We hoped to meet sweethearts and spouses.

But round and round the world went we,

Seeking that Prime Meridian! Fancy!

The darned thing wasn’t fixed, ye see,

And I could not find home or Nancy!

It was, of course, the beastliest bore.

Those stupid Frenchmen had a notion

That fixing it on England’s shore,—

England, whose vessels scour the ocean,

And who is owned to rule the waves,—