FISCAL BALLADS.
Fiscal Ballads. By Harry Graham. (E. Arnold. ls. net.)— These ballads, which originally appeared, for the most part, in the Westminster Gazette, are very good. Indeed, we cannot remember any recent example of political truths expressed with such exactness as well as spirit in humorous verse. The fun is as good as the argument. The family bickerings which would be sure to follow from a system of binding the Empire together by a Preferential system are set forth with admirable humour, and also with real penetration and insight into the political situation. Unfortunately, we have not space to quote the whole of this poem, and will not spoil it by extracts. Here, however, are some stanzas on " British Trade," which are almost as amusing :— " Oh, why was I born a English lad, In a island all shut in by sea ?
Wot s much better chance I might 'aye 'ad
If rd only been ' made in Germane' Oh, why was I thus unwilling 'urled
On the blooming • dust-'eap o' the world' ?
No doubt as the German artisan Don't get very much in the matter o' pay ; But 'e works on the seven-days-weekly pUu,
With a haverage thirteen hours a day. An' 'a 'omit no time for to sit an' think, Nor money enough to take to drink !
• • • • • • • • • • To my London 'ome I71 say good-bye,
For I 'won't no use for a open port, Where the workin' wage is a deal too 'igh, An' the workin' hours is far too short ; Where a workize•man 'as time to sleep, An food's to be 'ad so rotten cheap.
With none o' them lazy English ways, Where there ain't no money or time to waste On ridielons beans' an' olidays ; An' the workin' classes can just contrive To earn sufficient to keep alive.
. . . . ......
When I gets back 'ome of a Sunday night, With a supper o' nice black bread to eat, Tll'ace such a 'ealthy appetite,
I never won't need no butcher's meat ; For 'unger, o' course, is the finest sauce,
When you're swollerin' sausages made of 'orse I" Of this admirable little book we will only say, in conclusion, that it will amuse and delight even those who had imagined that nothing more worth reading could possibly be printed on the Fiscal question. We would strongly urge such persons to invest a shilling in Fiscal Ballads, for wo are confident they will not be disappointed. If the Free-trade organisations are wise, they will seek leave to reprint selections from them in leaflets which can be circulated by the million.
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