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Poem
February 3, 1880
Oxford Democrat
Paris, South Paris, Oxford County, Maine
What is this article about?
A satirical poem by John B. Gough mocking opposition to temperance, sarcastically questioning why deprive a poor man of beer and instead provide him with better food, housing, education, and family welfare to avoid poverty and vice.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE POOR MAN AND HIS BEER.
BY JOHN B. GOUGH.
What! rob a poor man of his beer.
And give him good victuals instead?—
Your heart's very hard, sir, I fear,
Or else you are soft in the head.
What! rob a poor man of his mug.
And give him a house of his own.
With kitchen and parlor so snug?—
'Tis enough to draw tears from a stone.
What! rob a poor man of his glass,
And teach him to read and to write?
What! save him from being an ass?
Tis nothing but malice and spite.
What! rob a poor man of his ale,
And prevent him from beating his wife,
From being locked up in jail,
With penal employment for life?
What! rob a poor man of his beer,
And keep him from starving his child?
It makes one feel awful queer,
And I'll thank you to draw it more mild.
BY JOHN B. GOUGH.
What! rob a poor man of his beer.
And give him good victuals instead?—
Your heart's very hard, sir, I fear,
Or else you are soft in the head.
What! rob a poor man of his mug.
And give him a house of his own.
With kitchen and parlor so snug?—
'Tis enough to draw tears from a stone.
What! rob a poor man of his glass,
And teach him to read and to write?
What! save him from being an ass?
Tis nothing but malice and spite.
What! rob a poor man of his ale,
And prevent him from beating his wife,
From being locked up in jail,
With penal employment for life?
What! rob a poor man of his beer,
And keep him from starving his child?
It makes one feel awful queer,
And I'll thank you to draw it more mild.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Temperance Moderation
Satire Society
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Poor Man
Beer
Temperance
Satire
Sobriety
Moral Reform
What entities or persons were involved?
By John B. Gough.
Poem Details
Title
The Poor Man And His Beer.
Author
By John B. Gough.
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
What! Rob A Poor Man Of His Beer.
And Give Him Good Victuals Instead?
What! Rob A Poor Man Of His Mug.
And Give Him A House Of His Own.
What! Rob A Poor Man Of His Beer,
And Keep Him From Starving His Child?