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Poem
December 12, 1893
The Mount Holly News
Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey
What is this article about?
Humorous satirical poem mocking Christian Science beliefs: a woman denies the reality of her body and pain while in a hammock, which breaks, causing her real injury and limp, contradicting her philosophy.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
She was a pretty Christian Scientist
"There is nothing real," said she,
Except the soul. My body is not real.
"And that's too bad," thought he.
"Pain is not real; this hammock is not real
Wherein you think I sit."
Lo! as she spoke the hammock's fastenings broke
And threw her out of it.
Full hard she bumped her immaterial form.
Who could but sympathize?
He begged that she would let a heretic
Pretend to help her rise.
Then, oh, the scorn of her rejection was
A something wholly real!
And, oh, the limp with which she walked away
Proclaimed that she could feel!
-Providence Journal
She was a pretty Christian Scientist
"There is nothing real," said she,
Except the soul. My body is not real.
"And that's too bad," thought he.
"Pain is not real; this hammock is not real
Wherein you think I sit."
Lo! as she spoke the hammock's fastenings broke
And threw her out of it.
Full hard she bumped her immaterial form.
Who could but sympathize?
He begged that she would let a heretic
Pretend to help her rise.
Then, oh, the scorn of her rejection was
A something wholly real!
And, oh, the limp with which she walked away
Proclaimed that she could feel!
-Providence Journal
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Christian Science
Satire
Hammock Fall
Immaterial Body
Real Pain
Heretic Help
What entities or persons were involved?
Providence Journal
Poem Details
Title
Christian Science.
Author
Providence Journal
Subject
Mocking Christian Science Beliefs
Key Lines
"There Is Nothing Real," Said She,
"Pain Is Not Real; This Hammock Is Not Real
Lo! As She Spoke The Hammock's Fastenings Broke
Then, Oh, The Scorn Of Her Rejection Was
And, Oh, The Limp With Which She Walked Away