. . . But their heavy weights upon the ice, it grieves me to relate,
Were more than it could bear, and so they tumbled in like this!
.
Animal Antics
By Louis Wain
Illustration by Matthews.
S. W. Partridge & Co: London. Ca 1900-1910.
“WHAT WOULD YOU THINK?”
If you saw an elephant climb a tree
Or a snail in an eggshell go to sea,
Or a donkey drinking a cup of tea –
What would you think?
If you saw houses upside down,
A beggar wearing a golden crown,
If the stars were red and the clouds were brown –
What would you think?
If you saw pennies not round but square,
Or an oyster walking down the stair,
Or a lobster sitting in your arm-chair –
What would you think?
If I saw all these things, or some,
I’m sure I’d say that I had come
To the land of Topsy-turvydom –
What would you think?
.
Mary’s Little Lamb.
Henry Altemus Company: Philadelphia. 1906.
Mr. Elephant toddled around until he was all tired out.
Then he told Mr. Ape that he couldn’t stand up another minute.
“Now what would Mr. Man do if he was feeling the same as I do?” Mr. Elephant asked, and Mr. Ape said:
“Why, he would sit down.”
From the story “WHEN MR. ELEPHANT TRIED TO BE A MAN.”
Billy Goat’s Story
By Amy Prentice.
Illustrations by J. Watson Davis.
A. L. Burt Company: New York. Ca 1906.
IN SCHOOL AND OUT.
When Jumbo was young and went to school
He soon found out this golden rule,
“Work when you work – play when you play,
That is always the wisest way!”
.
For if you play in school, mayhap,
You’ll have to wear a dunce’s cap;
And he who can’t his lessons say
Will have to work while others play!
.
So Jumbo first his lessons learned,
And then went out, his playtime earned,
And if an Elephant can be so wise
I’m sure a small boy can if he tries.
.
Funny Stories About Funny People.
Illustrations by J. G. Francis, J. C. Shepherd, F. J. Merrill, Palmer Cox, George F. Barnes and Others.
National Publishing Company: Philadelphia. Ca 1905.
“RANJI.”
He has a lovely tenor voice,
So silvery in tone,
Whene’er I hear him sing “My Queen,”
I’m moved to tears, I own.
.
His recitations are renowned,
Both comic ones and sad;
He draws a little, too, and paints –
His paintings are not bad.
.
He plays on several instruments,
The jew’s harp and banjo;
I never stay when he begins,
It irritates me so.
.
His conduct as a husband, too
(He’s married, I should say),
Is everything it out to be,
Not grumpy nor too gay.
.
PETER PIPER’S PEEP SHOW or All the Fun of the Fair.
Written by S. H. Hamer.
With Illustrations by Lewis Baumer and Harry B. Neilson.
Cassell And Company, Ltd.: London, Paris, New York & Melbourne. 1906.
“Then he began the business of rocking that cradle.”
A tiny cradle, – it was a real baby’s cradle, – had been placed near the center of the stage. Tony soberly walked up to it and gently laid the baby elephant in the cradle, pulling up the bedclothes with his clever trunk and tenderly covering the baby.
Picking up a match from a table close by, he scratched it, and lit a candle on the table. Then he began the business of rocking the cradle, in such a funny manner that the boys and girls just shrieked with laughter.
Chapter XIV. – The Elephant Firemen.
THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLIE, WADDY AND TONY.
Written by Paul Waitt.
Illustrations by Clara E. Atwood.
Little, Brown, and Company: Boston. 1915.
“THE DUET”
“O COME and listen, come!
Our Master he can strum,
And we can gaily sing
Of April and the Spring.
And if you do not like our song,
Like cats and mice, you must be wrong.
You must be, must be, must be wrong.”
[Editor’s Note: A “duet” with three singers, “strum” regarding playing the piano and other strange issues.]
Animal Antics.
Louis Wain.
S. W. Partridge & Co: London. Ca 1900-1910.
“Suddenly the band burst into stirring music.”
When the Governor of the State and the Mayor of Boston, accompanied by three companies of boy soldiers, entered through the main gate, the cheering and clapping grew louder than ever. . .
Suddenly the band burst into stirring music. Open flew the side gates, and through them marched Mollie, Waddy, and Tony!
Chapter XVII
The Children’s Campaign.
THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLIE, WADDY AND TONY.
Written by Paul Waitt.
Illustrations by Clara E. Atwood.
Little, Brown, and Company: Boston. 1915.
“That little rascal Tony came out dressed up like a dear old Grandma.”
You ought to have heard the clapping when big Waddy walked right up to a real telephone, and, taking the receiver off, held it up to her great big ear and began to make-believe talk. Such a noise as she made!
. . . in another minute, everybody shrieked with laughter when that little rascal Tony suddenly came out, dressed up like a dear old grandma, carrying a big tray on which was the supper for the elephants. Mollie and Waddy then began to eat, and Tony scampered off the stage.
Chapter V. The First Performance at the London Theater.
THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLIE, WADDY AND TONY
Written by Paul Waitt.
Illustrations by Clara E. Atwood.
Little, Brown, and Company: Boston. 1915.
“They saw the three elephants bowing politely before them.”
In front of the royal balcony the elephants were halted by their keeper. Elda and Sidhara gasped with astonishment when, all of a sudden, they saw the three elephants bowing politely before them. How grand they looked!
CHAPTER I. MOLLIE, WADDY, AND TONY AT THE COURT OF THE PRINCE OF INDIA.
THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLIE, WADDY AND TONY
Written by Paul Waitt.
Illustrations by Clara E. Atwood.
Little, Brown, and Company: Boston. 1915.
“Polly, seeing she was safe, began to screech again, but only got as far as ‘Stink p-o-t!’ When with a bound Billy was after her again, and this time as he ran he gave a jump and bounded up high enough to knock the cage off its hook . . .”
The weather’s so severe, that it’s affected me just here,”
Said Mr. Jimbo, pointing to his chest;
“But though my cough is cruel, I’ll cure it with some gruel,
For of all the cures I’m sure it is the best.”