For when they were commanded To pass a Franchise Bill, They bade a tyrant Premier Inquire the nation’s will. John Bright may rant like Rabshakeh, And Rogers vent his sneers; Let’s praise their pluck, and wish them luck, The British House of Peers. _The Morning Post._ August, 1884. ―――― THE ASTON RIOT. (_During the Birmingham Election in 1884._) Some talk of Alexander, And some of Hercules, But Chamberlain’s commander Far, bigger far than these; For he commands at his demands, A power rather tough; In the vulgar shape of that beastly ape The blackguard Brummy Rough! _Chorus_――With a blackguard Brum, And a Brummy black, And a blackguard Brummy Rough! The Radical of Brummagem Possesseth strength to bray, With his beery mouth and black pipe stem, In a beastly sort of way; But we’d never known how bad he’s grown, Had he not shown such stuff At the Aston storm, in his proper form, As the blackguard Brummy Rough! _Chorus_――With a blackguard Brum, And a Brummy black, And a blackguard Brummy Rough! * * * * * _England._ October, 1884. ―――― “THE SONG OF MRS. JENNY GEDDES. (_Tune_――’British Grenadiers.’) “Some praise the fair Queen Mary, and some the good Queen Bess, And some the wise Aspasia, beloved by Pericles; But o’er all the world’s brave women there’s one that bears the rule, The valiant Jenny Geddes that flung the four-legged stool. _With a row-dow――at them now!――Jenny fling the stool!_ “’Twas the twenty-third of July, in the sixteen thirty-seven, On Sabbath morn from high St. Giles’, the solemn peal was given; King Charles had sworn that Scottish men should pray by printed rule: He sent a book, but never dreamt of danger from a stool. _With a row-dow――yes, I trow!――there’s danger in a stool!_ “The Council and the Judges with ermined pomp elate, The Provost and the Bailies in gold and crimson state, Fair-silken vested ladies, grave Doctors of the school, Were there to please the King, and learn the virtue of a stool. _With a row-dow――yes, I trow!――there’s virtue in a stool!_ “The Bishop and the Dean came wi’ mickle gravity, Right smooth and sleek, but lordly pride was lurking in their e’e; Their full lawn sleeves were blown and big, like seals in briny pool; They bore a book, but little thought they soon should feel a stool. _With a row-dow――yes, I trow!――they’ll feel a four-legged stool!_