[Illustration: “’TIS LOVE THAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND”] [Illustration: THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS] “FOREVER ——— NEVER NEVER ———FOREVER” Watches are of little use in Arcady, as the Lovers deem them always too slow or too fast, and usually forget to wind them, anyway. The town timepiece is the Old Clock on the Stairs, whose refrain is: _Forever—Never—_ _Never—Forever—_ Forever and Never are the units of time most employed by Arcadians, and their meanings are synonymous. Time when Lovers are separated is measured by ages; when together, it is not measured at all, as then the hours unheeded fly, or speed on winged feet. Sun dials and Moon dials are approved, as they mark the bright hours only. TIME’S VALENTINE ’Twas St. Valentine’s Day, and Father Time Said, “I think I’ll scribble a bit o’ rhyme, To send to the sweetest maid on earth.” And the old fellow chuckled in roguish mirth. He reached for his inkhorn and quill, then said, As he absently nodded his wise old head, “But what maiden is gentle and sweet and fine Enough to be my Valentine? There’s a musical girl in Kalamazoo,— But I hear she beats Time, so she won’t do; There’s a fair New York girl, proud and calm, But they say she kills Time without a qualm! A pretty clubwoman I saw one day, But ‘I won’t have Time,’ I heard her say. For one of those summer girls I yearn; But they declare they ‘have Time to burn.’ There are lovely girls in a Southern clime, But they sweetly admit that they waste Time, While the bustling woman, with manners curt, Takes Time by the forelock, and that does hurt. On the Boston maiden I make no claim, To improve Time seems to be her aim. And I heard an old spinster contriving a plan Say, ‘I’ll try to get Time as soon as I can.’ So none of these whom I’ve mentioned yet A Valentine from Time shall get. But I’ve in mind a maiden who, When a fond lover came to woo, Just blushed and hung down her pretty head, And ‘Give me Time!’ was all she said. By Cupid, that’s the maid for me! To her my Valentine shall be.” [Illustration: “SUN DIALS AND MOON DIALS ARE APPROVED, AS THEY MARK THE BRIGHT HOURS ONLY”] * * * * * CALENDAR: The Arcadian Calendar is entirely made up of Red-Letter Days. In the Spring the Young Man’s Fancy follows the vernal tradition. The Summer is entirely given over to the Summer Girl’s flirtations. In the Autumn a delicious Melancholy is in the air and Arcadians experience A feeling of sadness and longing That is not akin to wo; And resembles sorrow only As a Poet resembles a Poe. In Winter come the Halcyon Days, and all are glad and merry and Life is one grand, sweet song and dance. Many Fête Days are observed.