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Poem
March 18, 1880
Gold Hill Daily News
Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada
What is this article about?
Humorous narrative poem about a man who becomes increasingly frustrated trying to solve a puzzle box called 'gemafteen,' leading to violent outbursts and eventual mock-suicide. Attributed to Puzzled Poet.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
I sat and gazed with a placid mien,
And cheerful and confident smile,
At the little square box with the 'gemafteen,
And said he'd bet his pile
That he could anger it out right thar:
So he jumbled the blocks about.
And then he remarked, 'It's rimple, I swar,
And I reckon I'll work it out.'
So he tackled it sharp for an hour or more,
And his hands began through his hair,
As he jumped right up and tearfully swore,
And his eyes had a maniac's glare,
That he'd 'be dashed if the dad-blamed fool
That invented this game was here.
He'd smash his dad- dash, dashed skull,
And chaw off an end of his ear.'
But after another hot hour he'd flown,
The bead-drops 'gan to roll.
And he raved in way that, the people say,
Struck terror to each watching soul.
For-Thirteen-Fifteen-Fourteen-Alas!
Were all that he got for his pains;
So he frantically swallowed a poison glass,
And with a bullet he bored out his brains!
-Puzzled Poet.
And cheerful and confident smile,
At the little square box with the 'gemafteen,
And said he'd bet his pile
That he could anger it out right thar:
So he jumbled the blocks about.
And then he remarked, 'It's rimple, I swar,
And I reckon I'll work it out.'
So he tackled it sharp for an hour or more,
And his hands began through his hair,
As he jumped right up and tearfully swore,
And his eyes had a maniac's glare,
That he'd 'be dashed if the dad-blamed fool
That invented this game was here.
He'd smash his dad- dash, dashed skull,
And chaw off an end of his ear.'
But after another hot hour he'd flown,
The bead-drops 'gan to roll.
And he raved in way that, the people say,
Struck terror to each watching soul.
For-Thirteen-Fifteen-Fourteen-Alas!
Were all that he got for his pains;
So he frantically swallowed a poison glass,
And with a bullet he bored out his brains!
-Puzzled Poet.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Puzzle Frustration
Humorous Suicide
Game Anger
Puzzled Poet
What entities or persons were involved?
Puzzled Poet
Poem Details
Author
Puzzled Poet
Subject
Frustration With A Puzzle
Form / Style
Rhymed Narrative Verse
Key Lines
That He'd 'Be Dashed If The Dad Blamed Fool
That Invented This Game Was Here.
He'd Smash His Dad Dash, Dashed Skull,
And Chaw Off An End Of His Ear.'
So He Frantically Swallowed A Poison Glass,
And With A Bullet He Bored Out His Brains!