THE COREAN COCK-FIGHT.
["Russia's love of peace is outweighed by her duty to safeguard her vital interests, which would seriously suffer were Japan or China to modify the present state of things in Corea."—Official Russian view of the Corean situation, given by "Daily Telegraph" Correspondent at St. Petersburg.]
Bruin, loquitur.
"Duty to safeguard my interests?" Quite so!
Nice way of putting it, yes, and so moral!
Yet I love Peace! Pity game-cocks will fight so!
Disfigures their plumes and their combs' healthy "coral."
Big Cochin-China and Bantam of Jap
Feel at each other they must have a slap.
Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!
Humph! I must keep a sharp eye on the two!
Peace, now! She is such a loveable darling!
Goddess I worship in rapt contemplation.
Spurring and crowing, and snapping and snarling,
Wholly unworthy a bird—or a nation!
Still there is Duty! I have an idea
Mine lies in watching this fight in Corea.
Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!
Bull yonder looks in a bit of a stew!
Some say my destiny pointeth due North,
Ice-caves are all very well—for a winter-rest.
But Bruin's fond of adventuring forth;
In the "Far East" he feels quite a warm interest;
Bull doesn't like it at all. But then Bull
Fancies that no one should feed when he's full!
Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!
I am still hungry, and love chicken-stew!
To make the Corea a cock-pit, young Jappy,
May suit you, or even that huge Cochin-China;
But—fighting you know always makes me unhappy.
I feel, like poor Villikins robbed of his Dinah,
As if I could swallow a cup of "cold pison."—
But—still—these antagonists I must keep eyes on.
Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!
Cockfighting is cruel,—but stirring fun, too!
Duty, dear boys! Ah! there's nothing like Duty.
Gives one "repose"—like that Blacksmith of Longfellow!
Go it, young Jap! That last drive was a beauty.
But—your opponent's an awfully strong fellow.
Little bit slow at first, sluggish and lumbering,
But when he makes a fair start there's no slumbering.
Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!
Sakes! How his new steel spurs shone as he flew!
Now, should I stop it, or should I take sides?
Bull and the other onlookers seem fidgety!
Cochin strikes hard, but indulges in "wides";
Game-cock is game—though a little mite midgety.
Well, whate'er the end be, and whichever win,
I think the game's mine, when I choose to cut in.
Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!
I'm safe for a dinner—off one of the two!
[Left considering and chortling.