On History’s thrilling page he met With Romeo and Juliet, Brave Aucassin and Nicolette, And other hearts devoted. Then in Astronomy he found What ’tis that makes the world go round, And why the moon is so renowned, And shooting stars are noted. In Grammar Cupid had to say “I love, thou lov’st, he loves,” each day, And learn of hearts declined, that they Can still be conjugated. He studied the Industrial Arts, Became adept at mending hearts, Right skilfully he fashioned darts, And wondrous love-knots plaited. A Magic course he had to take, And for sad hearts that ache or break Love-philters strange he learned to make From musk and myrrh and myrtle. He studied deeply souls that yearned, Investigated hearts that burned, And all the tricks and habits learned Of doves, both ring and turtle. And so Dan Cupid is no fool, But he’s well versed in love and rule, Although he never went to school And never went to college. He’s blind, and yet the rogue can see A thousand times as well as we; And that’s how Cupid comes to be A Paragon of Knowledge. POLITICAL NOTES Arcady is an Absolute Monarchy. It is under Home Rule, and Home is where the Heart is. Each citizen is a King or Queen, and rules one subject. Any Monarch may be deposed suddenly and supplanted by another. Beside being a Monarch each citizen is a slave, and thus the balance of power is preserved. The Declaration of Dependence is signed by all good Arcadians. ARCADIAN LAWS Be sure you’re right then lose your head. A fool and his money are soon married. A little debutante is a dangerous thing. Proposals make cowards of us all. There’s no fool like a bold fool. The longest way round is the sweetest way home. One good kiss deserves another. ’Tis love that makes the man come round. Kisses speak louder than words. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t hold hands. The woman who deliberates is won. Where there’s a will there’s a wedding. COSTUMES There is a tradition of Arcadian simplicity in dress, but it is not always observed. The men, unless Poets, are often most careful dressers, and the women deck themselves in whatever garb they deem most attractive to men. White muslin with blue ribbons is a popular costume, and “some sort of white, shimmering stuff” is much used for gowns. Some women are clever enough to please the men by wearing all black or all white, and the hats are invariably large black ones or broad-leafed, rose-decked straws. Sunshades, fans, floating scarfs, and many coy adjuncts or fripperies of dress are seen, and flowers are much worn or carried. THEN AND NOW