Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
June 1, 1836
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Satirical poem by Fitz-Greene Halleck critiquing the social repercussions of snubbing or 'cutting' less desirable acquaintances, especially women, in polite society, advocating civility to avoid scandal.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
From the New York Mirror.
CUTTING.
[By Fitz Greene Halleck,]
The world is not a perfect one.
All women are not wise or pretty,
All that are willing are not won—
More's the pity—more's the pity!
Playing wall-flower's rather flat,
L'Allegro of Penseroso—
Not that women care for that—
Cut oh! they hate the slighting beau so
Delia says my dancing's bad—
She's found it out since I have cut her;
She says wit I never had—
I said she "smelt of bread and butter."
Mrs Milton coldly bows—
I did not think her baby "cunning;"
Gertrude says I've little "nous"—
I'm tired of her atrocious punning
Tom's wife says my taste is vile—
I condemned her macarony :
Miss McLush, my flirt awhile,
Hates me—I preferred her crony :
Isabella, Sarah Anne,
Fat Estella, and one other,
Call me an immoral man—
I have cut their drinking brother.
Thus it is—be only civil—
Dance with stupid short and tall—
Know no line 'twixt saint and devil—
Spend your wit on fools and all—
Simper with the milk and water—
Suffer bores and talk of caps—
Trot out people's awkward daughters—
You may scandal'scape—perhaps!
But prefer the wise and pretty—
Pass Reserve to dance with Wit
Let the slight be e'er so petty,
Pride will never pardon it.
Woman never yet refused
Virtues to a seeming wooer—
Woman never yet abused
Him who had been civil to her
CUTTING.
[By Fitz Greene Halleck,]
The world is not a perfect one.
All women are not wise or pretty,
All that are willing are not won—
More's the pity—more's the pity!
Playing wall-flower's rather flat,
L'Allegro of Penseroso—
Not that women care for that—
Cut oh! they hate the slighting beau so
Delia says my dancing's bad—
She's found it out since I have cut her;
She says wit I never had—
I said she "smelt of bread and butter."
Mrs Milton coldly bows—
I did not think her baby "cunning;"
Gertrude says I've little "nous"—
I'm tired of her atrocious punning
Tom's wife says my taste is vile—
I condemned her macarony :
Miss McLush, my flirt awhile,
Hates me—I preferred her crony :
Isabella, Sarah Anne,
Fat Estella, and one other,
Call me an immoral man—
I have cut their drinking brother.
Thus it is—be only civil—
Dance with stupid short and tall—
Know no line 'twixt saint and devil—
Spend your wit on fools and all—
Simper with the milk and water—
Suffer bores and talk of caps—
Trot out people's awkward daughters—
You may scandal'scape—perhaps!
But prefer the wise and pretty—
Pass Reserve to dance with Wit
Let the slight be e'er so petty,
Pride will never pardon it.
Woman never yet refused
Virtues to a seeming wooer—
Woman never yet abused
Him who had been civil to her
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Social Satire
Cutting
Civility
Dance
Women
Pride
Scandal
What entities or persons were involved?
By Fitz Greene Halleck
Literary Details
Title
Cutting
Author
By Fitz Greene Halleck
Key Lines
The World Is Not A Perfect One.
All Women Are Not Wise Or Pretty,
All That Are Willing Are Not Won—
More's The Pity—More's The Pity!
But Prefer The Wise And Pretty—
Pass Reserve To Dance With Wit
Let The Slight Be E'er So Petty,
Pride Will Never Pardon It.