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Poem
July 17, 1902
The Monmouth Inquirer
Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey
What is this article about?
A child questions Grandma Gruff's rule that boys may whistle but girls must sing, seeking reasons from father, who calls girls 'singular,' leading to laughter and a teasing response about future whistling.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
the reason.
Grandma Gruff said a curious thing: "Boys may whistle, but girls must sing;" That's the very thing I heard her say, To Kate, no longer than yesterday. "Boys may whistle." Of course they may. If they pucker their lips the proper way, But for the life of me I can't see Why Kate can't whistle as well as me. "Boys may whistle, but girls must sing;" Now I call that a curious thing. If boys can whistle, why can't girls, too? It's the easiest thing in the world to do. So if the boys can whistle and do it well Why can't girls-will somebody tell? Why can't they do what a boy can do? That is the thing I should like to know. I went to father, and asked him why Girls couldn't whistle as well as I; And he said, "The reason that girls must sing Is because a girl's a singular thing." And grandma laughed till I knew she had an ache When I said I thought it all a mistake. "Never mind, little man," I heard her say, "They will make you whistle enough some day."
Grandma Gruff said a curious thing: "Boys may whistle, but girls must sing;" That's the very thing I heard her say, To Kate, no longer than yesterday. "Boys may whistle." Of course they may. If they pucker their lips the proper way, But for the life of me I can't see Why Kate can't whistle as well as me. "Boys may whistle, but girls must sing;" Now I call that a curious thing. If boys can whistle, why can't girls, too? It's the easiest thing in the world to do. So if the boys can whistle and do it well Why can't girls-will somebody tell? Why can't they do what a boy can do? That is the thing I should like to know. I went to father, and asked him why Girls couldn't whistle as well as I; And he said, "The reason that girls must sing Is because a girl's a singular thing." And grandma laughed till I knew she had an ache When I said I thought it all a mistake. "Never mind, little man," I heard her say, "They will make you whistle enough some day."
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Song
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Boys Whistling
Girls Singing
Gender Norms
Grandma Gruff
Curious Thing
Poem Details
Title
The Reason.
Subject
Questioning Why Girls Must Sing While Boys May Whistle
Form / Style
Rhymed Verses
Key Lines
"Boys May Whistle, But Girls Must Sing;"
"The Reason That Girls Must Sing Is Because A Girl's A Singular Thing."
"Never Mind, Little Man," I Heard Her Say, "They Will Make You Whistle Enough Some Day."