TO THE SHELVED SEX.
(By One who keeps his Ears open.)
["Believing firmly in the absolute justice of woman's claim to the 'Parliamentary' franchise, I shall at all times support that claim."—Mr. Logan, the new M.P. for the Harborough Division.]
O woman, in our hours of ease.
The mockery of false M.P.'s!
When an Election comes in sight,
E'en Ministers admit thy "right."
Believe them not; they do not dote
On the Political Petticoat.
'Tis all a politic pretence.
Some of them are upon the fence;
Some of them have "political" wives,
And shirking stings in their home-hives,
Take up "the Cause" with a sham zeal,
Which not five in five thousand feel.
But hear them over a Club-dinner
Chuckling about the "pretty sinner"
Who hankers for that finer Club,
The House o' Commons! There's the rub!
They do not want you there, my dears;
The prospect of your "franchise" queers
Wire-pullers' plans, and party reckoning—
Hope, in male guise, stands blandly beckoning.
He—Codlin—is the friend, not Short,
But, in his heart he's making sport.
Of course 'tis wickedest of shames,
But—recollect Sir HENRY JAMES,
Your open enemy avowed,
Did not the House o' Commons crowd
Of frauds and shams play up to him,
And shelve "the Female Franchise" whim
Only the other day? Sheer diddle!
Have you not nous to read the riddle?
How wondrous prompt was W.G.
To back up SMITH! With what sly glee
The "Woman's-Rightists" did subside.
And—sub silentio—let you slide!
Your Grand Old Man, dears,—well, he's human.
He doesn't want some Grand Old Woman
As colleague or as rival. WOODALL?
Well, he is gentle, genial, good all;
But there's a twinkle in his eye
Persuades me that he would not die
Did you consent to drop your "claim."
And now there comes another name
To raise for Shes the party slogan.
Well, trust, dears—if you like—to LOGAN;
He "will support you at all times!"
Keep your eye on him! SHAKSPEARE's rhymes
Tell you "Men were deceivers ever."
M.P.'s wise, foolish, crass, and clever,
Are—nominally—on your side,
And—privately—your cause deride.
Take the straight tip, my dears—I glean it
From private talk—they don't half mean it!