Smyrna times., 1886-08-25
For the SmyrHd Tim
Ill Luck of Peter Flopper.

Peter Flopper Esq, printer is he,
He went down the state, the purpose, you see,
TO found newspaper in Delaware place,
Which with any and all should keep II apaCe,
And with hopes in the venture and money OH
loan,
He staked on it brains, and muscle, and bone
In the start Peter FlOpper was puzzled 10 know
The kind of paper he best could make go:
A strong partisan all the days Of his life,
Peter said TO his friends and he said TO his wife,
That his newspaper venture only should preach,
The same he had ever endeavOred to teach.
But Peter fact TO discover was grieved
And many sigh from his bosom was heaved,
That the foe outnumbered the party of choice,
And if against them he should level his voice
His newspaper venture in'peril would be
So Peter was put TO his wits you may see.
But after a season of counsel and thought,
\ very bright idea Peter now caught;
On partisan questions he would be mum,
But make other issues 60 with a hum;
Then forth came the first Of his newspaper sheet.
To test the reception his neutral would meet
But Peter was restless right from the start
For a neutral he had neither relish nor heart;
When politics grew exciting and keen
lie wished a neutral he never had been
And all of sudden with scarcely hint,
He went for his party with ungrudgiug stint.
Peters paper was local and patent without,
And scarce was it felt in the Republican route,
But Peter was honest and felt IL was due
To the work of his sheet, as others well knew,
The election of Cleveland and his party to power,
And the downfall Of Blaine in that favorable
hour.
Another bright thought good Peter possessed,
The hope of an Office inflated his breast
A petition was started it grew very long,
And letters Of friends well-written and strong
And OIL TO the White House, the papers were read
The gift was another's; it put Peter TO bed
His ardor cooled OIL, his words became few
In praise of the triumph which mainly was due
To the part he had taken for Cleveland and
right,
And for which he had battled with main and
with might,
And Peter now pauses and casts him about,
And figure his good in the Republican route.
Peter for temperance always had been;
The saloon he believed q curse and sin,
And quick for TO see a live issue was this
ana thhI 70 eSpouse II would not De amlss.
Peters next had Leader" on temperance
straight,
And on the saloon warred early and late.
streak of good luck sure Peter had hit,
And this glorious cause he never would quit;
But for temperance and right he ever would
Till the downfall of rum thro' all of the land:
And subscriptions came in, his prospects were
bright,
And the battle went on with main and with
might.
But Peter was changeful, he scarcely did know
How on tho morrow his matters would go
And hence in the height Of his fight against rum
| His voice was suddenly silent and mum;
| And a traitor to prohibition he was,
| And all Of sudden he gave up the cause
| Peter next was found in a factiOnal fight
| And rolled up his sleeves and battled with might
| And was promised IL all his aid he would lend
| And their side certainly WIN in the end
| 10 him II would be bonanza pure;
| And Peter rushed for the bait for sure.
| The bitterest fight that ever was known;
| The breach in the column each hour had grown
/ And Peter pitched in with main and with might
| Believing, as ever he champiOned the right
| But an eye to the lOaves and fishes the same
And who that knows Peter will seriously blame
! At last came the crisis, the forces were Joined,
And to put down "Old Biggs the Others COM
| bined;
And Petor was there and for Cochran he yelled
| The voting began, confusion was quelled,
And Bggs won the prize by means shrewd and
deft
And all Of the others-and Pete were left
But Peter comes out far worse than the rest,
! And what will become of him no one has guessed
Despised by Republicans, by Temperance mel
| scOrned
Poor Peter is wishing he'd never been horn;
/ His heart is oppressed, his cOuntenance wan,
His friends are but few his business is gone"
August 20h. 1886 SYMPATHIZER.