Classic Poem

CHURCH Street wears ever a smile, from having watched bright belles
Coming home with young men, after balls, " at all hours. "
Its villas don't mind; they say, " Go it, young swells,
We've been young, too! " But Ebenezer Street glowers.

Chapel deacons live here, with side whiskers and pompous wives,
Who play hymns on Sundays, and deeply deplore sinful acts.
They're convinced that their neighbors lead scandalous private lives;
" That you and I ought to be shot, " if one knew all the facts. "

Goreham Street's sad. Here lives old Jones the poet —
He knew Swinburne and Watts, and has letters from " dear Charlie Keene. "
Loo Isaacs lives here as well, and poor Captain Jowett:
And the " Goreham Street Murder " was over at number thirteen.

Now George Street (E. C.) strikes a cheerful and strenuous note;
It is full of live men of business, of 'buses and noise;
Of Surbiton gents, very sleek, in top-hat and fur coat;
And earnest young clerks who perspire, and take classes for boys.

But Audley Street has a calm and a gently fastidious air!
Here I shall live when I'm rich, with my wife and my car:
When we are pleased, we'll never shout nor ruffle our hair,
And a lift of the eyebrow will show how annoyed we are.

This is where life is lived nobly and sweetly and well:
Here are beauty, all hardly-won things, and courage and love.
Why people worship the slums and the poor so, I can never tell,
For it's virtue and baths and good cooking go hand in glove!