[Lines written for the Catalogue of the Royal Horticultural Society's Exhibition to be held at the Society's Hall in Vincent Square, on June 27, 28 and 29, for the benefit of the Red Cross.]
Think not that Earth unheeding lies Tranced by the summer's golden air, Indifferent, under azure skies, What blows of War her children bear.
She that has felt our tears like rain, And shared our wounds of body and soul, Gives of her flowers to ease our pain, Gives of her heart to make us whole.
"A Swiss cinematograph periodical learns that the hissing of the Kaiser's picture occurred decently at one of the largest cinema houses in Berlin."--_Glasgow Evening Times._
One of the few decent things the Prussians have done in this War.
[Illustration: _Recruiting Sergeant (to Brown)._ "ARE YOU IN A CONTROLLED ESTABLISHMENT?"
_Mrs. Brown._ "YES, HE IS--AND HAS BEEN FOR TWENTY YEARS."]
Essay-writing in my schooldays certainly was not my forte; "Lack of concentration" always figured in the term's report, And my undistinguished diction made my worthy master snort.
Now enlisted as an usher--so a freakish fate ordains-- I employ my best endeavours and the remnant of my brains Setting and correcting essays written by scholastic swains.
"Whether they derive advantage from this mental interplay, Modesty, if not misgiving, makes it hard for me to say, But I'm much inclined to fancy that it's just the other way.
Anyhow, from this experience I have learned a lot of things Hidden from the ken of scholars or Prime Ministers or Kings, Though revealed to youthful schoolboys lately freed from leading-strings.
On the relative importance of the classics, "maths," and "stinks"; On the charm of pink-hued ices, on the choice of gaseous drinks; On the special sort of sermon which induces forty winks;
On the various ways of pulling pompous seniors by the leg; On effective ways of bringing uppish juniors down a peg; On the scientific mode of blowing any kind of egg;
On the forms of condescension which the human boy insult; On the picture-palace mania, on the CHARLIE CHAPLIN cult; On the latest modern weapons which supplant the catapult--
On these elemental matters, and indeed on many more, I have now accumulated quite a valuable store Of instructive, entertaining and authoritative lore.