The New York herald., 1920-12-26
One Writes a Poem on Spell
Cast on Them by Miss
Farrar.
BY w. J. HENDERSON.

TOLLY, according TO an old quota
ton. should be shot as it flies.
But why shoot 1t at all? Why
should we not all be a little foolish
from time to time. instead of taking
life so seriously? And above all
things, why should we bow ourselves
always in ,reverent alteration before
opera singers? Why should we not
sometimes pause in our labors to poke
fun at the passionate worshippers?
Only a short time back something
was said in the daily review of opera
house doings about those dear young
things the Gerryfappers. 1t seems
that this was the one theme the
readers of this newspaper took up
with acclamatioD. The mail bag
came distended with letters on the
subject. First an anxious inquirer
wrote:
why Gerryfiappers unless they are
christened after Elbridge It. Gerry or
Mable? Why not Gerafappers, if
framed after the fair Geraldine?"
The writer of this letter was without
certain important information, These
who are closest to the inimitable and
adorable Miss Farrar are privileged to
call her Gerry, which Is not pro-
nounced as is the name of the best
commodore the New York Yacht Club
ever had. but after the manner of the
other half of that ancient and once
beloved combination of which the
~ Tom
Gera. forsooth! Who ever heard of
such name?
Another correspondent seems to have
suffered from close contact with the in
creasing army of Gerryflappers. She
writes to thank the reviewer for smiling
at the worshippers. But this correspon-
dent is really annoyed by them. She
saws IL Is because she Is personally ac-
quainted with a few of them.
when one has to listen each opera
season to say nothing of summer vaca-
tions, to the extreme sufferings of Ger
admits, as I have, and the jealousies
of the two factions, which try to outriVal
each other with flowers at each perform
ance and to outstay one another in Miss
Farrars dressing room, as well as
friendships which have been broken over
their goddess--then it is time that this
Poem by Gerrydapper.
The lady finishes with the hope that
although the Gerryfiappers hate THE
NEW YORK HERALDs reviewer Of music.
he will not cease to continue his remarks
on this prima donna passion. The writer
Of these lines does not court the hatred
of any one not even n Gerryfiapper.
They have their admirable qualities. AT
any rate they are capable of enthusiasm,
and that Is something. But this is aside
from the subject. Diving once more into
the mail bag, we find that one corre-
spondent has initiated Silas Wegg and
dropped into poetry. Here is the con-
tribution, printed without editorial poll
ishing.
THE GERRTFLAPPERS.
(Apologies to r. Service)
Oh Won who have daring deeds TO tell.
And you who have felt Ambitions spell.
Have you heard of the flappers who longed
In the presence of Geraldine?
They sighed all day and they sighed all
Said others. I'VE understand 1t quite.
Though home and mothers girls delight,
They are pining for Geraldine
So they left their kinsfok In merry play.
And off by their lonesome they stole away
To the house of opera on gay Broadway'
Excitement swift and keenl
They thrilled from early. they thrilled TIL
late,
As do all flappers Of every fate.
In the presence OF Geraldine.
ITO chuck her these roses-unafraidi
She smiled Oh. she has seen!H'
And lol As they shouted with ardour rare,
Their voices in chorus filled the air
''We're only flappers, so we don't carei
SON 'ieS' Jul W. ~ IppytrT A pptsP