The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-25
THE ISLE OF SUFFRAGETTES
Paul West in Harper's Weekly.

Paul West in Harper's Weekly.
 A HOY, there. mates, don't ye know A my phiz? N Why its Hennery Watts I bel Ye heerd I was lost with the
 Laughin' Liz?
 Well, all of us was-but me- I chung to spar ans was washed
 ashore
 Twas a spot in the South sea isles Where the manner O clothes that the na-
 lives wore
 Was mostly complexion an smiles. CThankee, yes; a leetle Medford wi
 lemon an sugar.) The welcome I got was strangely warm, It appearin' I've just struck here As the high head chief O the tribal swarm Has quilted this mortal sp'ere. An gimme his guns an knives. His crown an his hut an besides, to boot, His forty-four fav'rite wives. GAS a rule I favors blondes, but in a
 case like that-)> I'd nothn to do the livelong day, Nor never watch to stand: With my wives a-fannin' the flies away, An well-flled glass in me hand; While the rest O the tribe done all the
 work
 There was in this pleasin' isle, An just grew fat as a lazy Turk, Enioyin it all the while!
 ct wasn't Twin, mates; twas dreamin' } But, oh, it was soft, too soft to last, An one sad morn I spy Out in the offin' vessels mast A-cleavin' the sweet blue sky An nearer she comes to them placid
 shores,
 An my spy-glass drops from my hand When a boat puts off with pair of oars An starts for my beach to land. (Ye see, I wasn't in favor of no com
 petitionD But one O my wives she sees my woe, An she says: Don't fret, my dear. It's a Missionary, an sech, you know, We eats when they shows up here" So I says to myself, III fret no more, But my heart 1t sinks like a stone When I sees it's lady as steps ashore An stands on the sand alone! (Wlmmen alluz makes trouble, an I
 smells ratO It's a female woman, square-rigged
 craft,
 With prov like storm at sea. She carries gripsack fore an aft. An up to the palace comes she. Good mornn', lady" I said. said I, I'm King O this place." said. But she ports her hellum an passed me
 by,
 Salutin' my wives instead
 CTwas nothin' short O what they calls
 'lazy-majesty. "Ah women" she says, faye, sisters all, I've come for to help" says she, "To cut the bonds O this despots thra1l, An make you as free as me! Have you got votes In this down-trod
 land?
 You haint, but you will, bets Arise, my sisters an line the band O the Militant Suffragettes.y (An me sittin' there an hearin' 1t alb Then she opens her grip an she fishes out bundle O banners gay, An my wives in joy give gladsome
 shout
 An gathers round her. straightway. She wives 'em banner each, an then Tn a way that would make you laff She Jest lets loose on the tribe O men Like runaway. fonygraff!
 Nfy word, If half she said about us
 was trueD I listens awhile till she makes me dry, Then I calls to my wives: Hey, dears, Jest leave that lady. an some one fly To fetch me brace O peers When, blast my scuppers an smash my
 slaves,
 That bevy O dusky belles Turns round on their King with "Who' 8
 yours slaves?
 Go wait on yourselfr they yells! (Mutiny, that's what 1t were-yard-arm
 mutinyD whats this?' I cries with regal roar. Come here or I'll tan you good" But they laughs, "We'I1 truckle to you
 no more.
 Hurray fer the Ssterhood" An then, with a shout that bu'sts my ear An sets my head a-swimmin' They falls in line with rousin' cheer, All holerin'. "Votes fer wimmen!' (With a few sides remarks about our sex in generally An round that island they marched all
 day, A-gathern' fresh recruits An shoutin', Down with the tyrah' : sway.' An ..Death to all men, the br'ltes. | An woe to me when I dares to kick | To my youngest an dearest wire They piled on me like ton O brick, 1 An I had the time O my life l CThey fit me like wildcats-l got the scars yltD