 | Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge |  |
113
MISS FLIP AT THE EXPOSITION.
Oh, Miss Flip of New York City lately went to see the show
That was held in gay St. Louis, this season, as you know;
And the things that damsel saw and heard, the things she learned and felt,
Would fill an anchorite with joy, or heart of Nero melt.
I heard her tell her dearest friend about it all one day,
And I beg to give the story in her own sweet girlish way.
That was held in gay St. Louis, this season, as you know;
And the things that damsel saw and heard, the things she learned and felt,
Would fill an anchorite with joy, or heart of Nero melt.
I heard her tell her dearest friend about it all one day,
And I beg to give the story in her own sweet girlish way.
“I saw, oh, Florence, lots of things! The trip was, oh, so fine!—
I wore my écru suit, my dear, with white-embroidered vine.
The loveliest machinery—so grand, you know; and then
'T was fun to see them working it—those earnest, dirty men.
My cavalier went wild with rage because I watched them so:
These nobby fellows always are so jealous, dear, you know.
The fine-art gallery, they say, is nice as it can be;
But, really, there was such a crowd, I didn 't try to see.
In the Japanese department I bought me such a fan!—
I wonder how they ever learned to make things in Japan.
And, oh! the way I rushed around, on foot, dear, and in chairs,
Was fearful, for in such a place 'most everybody stares.
I didn 't mind, because it 's only every hundred years
Centennials come, and no one cares how just one girl appears
(So uncle said). But one can't help one's feelings, after all,
When your feathers get so limpsy and your sleeves look crushed and small.
But it really is, when all is done, a satisfaction, dear,
To have seen the Exposition, and not seem green and queer.
And then, the silks and flowers, and summer things—oh, my!
They make you wild, because, you see, you always want to buy.
To see them does expand the mind, and give you new ideas:
I'm going to copy me a dress that 's shown by Madame Speers;
I'm going to get a new hat, too, made just like one I saw—
A perfect darling!—just a mass of roses, tulle, and straw!
I saw a real live Turk one day (but didn 't like to look),
All dressed in big red bloomers, like a picture in a book.
You need n't go abroad this year, for all the world is there;
And, really, I do feel as if I 'd been 'most everywhere.
There 's everything on earth to see—such jewelry and lace!
And all the buildings lit at night! It 's just the sweetest place!
We strolled into the restaurants, and had a heavenly time
With Mr. F--- and Harry B---, who really turned out prime.
Such lovely cream! although they charge outrageously, they say—
Which doesn't matter much to girls, as we don't have to pay.
You see the Alps and tropics, too, and every famous spot,
And I went all through “Creation”—though I 'd really rather not.
But oh, how fine the lagoons are!—they 're all shown in the book—
And the buildings are just splendid, though you have n't time to look.
And, do you know, it's not three years since work out there began!
Don't engineers and builders prove how wonderful is man?
Oh, the palaces and places where there was so much to learn!
But, as for that, I passed them all with perfect unconcern—
Because we girls of nowadays—well, you know how we do:
We learn so much we really feel as if we ought n't to.
Papa says it 's the greatest show the world has ever seen,
And he 's glad that we went early while the buildings were so clean.
But poor papa! the bills! the bills! Why, darling, as I live,
Your money just evaporates!—like water through a sieve.
Lord Darnkie made a splendid joke, one day, about the show;
He said—he said—well, I forget just what he said, you know.
But, really, he is droll at times—his views are, oh, so queer!
Once, when I asked him if he sang, he drawled: “I have no ee-ah!”
And Harry said a silly thing—he may have meant it, too!
He said: “You think those bracelets dear? they can't be dear as you!”
These witty men are always saying clever things to girls.
But when I think of all I said, my brain it really whirls.
And oh, those queer, outlandish sights you do see on the Pike,
Where all the people seem to do exactly as they like!
I walked and turned and twisted until I thought I 'd drop!
But now I 've talked you almost deaf, and it is time to stop.
Oh, mercy on us! I must go. But I'm glad I' ve seen the show,
And told you all about it, and the things you ought to know.”
I wore my écru suit, my dear, with white-embroidered vine.
114
'T was fun to see them working it—those earnest, dirty men.
My cavalier went wild with rage because I watched them so:
These nobby fellows always are so jealous, dear, you know.
The fine-art gallery, they say, is nice as it can be;
But, really, there was such a crowd, I didn 't try to see.
In the Japanese department I bought me such a fan!—
I wonder how they ever learned to make things in Japan.
And, oh! the way I rushed around, on foot, dear, and in chairs,
Was fearful, for in such a place 'most everybody stares.
I didn 't mind, because it 's only every hundred years
Centennials come, and no one cares how just one girl appears
(So uncle said). But one can't help one's feelings, after all,
When your feathers get so limpsy and your sleeves look crushed and small.
115
To have seen the Exposition, and not seem green and queer.
And then, the silks and flowers, and summer things—oh, my!
They make you wild, because, you see, you always want to buy.
To see them does expand the mind, and give you new ideas:
I'm going to copy me a dress that 's shown by Madame Speers;
I'm going to get a new hat, too, made just like one I saw—
A perfect darling!—just a mass of roses, tulle, and straw!
I saw a real live Turk one day (but didn 't like to look),
All dressed in big red bloomers, like a picture in a book.
You need n't go abroad this year, for all the world is there;
And, really, I do feel as if I 'd been 'most everywhere.
There 's everything on earth to see—such jewelry and lace!
116
We strolled into the restaurants, and had a heavenly time
With Mr. F--- and Harry B---, who really turned out prime.
Such lovely cream! although they charge outrageously, they say—
Which doesn't matter much to girls, as we don't have to pay.
You see the Alps and tropics, too, and every famous spot,
And I went all through “Creation”—though I 'd really rather not.
But oh, how fine the lagoons are!—they 're all shown in the book—
And the buildings are just splendid, though you have n't time to look.
And, do you know, it's not three years since work out there began!
Don't engineers and builders prove how wonderful is man?
117
But, as for that, I passed them all with perfect unconcern—
Because we girls of nowadays—well, you know how we do:
We learn so much we really feel as if we ought n't to.
Papa says it 's the greatest show the world has ever seen,
And he 's glad that we went early while the buildings were so clean.
But poor papa! the bills! the bills! Why, darling, as I live,
Your money just evaporates!—like water through a sieve.
Lord Darnkie made a splendid joke, one day, about the show;
He said—he said—well, I forget just what he said, you know.
But, really, he is droll at times—his views are, oh, so queer!
Once, when I asked him if he sang, he drawled: “I have no ee-ah!”
118
He said: “You think those bracelets dear? they can't be dear as you!”
These witty men are always saying clever things to girls.
But when I think of all I said, my brain it really whirls.
And oh, those queer, outlandish sights you do see on the Pike,
Where all the people seem to do exactly as they like!
I walked and turned and twisted until I thought I 'd drop!
But now I 've talked you almost deaf, and it is time to stop.
Oh, mercy on us! I must go. But I'm glad I' ve seen the show,
And told you all about it, and the things you ought to know.”
| Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge | |