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Poem
November 17, 1871
The True Northerner
Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan
What is this article about?
Satirical poem mocking the British Association for the Promotion of Science, presented at a dinner in Edinburgh, humorously depicting scientists as asses grazing on thistles and referencing biblical, astronomical, and evolutionary ideas.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The British Ass.
Read at a dinner given to a section of the British Association for the Promotion of Science, [Edinburgh.]
Some men go in for Science,
And some go in for Shams,
Some roar like hungry Lions.
And others bleat like Lambs:
But there's a Beast that at this Feast
Demands a special glass,
So let us bray, that long we may
Admire the British Ass!
On England's fragrant clover
This Beast delights to browse.
But sometimes he's a rover
To Scotland's broomy knowes;
For there he finds above all kinds
The Plant that doth surpass-
The Thistle rude-the sweetest food
That feeds the British Ass!
We've read in ancient story
How a great Assyrian swell
Came down from all his glory
With horned beasts to dwell.
If you would know how it happened so.
That a King should feed on grass.
In Section D. Department B.
He had joined the British Ass!
On Grecian senses charming
Fell the music of the spheres.
But voices more alarming
Salute our longer ears.
A swell profound doth now propound
How life did come to pass,
From world to world the seeds were hurled.
Whence sprung the British Ass!
In our wandering through Creation
We meet these burning stones,
That bring for propagation
The germs of Flesh and bones
And is it not a thrilling thought
That a huge, misguided mass
Will come some day to sweep away
Our dear old British Ass!
The child who knows his father
Has aye been reckoned wise,
But some of us would rather
Be saved that sweet surprise,
If it be true that when we view
A comely lad or lass,
We find the trace of the monkey's face
In the gaze of the British Ass!
Read at a dinner given to a section of the British Association for the Promotion of Science, [Edinburgh.]
Some men go in for Science,
And some go in for Shams,
Some roar like hungry Lions.
And others bleat like Lambs:
But there's a Beast that at this Feast
Demands a special glass,
So let us bray, that long we may
Admire the British Ass!
On England's fragrant clover
This Beast delights to browse.
But sometimes he's a rover
To Scotland's broomy knowes;
For there he finds above all kinds
The Plant that doth surpass-
The Thistle rude-the sweetest food
That feeds the British Ass!
We've read in ancient story
How a great Assyrian swell
Came down from all his glory
With horned beasts to dwell.
If you would know how it happened so.
That a King should feed on grass.
In Section D. Department B.
He had joined the British Ass!
On Grecian senses charming
Fell the music of the spheres.
But voices more alarming
Salute our longer ears.
A swell profound doth now propound
How life did come to pass,
From world to world the seeds were hurled.
Whence sprung the British Ass!
In our wandering through Creation
We meet these burning stones,
That bring for propagation
The germs of Flesh and bones
And is it not a thrilling thought
That a huge, misguided mass
Will come some day to sweep away
Our dear old British Ass!
The child who knows his father
Has aye been reckoned wise,
But some of us would rather
Be saved that sweet surprise,
If it be true that when we view
A comely lad or lass,
We find the trace of the monkey's face
In the gaze of the British Ass!
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
Science Progress
What keywords are associated?
British Ass
Science Satire
Edinburgh Dinner
British Association
Thistle
Evolution Monkey
Assyrian King
Poem Details
Title
The British Ass.
Subject
Read At A Dinner Given To A Section Of The British Association For The Promotion Of Science, [Edinburgh.]
Key Lines
So Let Us Bray, That Long We May
Admire The British Ass!
The Thistle Rude The Sweetest Food
That Feeds The British Ass!
In Section D. Department B.
He Had Joined The British Ass!
Whence Sprung The British Ass!
We Find The Trace Of The Monkey's Face
In The Gaze Of The British Ass!