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Poem
June 10, 1797
The Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
Satirical verse mocking the transient fashion of shoe buckles and ribbons, contrasting simple New England leather strings with British trends that cross the ocean and spread, urging modish folk to cease their folly.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
SACRED TO THE MUSES.
THE SHOE-STRING.
IN days of yore, New-England chiefs,
Content with simple things,
Begirt their handsome square-toe'd shoes
With lasting leather strings.
But British beaus, who then did wear
the buckle in the shoe,
Beheld our worthy sires with scorn,
And ridicul'd them too.
Well, Britain's sons the buckles try'd,
Through ev'ry size and form;
At last, they laid them all aside,
And strings their shoes adorn.
Not now, indeed, the leather string,
So ancient and so strong;.
But ribbon gay, with double bow,
How worthy of a song!
A fashion this, o mickle grand,
The ocean could not bar;
But soon some vessel from that land
Brought o'er the mode from far.
This mode full soon, as sure it ought,
From town to town did ring;
And ev'ry beau soon ty'd his shoe
With this exotic string.
This fashion long has been in vogue;
Twill soon be laid aside;
And what will next be introduc'd,
No prophet can decide.
Ye modish slaves, when will ye cease
To put the wise in pain?
Well, change your fashions as ye please,
It alters not
THE SHOE-STRING.
IN days of yore, New-England chiefs,
Content with simple things,
Begirt their handsome square-toe'd shoes
With lasting leather strings.
But British beaus, who then did wear
the buckle in the shoe,
Beheld our worthy sires with scorn,
And ridicul'd them too.
Well, Britain's sons the buckles try'd,
Through ev'ry size and form;
At last, they laid them all aside,
And strings their shoes adorn.
Not now, indeed, the leather string,
So ancient and so strong;.
But ribbon gay, with double bow,
How worthy of a song!
A fashion this, o mickle grand,
The ocean could not bar;
But soon some vessel from that land
Brought o'er the mode from far.
This mode full soon, as sure it ought,
From town to town did ring;
And ev'ry beau soon ty'd his shoe
With this exotic string.
This fashion long has been in vogue;
Twill soon be laid aside;
And what will next be introduc'd,
No prophet can decide.
Ye modish slaves, when will ye cease
To put the wise in pain?
Well, change your fashions as ye please,
It alters not
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Shoe String
Fashion
British Beaus
New England
Satire
Ribbons
Buckles
Poem Details
Title
The Shoe String.
Subject
On Changing Fashions In Shoe Strings
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
In Days Of Yore, New England Chiefs,
Content With Simple Things,
Begirt Their Handsome Square Toe'd Shoes
With Lasting Leather Strings.
Well, Britain's Sons The Buckles Try'd,
Through Ev'ry Size And Form;
At Last, They Laid Them All Aside,
And Strings Their Shoes Adorn.
Ye Modish Slaves, When Will Ye Cease
To Put The Wise In Pain?
Well, Change Your Fashions As Ye Please,
It Alters Not