Is she more frail, less fair, that perfect pearl
Of Singing Girls, Xipangu's great'st of glories?
Knocks her nice little flat nose on the floor,
In Japanese politeness, my "Half Jewel."
ALGERNON's nymphs, in song or in _amour_
Are always coarse and generally cruel.
"_Pearls of the Faith_," is a most pious work,
Although AL-MUTAHALI is the stringer.
But only he who hates "The Unspeakable Turk,"
On _that_ account would blame the Christian singer!
"Lotus and Jewel!" Doesn't that sound nice?
My mild Jap Muse _may_ be a roguey-poguey;
But there's no stimulus to pleasant vice
About a holy Brahman or chaste Yogi.
"Land of the Rising Sun," delightful "Third
Kingdom of Merry Dreams," of you I'm amorous.
Must _that_ exclude me from the Wreath? Absurd!
I'm prettily pious, and I'm gently glamorous.
My Knighthood proves that I am quite O.K.,
My dear _D.T._ will answer for my morals;
I'm steeped in Sanscrit lore, and so must say
I can't see why I should not wear the laurels!
"Quite so," said _Punch_. "I like your rhyme--and cheek;
Still, there be others yet to hear--next week!"
* * * * *
[Illustration: AN ILL-DIGESTED LESSON.
_The Governess_. "And now, what is a Parable, Effie?"
_Effie_ (_who has got rather muddled_).
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