'peaceful blockade* they pretend 
 To aid their lately faithful friend. 
 From non-combatants, young and old. 
 The bread of life they would withhold. 
 
 Like jungle-bred carnivorous beast. 
 Returning from its bloody feast 
 A victor of the deadly strife 
 Devours the men who saved its life. 
 
 Are infant* s cries of no avail? 
 Are all unmoved by widow's wail? 
 The innocent and infirm must 
 Succumb to your commercial lust. 
 
 Is that the way the Savior fed 
 The multitude the loaves of bread? 
 Apply the Scriptures and refrain 
 From quoting from the Christ in vain. 
 
 Or sink your Bible in the sea. 
 
 And say *'no more am I in need of thee. 
 
 No rules within your pages bound 
 
 For starving innocent are found.** 
 
 —23— 
 
Your pious men of State may quote 
 The story that the Savior wrote — 
 **Give us this day our daily bread ' 
 Is often by your statesmen said. 
 
 While all about those halls I see 
 Dark symbols of hypocrisy, 
 Whose secret purposes would shame 
 To quote the words the Scriptures name. 
 
 **Give us this day our daily bread" 
 "But starve all others" might be said 
 If impulse that we plainly view 
 Were spoken by the mighty few. 
 
 The theme of Grace they utter w^ell 
 But underneath their cloak, their shell, 
 The deadly vipers of deceit 
 With selfishness and greed compete. 
 
 For cruelty a Lord may well 
 Compete with Beelzebub in hell 
 For surely Hell could never breed 
 A finer specimen of greed. 
 
 Hark! from London's dismal tower 
 The silence of the midnight hour 
 Seems broken by the dying moan 
 Of Edward's heirs to England's throne. 
 
 The infants torn from Mother's breast. 
 The murderers' story well suppressed, 
 In order that an infant, dead. 
 Could never rule in Henry's stead. 
 
 24- 
 
To sages and to men of thought 
 The history's pages always taught 
 To-day your warmest friend may be 
 Tomorrow's deadliest enemy. 
 
 Lord Wellington at Waterloo, 
 His watch before his vision drew 
 As British troops were put to flight, 
 And sighed aloud *'Blucher or Night." 
 
 No word did England utter then 
 Of cruelty of Prussian Men 
 But all her army deeply prayed 
 For Marshal Bluchers timely aid. 
 
 The Prussian skill and acumen, 
 Of Bluchers thirty thousand men 
 Escaping from the French Grouchy 
 Preserved the field that fatal day. 
 
 Arrived from Ligney's bloody slopes 
 They cheered the English dying hopes; 
 And Britains, Empire now is built 
 On blood that Marshal Blucher spilt. 
 
 Let Monarchists in France rehearse 
 Napoleon Bonapart's deadly curse 
 Upon the men, who in that hour. 
 Destroyed his world wide power. 
 
 And I have not the slightest doubt 
 In future years they'll turn about 
 And hurl damnation in our face 
 As they have done to Blucher' s grace. 
 
 —25- 
 
Indeed, I think the time is near. 
 For us to watch and ever fear 
 Those hidden purposes of State — 
 Our confidence to cultivate. 
 
 For he who seeks a confidant 
 On selfish motives may be bent, 
 And use his confidential air 
 The simple minded to ensnare. 
 
 A friendly contest we admire, 
 But underneath that sail and spire 
 A propaganda plan I see 
 Designed to gain our Sovereignty. 
 
 We hear of tales of former days; 
 We know the meaning of their ways 
 And think of loans that they may ask 
 With soldiers for their bloody task. 
 
 We well remember Benedict — 
 Whom British influence sadly tricked; 
 And if our histories they revise 
 No doubt they'll laud him to the skies. 
 
 And in their ways we now behold 
 Those self same policies of old — 
 A **League of Nations*' lofty seat 
 Was offered for a State's defeat. 
 
 As Satan on the mountain high 
 
 About him cast a greedy eye 
 
 And freely offered rich reward 
 
 To those who bowed and called him Lord, 
 
 —26— 
 
So from his pinnacle of State, 
 Embittered by a jealous hate 
 A worldly monarch deftly tries 
 To gain assistance by his lies. 
 
 Their undue influence they spread 
 About our men in college bred 
 When once a weaker minded pair 
 Was well within the Lordly lair. 
 
 They talk of Christian ties that bind 
 America to the master mind — 
 On that same theme do they depend 
 To hold their Eastern Ally friend? 
 
 To us they talk of Christian grace 
 While paganism they embrace 
 And offer China to beguile 
 The eastern graft and cunning wile. 
 
 Because our language is the same 
 Their propaganda agents claim 
 By special methods of their own 
 Our nation may be overthrown. 
 
 Did you hear Freeman advocate 
 A Sovereignty above our State 
 And invite those opposed to go 
 And live in distant Mexico? 
 
 What! think you the American mind, 
 Imbued with fairness to mankind 
 Will lend a sympathetic ear 
 To stories they encircle here? 
 
 —27- 
 
Of England's great and liberal laws. 
 Of wrongs endured without a cause 
 Of fancied ties that ought to bring 
 The world to bow beneath her King. 
 
 Because a common language speak 
 Must we forever vengeance reek 
 And economically oppress 
 All those who otherwise express? 
 
 Is that the grace that rector's read 
 Embodied in Apostles creed 
 Or is the real Satanic wile 
 Concealed beneath that docile smile. 
 
 When by the Pearly gate they stand, 
 And crave St. Mathew's welcome hand, 
 Think you the language they may speak 
 Will gain admission that they seek? 
 
 If language is the source of charm 
 To save the world from every harm 
 Perhaps the British Statesmen can 
 Adopt the language of Japan. 
 
 Oh, hypocrites of deepest dye 
 Whose actions doth their tongue belie 
 They talk to us of language charm 
 But in the air they don't disarm. 
 
 Perhaps their lack of logic can 
 Convince the thoughtless Englishman 
 But much of Northcliffe's printer's ink 
 Was never spread for those who think. 
 
 -28— 
 
With inward shame and deep chagrin 
 I read the web those sinners spin 
 And long deplored, that fate hath rung 
 Polution through the Mother tongue. 
 
 Take not Sir Geddes at his word 
 Reject the doctrines you have heard 
 And ask if England's language dear 
 To Ireland bears the boon of cheer? 
 
 A pity it is our statesmen drink 
 Such putrid sop without a blink 
 And pour the propaganda down 
 Without a question, thought or frown. 
 
 Who plans to rule the seven seas? 
 Who intrigues with the Japanese, 
 While dire designs are slyly made 
 To gain the deadly opium trade? . 
 
 Not long ago a Nation's life 
 Was wagered in a deadly strife 
 And England proudly made the boast 
 Of VICTORY for the Allied host. 
 
 But soon for aid Lord Balfour came. 
 And in the British Empire's name 
 Renounced the right, from foe or friend, 
 Her Empire's land or sea extend. 
 
 With every innocence he spoke 
 While underneath his martial cloak 
 Were secret treaties in his hand 
 Designed to conquer foreign land. 
 
 —29— 
 
When back to wall her army stood 
 Its banner bathed in British blood. 
 On bended knees they made appeal 
 For instant aid of * 'Yankee** steel. 
 
 And quickly to their side we went 
 And saved their Monarch*s crown unbent; 
 We spent our gold, we shed our blood 
 To stem defeat* s onrushing flood. 
 
 But when our strength was full in view, 
 Their pledges to the wind they threw; 
 Their gratitude was turned to greed 
 When '* Yankee* troops no more they need 
 
 To parliament Lloyd George may boast 
 **The next war of the Allied host. 
 Automatically will claim 
 Assistance in America* s name.** 
 
 Another war, our Allied friends 
 Then planned before the last one ends; 
 And on our shoulders placed the task 
 With no Congressional measures asked. 
 
 I pause a moment to explain 
 The meaning that his words contain. 
 By ** Automatically** is meant 
 Dumb motion void of all intent. 
 
 It means to take away our right 
 To judge the merits of their fight; 
 Must we forever to them give 
 Our right to reason and to live? 
 
 —30— 
 
Their stealthy statesmen lately try 
 Our Nation to their Kingdom tie; 
 And feign their Empire would embrace 
 The destinies of the human race. 
 
 They seek to own our daily press, 
 The local truth they would suppress 
 And British cables did abuse 
 Transmission of our foreign news. 
 
 Beneath the banner of the church 
 For worldly worth they always search. 
 And move the Rectors, when they can 
 To preach their propaganda plan. 
 
 Perhaps the Presbyterians may 
 At once the New York Banks repay 
 The three and twenty millions spent 
 In Inter-church World movement. 
 
 Our people all would like to know 
 How much of that was spent for show 
 And if a great, or smaller part 
 Has greased the propaganda cart. 
 
 They seek the right to rule our land. 
 Our Navy and our Arms command 
 And make us bear the obligations 
 Of all the Allied warring Nations. 
 
 Go search the Nations of the Earth, 
 From humblest lot to greatest worth, 
 And see if you, in ought can find, 
 Such avarice and insults combined. 
 
 -31— 
 
To war they say for justice went, 
 But soon on plunder they were bent 
 And on our sons the burden lay 
 To help the robber guard the prey. 
 
 And not content with conquest made 
 They seek again to whet their blade 
 And fasten economic* s clasp 
 Of all the world within their grasp. 
 
 Now that their scheme is well exposed 
 If former friends become their foes 
 No right have they to moan their lot 
 For they designed the worldly plot. 
 
 With England's sons we will contend 
 In peaceful sport a common friend 
 But our Old Glory won't go down 
 One inch beneath a Monarch's crown. 
 
 Go back and to your Monarch tell 
 The ** Yankees" sail their vessels well 
 Good students of the former thought 
 That Perry on Lake Erie taught. 
 
 Go back and on those palace walls 
 Observe the * 'hidden hand' that scrawls 
 * 'Deception, greed, commercial lust 
 Hath marked your Empire for the dust." 
 
 Let worldly Monarchs free their mind 
 For in this Nation they shall find 
 Ten million men whose life will give 
 To bid our Independence live. 
 
 -32— 
 
IRELAND. 
 
 Fair Ireland! within whose throbbing breast, 
 Tho marred by persecution and oppressed, 
 The fire of National Independence pride 
 Has smouldered long, but never died. 
 
 In this land of our Old Glory 
 
 We are hearing Ireland's story 
 
 Of her sorrow and her scenes of distress; 
 
 And we are praying all the while 
 
 For the dear old Emerald Isle 
 
 That our God in his mercy may bless. 
 
 There is a God on high above 
 
 Whom the Irish people love 
 
 And whose wrath the oppressor may fear; 
 
 Who has heard the orphans' cry 
 
 And has seen the faithful die, 
 
 By the side of the lone widow's tear. 
 
 And now we're striving for the hour 
 
 When the cruel tyrant's power 
 
 Will surrender to the free men and the brave, 
 
 The merits of her cause and the power to make 
 
 her laws, 
 Free and clear from the chains that enslave. 
 
 And the Irish hearts grow stronger 
 
 As they wait and suffer longer 
 
 For the freedom that in justice is their own; 
 
 And we will pray and strive together — 
 
 We will faint or falter never. 
 
 Until the object of their effort has been won. 
 
 —33— 
 
SNAKES IN IRELAND. 
 
 Snakes there were in Ireland 
 
 In the days along gone by 
 That must have come from London 
 
 By the poison in their eye; 
 They would never walk uprightly 
 
 But would always crawl along 
 To seek a filthy living by the 
 
 Lying of their tongue. 
 
 When Patrick saw them coming 
 
 Said he, **Follow in my track, 
 We'll seize a long shillelagh, boys 
 
 And drive the reptiles back; 
 And if we find a copperhead, 
 
 We'll call him Henry Eight 
 And send him back to London 
 
 There to take another mate. 
 
 From Dublin on to Galway 
 
 And along the way to Cork 
 St. Patrick and the Irish boys 
 
 Performed their faithful work; 
 And then they cleaned the Northern part, 
 
 As far as they could get. 
 But, from every indication. 
 
 There's a few remaining yet. 
 
 —Si— 
 
At last the snakes were driven out. 
 
 That is the kind that crawl, 
 But Ulster may a few contain, 
 
 That stand up straight and tall; 
 What tho, they crawl or stand erect 
 
 The purpose is the same 
 To over run the Isle of Green 
 
 And smear it all with shame. 
 
 And now they say, those Irish lads. 
 
 As Patrick said before, 
 **We'll seize a long shillelagh, boys 
 
 And drive them from the shore; 
 And if we find a wily one, 
 
 More crooked than the rest. 
 We'll send him to the House of Lords 
 
 A favorite Balfour guest/' 
 
 V •*• •»• 
 
 Snakes there are in tan and black. 
 And some have stripes around their back. 
 But when the snakes are in their nest 
 The John Bull snake may eat the rest. 
 
 THE DEMOCRATIC ASS. 
 
 Four years ago last fall 
 We heard a politician bawl 
 And thought that what he said 
 
 might possibly be true; 
 But beneath his outward gloss 
 His is the King of Double Cross 
 As sure as one and one 
 
 will equal two. 
 
 —35— 
 
But there is one thing worse than all 
 For Republicans to call 
 Upon the hollow sounding 
 
 propaganda brass, 
 While beneath the loyal lash 
 They keep a counting out the cash 
 Upon the British coated 
 
 Democratic Ass. 
 
 I would like to question **BiH" 
 About his gift in **Andy*s" will — 
 A million cents a year, 
 
 I think it said; 
 For I think I see the hand 
 Of the Democratic Band — 
 And we'll cheer for Cox and Wilson 
 
 When they're dead. 
 
 We have often heard it said 
 The Democratic party's dead, 
 Or no one cares to know 
 
 what it may be about; 
 But one thing I know well. 
 It will linger long in Hell, 
 Before I cast the line 
 
 to pull its carcass out. 
 
 36- 
 
LEAGUE OF NATIONS. 
 
 We are thankful for the son 
 
 From the State of Washington, 
 
 Among the six and thirty other faithful men; 
 
 And with Johnson in the ring 
 
 There'll be music for the King, 
 
 If Wilson tours America again. 
 
 There's La Follette, France and Borah, 
 Standing firm as Gibraltar, 
 They are men of moral courage 
 
 thru and thru; 
 And for reasoning profound 
 No better can be found. 
 So give them your support 
 
 in every thing they do. 
 
 And McCormick may be there, 
 
 He's a fighter true and fair, 
 
 Ever faithful to our Country and 
 
 It's Cause, 
 He can twist the tiger's tail 
 Till we hear his Lordly wail 
 With a pack of Northcliffe's 
 
 papers in his paws. 
 
 And our Democratic Reed, 
 To him we bid God Speed 
 And we'll shout for old Missouri 
 
 once again; 
 For we enjoy the fun 
 
 British statesmen on the run. 
 When he picked the Cecil bubble 
 with his pen. 
 
 37- 
 
If the Kingdom of Great Britain 
 Thinks our Senate has been smitten 
 By the draft of League of Nations 
 
 that Lord Cecil's agent drew, 
 It will find itself mistaken 
 And our Nation still unshaken 
 By the blast that Taft and Wilson 
 
 with their English bellows blew. 
 
 ALONE IN THE CITY TO-NIGHT. 
 
 In the home that we made, 
 
 By the old maple shade 
 
 In the days of our joy and our pride; 
 
 There a daughter one day 
 
 With her bright winning way 
 
 Came to live and grow up by our side. 
 
 How the years quickly pass. 
 
 Since our bright merry lass 
 
 With her sunshine and pleasure was home 
 
 Till the dawn of the day 
 
 When she turned far away 
 
 In the wicked and wide world to roam. 
 
 Now she's gone from the shade 
 
 Where in childhood she played 
 
 And has entered the world's wide gate; 
 
 And our hearts that were glad 
 
 Now are lonely and sad, 
 
 For we know that her danger is great. 
 
 —38— 
 
Is she lured by the light, 
 In the broad way so bright, 
 While alone in the city to-night? 
 May the teachings of truth 
 That she learned in her youth 
 Guide the girl in the city to-night. 
 
 Refrain 
 
 She's alone in the city 
 
 Alone in the city to-night; 
 
 Will she fall among evil companions 
 
 While alone in the city to-night? 
 
 Alone in the city, alone in the city to-night 
 
 Will she fall among evil companions 
 
 While alone in the city to-night? 
 
 SLEEP, DOLLY SLEEP. 
 
 Oh, Mamma, come help me! Oh, please do come 
 
 quick, 
 I fear that my dolly is going to be sick; 
 I wonder if dolly has pains in her head. 
 Her eyes are so big and her cheeks are so red. 
 
 She seems to be stupid and dumpish today, 
 She won't go to sleep, and I cant make her play. 
 I don't like to slap her or scold her, would you? 
 Are dollys like that with their teeth coming 
 
 through ? 
 Now be a nice dolly, till tea I prepare. 
 The tea for my dolly, I make with great care; 
 With ten drops of water and three crumbs Til 
 
 make it. 
 And season a little — perhaps she will take it. 
 
 —39— 
 
That's all she can have for a day and a night. 
 And then by tomorrow she may be all right. 
 The diet for dollys must always be light, 
 And dollys must never be up late at night. 
 
 I think ril undress her and put her to bed, 
 With heat at her feet and cool things at her head ; 
 And then by tomorrow if she should be worse, 
 I'll send for a doctor and have a trained nurse. 
 
 Refrain. 
 
 Close your eyes baby, and go to sleep now, 
 Birdlings have flown to their nest in the bough. 
 And baby, like birdlings, must lie down and rest. 
 When the Sun, thru the sky, disappears in the 
 
 West; 
 And then when the Sun, in the East may arise, 
 My baby, like birdlings, may open her eyes. 
 
 BRIGHT AUBURN HAIR, 
 
 I was informed that 
 
 In days long gone by, 
 A maiden was chosen 
 
 By the shade of her eye; 
 But now, as I listen, 
 
 I hear men declare, 
 A maiden is chosen 
 
 By the hue of her hair. 
 
 —40— 
 
No, none but the simple 
 
 Or foolish would choose 
 By the form of her bust 
 
 Or the size of her shoes; 
 In choosing a maiden 
 
 Use greatest of care, 
 For all will depend 
 
 On the hue of her hair. 
 
 Tresses of black. 
 
 Brown or golden might do 
 But rd choose the one 
 
 With the bright auburn hue; 
 You'll always be happy 
 
 And free from all care 
 If you get that girl 
 
 With the bright auburn hair. 
 
 Her manner is modest. 
 
 Her temper serene 
 She'll adorn any cottage 
 
 Or mansion as queen; 
 And if, in pleasure, 
 
 You wish to be led — 
 Her pace will be merry 
 
 If tresses are red. 
 
 Refrain. 
 Bright auburn hair. 
 
 Bright auburn hair — 
 Of all the crown jewels 
 
 That MonarcRs may wear. 
 For natural beauty. 
 
 Oh, what can compare, 
 To a yard and a half 
 
 Of that bright auburn hair. 
 
 41- 
 
THE GENIAL JEW. 
 
 When I was broke, and hungry too, 
 I'll tell you what 1 used to do, 
 rd pass by every friend I knew 
 Until I met that genial Jew. 
 
 Only a watch or a diamond ring 
 
 To the nearest broker you may bring. 
 
 Explain that ten or five will do 
 
 And see how quick he'll pull you thru. 
 
 If you've been out too late at night. 
 Or failed to win a campaign fight; 
 There's one thing left for you to do. 
 And that's consult a genial Jew. 
 
 The interest charges may be high. 
 From month to month as time goes by; 
 But a few cents interest, more or less. 
 Matters but little we must confess. 
 
 That genial Jew, though a kin to greed. 
 Is a mighty fine friend in time of need ; 
 He has helped me, he may help you. 
 Just call and meet that genial Jew. 
 
 42— 
 
THE MORRIS PLAN. 
 
 The Morris plan, the Morris plan — 
 To loan the coin to all they can; 
 The interest rate is six per cent, 
 With some expense when cash is lent. 
 
 Just take your note, that's all you need, 
 For honest men of modest greed — 
 It takes good men to run the risk. 
 Like Arthur Rogers Douglas Fisk. 
 
 The interest in advance they say, 
 
 Is just the way for you to pay; 
 
 Then call each week for one short year — 
 
 No harm or danger need you fear. 
 
 They'll look you up and mark you down. 
 And ascertain your place in town. 
 And ask the others if they think. 
 That City water is all you drink. 
 
 Just press the button, spell the ncime. 
 Of every friendship that you claim — 
 Too many signers can't be had 
 For they can't use a note that's bad. 
 
 The officers are fine gentlemen all, 
 A pleasure it is on them to call — 
 Of all the plans that I can see. 
 The Morris plan appeals to me. 
 
 —43— 
 
TRUTH. 
 
 In former days the mind of youth 
 Was taught to love and speak the truth, 
 But in these modern times, behold; 
 The truth gives way to thirst for gold. 
 Much business of the world, to me. 
 Seems branded by dishonesty; 
 Or may I say, in undertone. 
 They let the Lord protect His own. 
 
 In ancient days the bards have sung 
 
 The truth from many a martyr's tongue. 
 
 But now this money maddened race 
 
 Will seldom see, or hear thy grace. 
 
 A people's chieftain may, from day to day. 
 
 Expound the theories of his mystic way, 
 
 But when arrives the time to act his part 
 
 His visions take to wings and quickly do depart* 
 
 And when arrives the time to officers elect. 
 Our laws to make, our welfare to protect. 
 Campaign devices we listen to with ease. 
 Since made they are, the multitude to please; 
 But when too late, we startle with surprise. 
 To learn the candidate deceived confiding eyes. 
 His conduct gives his promises the lie 
 As tho a pledge he bore to both the **wet'* and 
 **dry". 
 
 Ah, me! When I approach that doleful day. 
 When these poor bones return to mouldering clay. 
 
No richer wreath, in parting may I crave, 
 
 Than that cold stone, which marks my lowly 
 
 grave. 
 This simple statement justly may proclaim. 
 Beneath the monumental lettering of my humble 
 
 name; 
 **ln strength or weakness, age or youth. 
 Whene'er he spoke he spoke the truth." 
 
 SATANIC OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 The Prince of Devils, in his den. 
 Bemoaned his lack of saintly men; 
 And pondered how his agents might 
 Ensnare more preachers in their flight. 
 
 At length to Earth he thought he*d go, 
 And view the places filled with woe. 
 To learn if fiendish agents well 
 Perform their services for Hell. 
 
 The Prince on Earth, though well aware. 
 That friends and foes might both be there, 
 With pleasure sought, as welcome guest. 
 The corridors of Hotel the West. 
 
 One hundred men, with features stern. 
 Prepared to listen and to learn. 
 About the banquet hall await. 
 The speakers' talk of Hell and hate. 
 
 *'What, ho!" said he, **1 do declare 
 My old friend Brown is speaking there; 
 I wonder if they called on Nome 
 To guide the drunken sinners home? 
 
 —45— 
 
**Of all the men about the town 
 I'd bet my crown on Nomie Brown; 
 He knows the ways and all the tricks 
 The church to mix in politics. 
 
 **But who sits next to my old friend? 
 A countenance I cannot commend; 
 I'll listen to the speech he utters 
 To see if it resembles Shutter's.*' 
 
 "And at the table's other end, 
 I see another sinner's friend; 
 Tall and lank, who slowly talks, 
 And bends knees before he walks. 
 
 'Tm not at all afraid of him. 
 
 He seems to lack religious vim, 
 
 But still the Plymouth church, I'm told, 
 
 A host of pharisees may hold. 
 
 **What sort of meeting can this be. 
 Conducted by these speakers three; 
 Has Brown embraced religion's art 
 Or do the preachers act his part? " 
 
 "It's safe to say these men will do 
 As my friend Brown directs them to; 
 But still the preachers used to frown 
 On things well known to Mr. Brown. 
 
 '*l guess I'll stand behind my friend — 
 My services to him may lend, 
 If those two preachers over there 
 Excell my Brown in pounding air. 
 
 —46- 
 
**The National Sanctity League, they say. 
 
 Will hold a banquet here today. 
 
 Oh, yes! now I remember well. 
 
 Their plans were made by me in hell.*' 
 
 Conceived in London, New York bred. 
 And by political dopsters fed 
 It Sallys forth with catchy name 
 On missions of deceit and shame. 
 
 **The franchise fight,** a whisper said, 
 **Is that where I devour the dead, 
 Or only a political thrust 
 Between the people and the trust?" 
 
 **It seems a few short weeks ago 
 They had a sort of **Franchise throw*' 
 When Doctor Pushbell left his pew 
 To aid the railway contract through.'* 
 
 No wonder that the strangers ask 
 The causes of the facial mask 
 And commend why his features bear 
 The mark of some peculiar care. 
 
 Ah, yes behind religions holy theme 
 A shadowy ghost is often seen; 
 A figure that for ages stood 
 Against its influence for good. 
 
 The stately Schutter, self-possessed. 
 The gaping crowd at first addressed; 
 In accents grand he did extol 
 The value of the human soul: 
 
 47— 
 
And in his liberal minded way 
 For all humanity would pray; 
 And recognized the people's right 
 To differ on the franchise fight. 
 
 But while the Courts of Heaven prepare 
 For all good souls to enter there; 
 The realms of glory, peace and bliss. 
 Were not designed for Socialists/* 
 
 **Let me suggest to my friend Brown 
 Be sure to mark that theory down 
 And don't permit a cleavage line 
 Between good Socialists and mine. 
 
 **How much of that will Dewey pass. 
 Before the sacramental glass? 
 He used to say, but may have lied, 
 That **Christ for all creation died.** 
 
 **But now his babbling accents can/t 
 About the Railway franchise grant; 
 I wonder if he needs the track 
 To haul a slippery deacon back? 
 
 **It*s well for me,** the Prince replied, 
 '*My faithful captains long have tried 
 To turn the preachers from their charge, 
 Enticed by worldly things at large. 
 
 **Now watch out Brown, your turn is next 
 Remember well your given text. 
 And neither commend nor abuse 
 The beverage that you used to use.'* 
 
 48— 
 
**The chances are that few men know 
 Who holds the preachers here in tow — 
 A sanctimonious smile or two 
 May pass you for a preacher too. 
 
 "Put on a meek religious air, 
 Pretending to be just and fair 
 But make the people plainly see 
 No wealth is made dishonestly. 
 
 **If you would gain a business end 
 CXitwardly you must all pretend 
 To serve the Lord, cuid lead the way. 
 For sinful men to kneel and pray. 
 
 **And when their guard away is cast. 
 And none at length recall your past, 
 Just slip your noose about the fools 
 And make them all your handy tools. 
 
 **Then curse the Socialistic creed, 
 As bent for Hell at highest speed: 
 The fiery blast they all shall feel 
 Because they spoiled the franchise deal. 
 
 **Oh, yes! good friend he knows the ways, 
 To gain for Hell its highest praise; 
 Just use a little worldly light 
 To draw the preachers from the right." 
 
 Then back to his secure abode 
 
 The Prince of devils proudly strode, 
 
 Slightly pausing to remark 
 
 "Those preachers are my easy mark." 
 
 —49— 
 
**If I can sway the preachers' art 
 From sinful souls, with bleeding heart, 
 To aiding franchises and trusts 
 ril trail their pulpits in the dust.'* 
 
 **ls Heavenly grace so thin 
 
 or poorly strained, 
 Or Rector's mind so weak 
 
 and loosely framed 
 That they, like humble workmen 
 
 must combine 
 To pray and preach their precepts 
 
 so divine? 
 
 "They say their saintly union 
 
 ought to be 
 Designed to rule through all 
 
 Eternity 
 
 What if a strike above should 
 
 be proclaimed. 
 Before the source of Grace Eternal 
 
 hath been drained? 
 
 THE BATTLE OF BALLOTS, 
 
 For four long year, our Ship of State, 
 Without a captain, mast or mate. 
 Has floundered in tempestuous seas 
 And drifted by each changing breeze. 
 
 We heard the Master's trumpet call 
 To * 'solemn referendum all" 
 From North to South, from East to West 
 To choose a Captain deemed the best. 
 
 —50— 
 
And freely was the answer made, 
 As foeman drew their ballot blade; 
 And never has our National Life 
 In graver danger waged a strife. 
 
 In distant lands the plot was made. 
 The tools were bought, the price was paid, 
 To haul Old Glory from its mast 
 By means of ignorant ballots cast. 
 
 With confident, yet anxious breath, 
 For National life or Freedom* s death, 
 The Independent force arose 
 And Internationalists exposed. 
 
 And thanks to God, whose guiding hand 
 Has often times preserved our land; 
 The Spirit born from Lexington 
 Proclaimed a mighty victory won. 
 
 And now to Harding we have turned. 
 From bitter lessons dearly learned. 
 And in his hand we place the power 
 To guide our craft in danger's hour. 
 
 We know temptations have not passed 
 And dangerous courses long may last. 
 But confident at first we feel 
 As Harding mans the steering wheel. 
 
 V V "jP 
 
 In dark oppression's lowly bower 
 Where hunger woke in midnight hour. 
 To wait a fairer happier morn. 
 Our theme of Liberty was born. 
 
 51- 
 
And from that humble day of birth 
 Where sorrow filled the place of mirth 
 Poor wanderers from their native home 
 Adopt a flag they call their own. 
 
 Which like the sturdy rising oak, 
 Tho smitten by the lightning stroke, 
 As tempests struck its towering form. 
 Withstood the fury of the storm. 
 
 And now must we in silence mock 
 
 The century it stood the shock 
 
 While plans in foreign lands are wrought 
 
 To lower the flag for which they fought? 
 
 V •*• •*• 
 
 The American Mother may fondly caress, 
 The infant reposing upon her proud breast. 
 While the statesmen of Europe are moulding 
 
 their chains 
 To fetter its form and encompass its brains. 
 
 V *I* •jf* 
 
 Dark rules the hand in want or wealth, 
 That forward moves in ways of stealth, 
 Toward the thing the heart hath yearned; 
 With price unoffered and unearned. 
 
 —52- 
 
THE TAGGING GAME. 
 
 Three gentlemen in Paris sat 
 
 around a table grand, 
 To play a game of worldly fame, 
 
 with an uncertain hand; 
 Said one man great **I hate to state 
 
 we're short a chap or two 
 **But then*' said he, **Leave that to me 
 
 I'll tell you w^hat w^e'll do. " 
 
 And as he spoke their silence broke 
 
 and all began to grin 
 We'll take the name of tagging game, 
 
 and bid the Chink come in. 
 We'll bid the Chink come in. 
 
 We'll bid the Chink come in 
 Let's take the name of tagging game, 
 
 and bid the Chink come in. 
 
 I'll deal a hand on Honor grand 
 
 and talk of purpose high 
 Until we come to the Shantung 
 
 then wink the other eye, 
 We'll all declare the game is fair, 
 
 till we are nearly through, 
 Then I'm inclined to think he'll find 
 
 we slightly clipped his queue. 
 
 Then one man said, **I lately read, 
 
 we ought to have a guest 
 Let's send the note that Balfour wrote 
 
 to Samuel in the West; 
 We'll ask his Grace to take his place 
 
 in Honor's game of tag, 
 
 Well greet the dear when he gets here 
 
 And let him hold the bag. 
 
 —53— 
 
And so he crossed the briny main 
 
 to turn a tagging trick 
 But when he struck the Paris pike 
 
 he nearly broke his pick; 
 And then said they "You please will pay*' 
 
 and all began to laugh 
 **Your purse is long, your hand was strong 
 
 but played it like a calf. 
 
 SCRAPS. 
 
 A fair maiden of summers sixteen. 
 Thought that she was society's queen. 
 
 So she painted her nose 
 
 And walked on her toes, 
 With an air that was all but serene. 
 
 •5? v •»• 
 
 Have you seen that old lady called Taft 
 And the way that Balfour must have laughed 
 
 As she traversed our land 
 
 With no League in her hand. 
 Like a frolicking bellowing calf? 
 
 V ^ v 
 
 A professor of one or two schools 
 Thought that he was the master of rules 
 
 But the British and French 
 
 At the world's repair bench 
 Pointed out his relation to fools. 
 
 •5t» v "p 
 
 A flashy young man they call Nimricks 
 Who writes for the Journal prize Limricks 
 
 Is a very poor poet — 
 
 The readers all know it. 
 For his meter is horribly mixed. 
 
 —54— 
 
VIRGINIA. 
 
 Lets stand on old Virginia s heights, 
 
 and view the vale below, 
 Where rivers winding in their course, 
 
 to the Atlantic flow; 
 And listen to the warbling brooks 
 
 which seemingly relate 
 The name that many presidents may 
 
 call their native State. 
 
 We grant to dear Virginia the 
 
 honorary claims 
 As **Mother of our Presidents" 
 
 to classify their names; 
 And as the list is thus compiled, 
 
 two form a strange contrast 
 The first is still the greatest, and 
 
 the least is near the last. 
 
 I lov^e to think of Washington, and 
 
 read his life's career 
 Of honor and of honesty, without a 
 
 thought of fear. 
 From Vernon on to Yorktown, where 
 
 heroes forward fell 
 To save our independence, that 
 
 Arnold tried to sell. 
 
 He bore the great temptations, all 
 
 through his National strife 
 For liberty and justice by its 
 
 independent life. 
 That future generations might 
 
 rightfully possess 
 A sovereignty for people, whom 
 
 other powers oppressed. 
 
 —55— 
 
Until the final chapter, when 
 
 Nature claimed her own 
 And beckoned his departure, for 
 
 distant realms unknown. 
 Most hoonred by all people, of 
 
 every creed and race. 
 Who love the truth immortal 
 
 and liberty embrace. 
 
 We see the mighty contrast 
 
 as Arnold in his day 
 Succumbed to foreign **honor" and 
 
 accepted British pay 
 To turn about on Washington; 
 
 attack his native land. 
 Enticed by praise and promises 
 
 and ofFered a command. 
 
 Just as the subtle Satan on 
 
 Judea's mountain wild, 
 Tried flattery and trickery to 
 
 snare the undefiled. 
 We hear the foreign temptor and 
 
 patriots are grieved 
 To see the dangerous offer by 
 
 other hands received. 
 
 I think I see a distant hand 
 
 attempt to subjugate 
 The National Sovereignty and grace 
 
 that made our Nation great, 
 I hail the kind of patriots 
 
 our first great hero led. 
 But at the name of Wilson I may 
 
 blush and bow the head. 
 
 56— 
 
I loathe to speak the name of him 
 
 who quickly soared on high, 
 To grasp the foreign spectacle 
 
 pre-eminent in the sky; 
 Till wounded by the shaft of truth, 
 
 precipitately he fell 
 Into the vile abyss of scorn, 
 
 far bitterer than hell. 
 
 And gcizing further we behold 
 
 Virginia's rising Sun, 
 Still beaming, as in former days 
 
 it shone on Washington; 
 And as I watch I wonder how 
 
 Heavenly planets red. 
 That nurtured infant Washington 
 
 affected Wilson's head. 
 
 It is a strange phenomenon I fail 
 
 to understand 
 Unless they are obedient to 
 
 Nature* s high command 
 Whose law hath long been written 
 
 ''impartially shall shine 
 On men of great distinction and on 
 
 things of every kind." 
 
 And peering closer I observe the 
 
 place where Lincoln stood. 
 When Blue and Grey the contest waged 
 
 thru deluges of blood. 
 Because that Southern rebel flag 
 
 of Longstreet, Hood and Lee, 
 Destruction wrought against the North 
 
 to bind humanity. 
 
 57 
 
And there among those rebel ranks 
 
 a chaplain calmly prayed, 
 That God, in his Almighty power, would 
 
 send those rebels aid; 
 He made no answ^er to that prayer, 
 
 but seeming to relent 
 He gave the rebel chaplain 
 
 a son for president. 
 
 But prayers the chaplain uttered 
 
 were heard beyond the sea, 
 An Empire that fought Washington 
 
 expressed her sympathy, 
 Until the Episcopalian pew, whence 
 
 Jefferson Davis fled. 
 Was forced again to recognize the 
 
 flag that free men led. 
 
 And now I pause to ponder if 
 
 satellites combined 
 About the rebel chaplain to mould 
 
 his infant's mind; 
 Or if, in awe, he listened to 
 
 Jefferson Davis' prayer 
 In St. Paul' Church of Richmond 
 
 and if he worshiped there. 
 
 But '*Mother of States and Statesmen" 
 
 may still our love retain. 
 Because she gave us Washington, despite 
 
 her later shame; 
 We may forgive her errors 
 
 and glory in her past 
 Provided that her latest will 
 
 surely be her last. 
 
 58 
 
INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Allen Joe 9 
 
 Alone in the City Tonight... 38 
 
 Always in the Hole 13 
 
 America First 19 
 
 Battle of Ballots 50 
 
 Bright Auburn Hair 40 
 
 Congress 1 1 
 
 Critic 5 
 
 False Society 1 4 
 
 Ireland 33 
 
 League of Nations 37 
 
 Miner* s Phantom 6 
 
 Public Opinion 4 
 
 Satinic Observations 45 
 
 Scraps 54 
 
 Sir Geddes 18 
 
 Sleep, Dolly, Sleep 39 
 
 Snakes in Ireland 34 
 
 Tagging Game 53 
 
 The Democratic Ass 35 
 
 The Genial Jew 42 
 
 The Morris Plan 43 
 
 The Journal 8 
 
 Truth 44 
 
 Virginia 55 
 
 Weary Footsteps 12 
 
"■"'"' °''°f ill