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Literary October 26, 1825

The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts

What is this article about?

A satirical poem from the London New Monthly Magazine contrasting two sisters: intellectual Gertrude, versed in philosophy, geology, and religion, and frivolous Emma, focused on balls and music, who ultimately marries while Gertrude remains unmarried.

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OCR Quality

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Full Text

[From the London New Monthly Magazine.]

THE TWO SISTERS.

Born of a widow tall and dark,
Whose head-piece ne'er at whist errs;
Where York-Gate guards the Regent's Park;
There dwelt two loving Sisters.
Gertrude, e'er twelve years old, would quote
John Locke, and took to wisdom:
Emma (I happen well to know't)
On all such topics is dumb.
The stars that gem yon vaulted dome
Are swept by Gertrude's bosom;
Emma, unless when driving home
From Almack's, never sees 'em.
Gertrude o'er Werner's Scale will run
Slate, limestone, quartz, and granite,
And name the strata, one by one,
That coat our zig-zag planet.
But Emma, bent on ball or rout,
Soon of such converse weary is;
And even nothing knows about
The Oo-litic Series.
Gertrude, unmov'd by doubt a jot,
Knows, from the 'Sketch' of Evans,
What dwarfs in faith descend, and what
Tall Titans scale the heavens.
The grand piano Emma greets
With fingers light and plastic;
But never, like her sister, beats
The drum ecclesiastic.
That, dipp'd in blue, with lofty air
Men's would be Queen's discovers:
This, dress'd in white, seems not to care
If men prove foes or lovers.
'Twixt sense and folly free to choose,
So different, so unequal,
Can men dwell long in doubt? My Muse
With wonder sings the sequel!
Darts oft times fly of merit wide—
(So wills the purblind urchin)
Emma, light Emma, blooms a bride,
And Gertrude fades a virgin!

What sub-type of article is it?

Poem Satire

What themes does it cover?

Social Manners Love Romance Moral Virtue

What keywords are associated?

Two Sisters Intellect Vs Frivolity Marriage Satire Regents Park Geology Society Balls

Literary Details

Title

The Two Sisters.

Key Lines

Born Of A Widow Tall And Dark, Whose Head Piece Ne'er At Whist Errs; Where York Gate Guards The Regent's Park; There Dwelt Two Loving Sisters. 'Twixt Sense And Folly Free To Choose, So Different, So Unequal, Can Men Dwell Long In Doubt? My Muse With Wonder Sings The Sequel! Darts Oft Times Fly Of Merit Wide— (So Wills The Purblind Urchin) Emma, Light Emma, Blooms A Bride, And Gertrude Fades A Virgin!

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