[And here is a suggestion: Did you ever try dictating your stories or articles to the dictaphone for the first draft? I would be glad to have you come down and make the experiment.--From a shorthand reporter's circular letter.]
(As "The Ballad of the Tempest" would have to issue from the dictaphone to the stenographer)
_Begin each line with a capital. Indent alternate lines. Double space after each fourth line._
_We were crowded in the cabin comma Not a soul would dare to sleep dash comma It was midnight on the waters comma And a storm was on the deep period_
_Apostrophe Tis a fearful thing in capital Winter To be shattered by the blast comma And to hear the rattling trumpet Thunder colon quote capital Cut away the mast exclamation point close quote_
_So we shuddered there in silence comma dash For the stoutest held his breath comma While the hungry sea was roaring comma And the breakers talked with capital Death period_
_As thus we sat in darkness comma Each one busy with his prayers comma Quote We are lost exclamation point close quote the captain shouted comma As he staggered down the stairs period_
_But his little daughter whispered comma As she took his icy hand colon Quote Isn't capital God upon the ocean comma Just the same as on the land interrogation point close quote_
_Then we kissed the little maiden comma And we spake in better cheer comma And we anchored safe in harbor When the morn was shining clear period_
INSPIRED BY READING MR. KIPLING'S POEMS AS PRINTED IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS
Though earnest and industrious, I still am unillustrious; No papers empty purses Printing verses Such as mine. No lack of fame is chronicker Than that about my monicker; My verse is never cabled At a fabled Rate per line.
Still though the Halls Of Literature are closed To me a bard obscure I Have a consolation The Copyreaders crude and rough Can't monkey with my Humble stuff and change MY Punctuation.
Up goes the price of our bread-- Up goes the cost of our caking! People must ever be fed; Bakers must ever be baking. So, though our nerves may be quaking, Dumbly, in arrant despair, Pay we the crowd that is taking All that the traffic will bear.
Costly to sleep in a bed! Costlier yet to be waking! Costly for one who is wed! Ruinous for one who is raking! Tradespeople, ducking and draking, Charge you as much as they dare, Asking, without any faking, All that the traffic will bear.