E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 22692-h.htm or 22692-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/6/9/22692/22692-h/22692-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/6/9/22692/22692-h.zip) RIPPLING RHYMES To Suit The Times All Sorts of Themes Embracin' Some Gay Some Sad Some not so Bad AS WRITTEN BY (Signature of) WALT MASON [Frontispiece: The Umpire] Chicago A. C. McClurg & Co. 1913 Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co. 1913 Published October, 1913 Copyrighted in Great Britain For permission to use copyright prose poems in this book thanks are extended to the editors and publishers of Harper's Magazine, Harper's Weekly, The Ladies' Home Journal, System, The Magazine of Business, The Popular Magazine, Collier's Weekly, The Smart Set Magazine, The American Magazine and Lippincott's Magazine. To GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS Who teaches poets how to win. And helps to make the glad world grin, And sticks to friends through thick and thin. ONE MOMENT, PLEASE! Walt Mason's poetry is in a class by itself. Although having the appearance of prose the rhythm is perfect and the philosophy that runs through his lines is illumined by an irresistible humor. There is a quaintness about his style that makes his writings a continuing delight. I began to read Walt twenty-five years ago and although he has drawn upon his intellectual store constantly for more than a quarter of a century the fountain of his genius still is flowing with undiminished volume and the waters are as pure as in the idealistic days of his youth. I have shared the satisfaction that his increasing fame has brought him and have encouraged him to publish this collection that his readers, now numbering people of many lands, may have permanent companionship with him. (Signature of) William Jennings Bryan CONTENTS Title _First Published in_