New-York tribune., 1896-01-19
"SONG OF THE FLOWER-POT."
SATIRE BY WILLIAM MAKEPEACE
THACKERAY.

ami, That periodcal long ago went into the
limbo OF forgotten things ani with it there dsap-
pcared several sketches by the author OF VANITY
Fair" and "Esmond" They have never found
pace in any collected edition OF his works. and. IN
deed seem to have been utterly forgotten by the
public that has often shown Its tenacious memory
for the products OF his genius. In 1881 heauhs
Poem" was discovered and reprinted by the Enghsn
society which publishes the "Sette Of ODD volumes
Not long ago this performance and the other skits
to which we have referred were put INTO htue
volume by themselves We give the second part
of Reading a Poem an unfamiliar and de-
lightfu specimen Of Thackeray In his most hSh'-
ve!n.l
READING A POEM.
LORD DAUDLEY, the Earl of Bagwigs eldest SON.
worsh.pper OF the MUSES.; ina in a dressing-sown'
MR. wh ho 81, the p@Ssher in pub
lIshers costume Of deep black =, ,,o ,r.ss
MIR RIUDYER. an English gentleman OF the press
ys'St yeIvet W %aiscoa dirty blue satin cravat dirty
MR. ss FGs sstsaas sfaHsm1n Of vsn ns
MR. ne3 eSf my lord BODY servant; in
Sn Ssndas veT my Ords seT rhs
should smell very much Of stale SMOKE. and need
inc the part The scene is in Lord Daudley's
drawing room IN the Albany.
Daudley-Well, then II you want to know the
truth, was scribbng a little something; just
triling thought that came into my brain this MORN
ing as I was looking out at the mignonette-pot In
my bedroom window. You know 1t was Lazy
Blanche Bluenose that gave 1t ma. and promise"
her a little copy of verses in return. "Weh' says
I. thinking over my bargain with that fellow Boyle
'as nave agreed to write something about ho"ers
my little poem for Lady Blanche's album Will an
swer for my volume too. and so l shall XIII TWO
birds with one stone" That's the very thing
said: not bad. was 1t?
Bludyer-Not bad? Devi.lsh good. by the immor-
tai Jove Hang me- my lord, but you're regular
Joe Miller.
Dshwash-Really. now. Lord Daudley, you should
write comic novel Something in the Dickens
style
Daud.ey-I shouldn't wonder II dd; I've thought
Of IT, Dishwash often. The New Novel o. Low
Life by Lord Daudley." hay? Forty illustrations
by Whiz: II wouldn't sound D1d!y. But, 70 fe'u'"
to the Passion Flowers.
Dshwash-We are all ear.
Bulyer-Not all ear Dish; good deal OF you Is
Daudley-Mr. Budyer for Heavens sake. truce
to these personalities. # you have mind TO listen
to me- | told you | was thinking In bed this morn
ing about Lady Bianches present, and the poem
had promised her. "Egad"' says ], starting up In
bed and hlnging my green velvet nightcap very
nearly out OF the window. why should not write
about that hower-pot"
B.udyer-And a d~v'lish good idea too
D!shwash aside. "Toad-eater }! leave Lorn
Daudley alone for ideas.
Daudley--Wen. sir instantly rung my body-fel-
low Charles had my path. ordered my chocolate,
and with the water exactly at nlnety-two, began
my poem.
Bludyer-o. you practise the hot water stimulus,
do YOU my lord? And so do l: but always have
mine at Fahrenheit; boiling my lcrd, as near as
possible.
DauiIey-Ciad now! you don't say so?
Bludyer-Bo.ling yes. with glass OF brandy IN
lido you take? once. when wrote for the Wings
you know an Radical now-l wrote eight-and-
nd houv do
dld it? by nineteen glasses OF brandy-and-wa'er.
That's your true Castalan. ay. Dishwash? But l
beg pardon for interruptng you in your account OF
your brilliant idea; tell US more about the flowe'
Pot" my lord.
Dishwash-The verses the verses. my lord, by ali
ueans-posit.vey now I'm dying to know them.
Daudley-O ah, the yerses-yes-that is-why,
egad I've not written down any yet. but have
them here in my brain-all the Ideas at least, and
that's the chief thing
Budyer-Why. | don't know; don't think It's OF
any use to have ideas. too many Of them. In
OF verses.
Daudley-You are satirical. you rogue Budyer.
you-devllsh satIr.cal, by Jove. But the fact is,
can't help having ideas. and deuced many OF
them too Ny first idea 10 say, that that hum
BILE hower-pot OF m:gnonette was more precious to
me than. egad. all the flowers in a conservatory.
Blu1yer-Nery good ana ingenious
Dlshwash-yery pretty and pastoral; and how.
my lord. did you begin?
Daudley-Why | begin-quite modestiy. you know
My little humble hower-pot-
and there egai | stuck fast-for my bell began
cursed ringing. and presently this monster or
Bludyer came and kicked down my dressing room
door almost and drove poetry out OF my head SO
as you served So why gentlemen. you must
help me in my ode l want to say how 1t looks out
into rccadilly, you know, ana on 81. James
Church and all that
Bludyer-Excuse me. that will never do; say It
looks out on your park In Yorkshire. Mrs. Grange.
the pastry cooks window looks into Piccadilly just
as well as your lordshlps. You must have some
thing more aristocratic.
Daudley-Egad yes. not bad. Well. 1t shall look
into my park at Daudley. thought so my seit' 90
you Ike the idea. ay. gentlemen? You do ike 1t.
thought you would. Well. then. my hower-pot
stands in a window, and the window Is N tower.
and the tower is In Daudley Park and begin
Ny lttle humble hower-pot.
Dlshwasn-Upon my turret haunting free-faunt-
ing free there's an expression!-there's kind OF
laisser aller about II.
Bludyer-
/ pom my turret haunting free.
1nou more loved by Inc wot.
IMAM all the sweets or AraDy.
Daudley-Stop, stop. BY gad the very thing !
was going TO ssy; thought OF Il wot" and "Araby
at once only Bludyer interrupted me- II wasn't
bad notion was II? Reads) Hum. hum-"hower pot
haunting freely me. | wot-Araty." Well. I've
done for that idea. at any rate-now let's see for
another.
Bludyer-Done with that already? Good heavens,
Daudicy, you had need be a lord, and rich one. to
fling about your wealth in that careless kind OF
way commoner can't afford TO be so prodigal
and II you will take my advice In the making or
poems-whenever you set an idea make a point Of
repeating II two or three tines. thus
Not all the sweets OF Eastern bower
| Daudey-Egad the very words out OF my own
mouth-(wr!tes) Eastern bower
| Bludyer-
Are half so dearly priced by me,
AS is the little gentle hover
| Daudey-
POT, in my turret Haunting free"
| That's the thing.