(_From some hitherto Unpublished Correspondence._)
["Photographs of ladies' feet are now taken in New York as
_souvenirs_ for their admirers."--_Globe, Dec. 6._]
... It is real kind of you, dearest, to mail your own laddie those
half-dozen lovely photographs, or should I call them footographs? I
can't say right here which I like best--they're all just fetching,
anyway. You bet, I'll treasure them _some!_ I'll wear the midget
profile as a chest-protector right along, and put the full-foot
vignette under my pillow nights. And the three-quarter platino shall
go on my chimney rack--there's a considerable saucy look about the
big toe which I'm mashed on horrid. I guess you won't see such
a number-one instep as yours any time on these effete old London
side-walks. To look at the Britishers' foot-cases in Piccadilly makes
me tired, when I think of you any. I'll send views of mine soon in
exchange, but I reckon the naked truth might give you fits, so I'll
just sit with my rubbers on, and get the camera-man to map you off a
walking likeness of my right daisy-crusher. (My left is a trifle out
of focus.) Kind regards to you, Poppa....
* * * * *
[Illustration: A BLOODTHIRSTY BARITONE.
_Miss Maud._ "WON'T _YOU_ SING SOMETHING, MR. GREEN?"
_The Curate._ "I HAVEN'T BROUGHT MY MUSIC. BUT, IF YOU KNOW THE
ACCOMPANIMENT, AND WOULD PLAY IT, I THINK I COULD SING _'THE BRIGAND'S
REVENGE'!_"]
* * * * *
"AN OLD OFFENDER."
["It is impossible, we fear, to escape from the conclusion
that there is a substantial basis of fact for the rumours ...
of atrocities perpetrated by Turkish troops on the Christian
inhabitants of Armenia.... By one of the Articles of the
Treaty of Berlin the Porte undertook 'to carry out without
delay the improvements and reforms demanded by local
requirements in the provinces inhabited by the Armenians, and
to guarantee their security against the Circassians and the
Kurds.'"--_"Times" Leader, December 4._]
Again! Is there nothing can humanise ever
The heart of Islam, that red-ravening wolf?
Will bonds of convention and treaty bridge never
Between Turk and Christian the broadening gulf?
Will no lesson teach, and will no promise tether,
The Ottoman hordes when let loose on the foe?
Must slaughter, and rapine, and outrage together,
The old vile triumvirate, fetterless go?
Time's fool seems the Turk, stern, unteachable, savage,
The fiercest fool-fighter on history's roll.
All indolent rest or undisciplined ravage.
The varnish of manner soaks not to his soul.
Red Man of the Orient, ruthless, untamable,
Neighbour, by fortune, in nothing near kin.
Humanity's brotherhood surely is blameable,
Leaving him free from Law's bondage to win!
In sheer self-defence we must muzzle and shackle
This wolf of the world; snatch its poor prostrate prey
From its crimsoning fangs. The old cynical cackle
Of "coffee-house babble" is silent to-day;
And a weapon's at hand, too long left there unlifted,
That Law and that Justice alike now commend
To the grip of Europa. Be murder short-shrifted
And bestial outrage meet summary end!
Not again must hot Islamite hate be permitted
In chase of creed-vengeance the East to embroil;
Not again must its prey fall unaided, unpitied,
The Gallio's mock, and the miscreant's spoil.
_There_ hangs the good Berlin-blade, consecrated
By common agreement to Justice's work!
Be its blow not this time, as aforetime, belated!
Let Europe not bleed for the sin of the Turk!
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