VII.
“Do you remember the poetic speech, in verse and prose, that William Winter[60] made at the banquet in Lafayette place?” I asked.
“Yes, indeed,” Irving replied. “The two stanzas with which he introduced it were singularly musical, I thought.”
“Here they are. I wanted him to write out the heads of his speech for me; but he had only written down his verses, and here they are, as dainty as they are fraternal.
I.
“‘If we could win from Shakespeare’s river
The music of its murmuring flow,
With all the wild-bird notes that quiver
Where Avon’s scarlet meadows glow;
If we could twine with joy at meeting
Their prayers who lately grieved to part,
Ah, then, indeed, our song of greeting
Might find an echo in his heart!
II.
“‘But since we cannot in our singing
That music and those prayers entwine,
At least, we’ll set our blue-bells ringing,
And he shall hear our whispering pine;
And there shall breathe a welcome royal,
In accents tender, sweet, and kind,
From lips as fond and hearts as loyal
As any that he left behind.’”
Among the curious notices, serious and humorous, which were posted in the offices and dressing-rooms of the various theatres, the following satirical regulations are somewhat incongruous when considered with the handsome furniture which generally belongs to managerial rooms in America:—
OFFICE RULES.
1. Gentlemen entering this office will please leave the door open.
2. Those having no business should remain as long as possible, take a chair and lean against the wall,—it will prevent it falling upon us.
3. Gentlemen are requested to smoke, particularly during office hours. Tobacco and cigars will be furnished.
4. Spit on the floor,—the spittoons are merely for ornament.
5. Talk loud or whistle, particularly when we are engaged; if this does not have the desired effect, SING.
6. Put your feet on the table, or lean against the desk; it will be a great benefit to those who are using it.
7. Persons having no business with this office will please call again when they can’t stay so long.