The golden apple Paris gave
To the most beautiful,
To the fairest Aphrodite fell,
Although she had no pull.
She did not need to plead her cause,
Nor canvass, sue or beg;
She did not run her rivals down,
Nor pull her best friend's leg.
She stood in beauteous youthfulness,
Incarnate rose of love;
When Paris held the apple forth
She did not scrouge or shove.
Alas! our modern Venuses
Far different methods use
To gain the palm of loveliness
Whenever one we choose.
Towns, churches and societies
Now offer prizes rare
To one among the pretty girls
Who is adjudged most fair.
Our modern Venus hustles forth
And campaigns all the town,
And begs men to buy votes for her;
Smith, Johnson, Jones and Brown.
'Twas not thus Venus Victrix gained
The gift of Priam's son.
By beauty, not by begging, was
The golden apple won.
(_Houston Daily Post_, Sunday morning, May 3, 1896.)