By Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Author of The Rundelstone of Oz, Merry Go Round in Oz, The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, The Moorchild, etc.
Originally published under her maiden name Eloise Jarvis in The Tri-High Journal, Fall Number, Vol. 2, No. 1, November 1930, Oklahoma City Senior High Schools.
To some, a thing
Of Beauty.
To some, hideous.
To some, a heady wine,
To be sipped, but not taken
In overdose.
Then again it may be a crystal fount
Of knowledge.
At best, inexplicable.
Of Beauty.
To some, hideous.
To some, a heady wine,
To be sipped, but not taken
In overdose.
Then again it may be a crystal fount
Of knowledge.
At best, inexplicable.
Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, January 26, 1919.
Supposyville Doings
“Matters of moment oft hinge on detail,”
Is a saying that warrants inspection.
’Tis one of Sir Solomon’s favorite saws,
The result of much lofty reflection.
The direst and dismalest happenings come
From delaying that ounce of prevention.
To small things Sir Solomon, therefore, devotes
More than half of his time and attention.
Computing statistics on colds, coughs and chills,
He arrived at a startling conclusion.
He sprang from his chair with a clutch to his hair,
Adding much to its general confusion.
And seizing his great coat and small coat and hat,
He set out for the castle most hasty,
Where he burst on the King, who was just in the midst
Of a right royal ravishing pasty.
“How now?” quoth the King, as he took a large bite.
“I should say from the look of your hair
You’d something important, my friend, on your mind.
Have some pasty, and draw up a chair.
“Perchance you have found a new moon or a star
Or a couple of twinkle-ing dippers?”
Sir Solomon sank in a chair, out of breath,
“No, your Highness,” he wheezed, “it is slippers.”
The King’s eyes grew big, “What about ’em?” he puffed.
“I have proved”—here the sage shut one eye—
“There’s hardly a cold or a cough or a chill
Where the slipper proof does not apply.
“It will have to be said, people jump out of bed
And go barefoot more often than not
Before they are dressed, and I’m really distressed—
It will have to be stopped on the spot.”
“All right; go ahead; make the laws that you need,
And proceed all Supposies to measure
For slippers!” Sir Solomon made a deep bow
And remarked that ’twould give him great pleasure.
And forthwith each foot in the Kingdom was shod
With warm slippers for morning and nights,
And old Solomon kept several slipper men just
To inspect and to keep them to rights.
Is a saying that warrants inspection.
’Tis one of Sir Solomon’s favorite saws,
The result of much lofty reflection.
The direst and dismalest happenings come
From delaying that ounce of prevention.
To small things Sir Solomon, therefore, devotes
More than half of his time and attention.
Computing statistics on colds, coughs and chills,
He arrived at a startling conclusion.
He sprang from his chair with a clutch to his hair,
Adding much to its general confusion.
And seizing his great coat and small coat and hat,
He set out for the castle most hasty,
Where he burst on the King, who was just in the midst
Of a right royal ravishing pasty.
“How now?” quoth the King, as he took a large bite.
“I should say from the look of your hair
You’d something important, my friend, on your mind.
Have some pasty, and draw up a chair.
“Perchance you have found a new moon or a star
Or a couple of twinkle-ing dippers?”
Sir Solomon sank in a chair, out of breath,
“No, your Highness,” he wheezed, “it is slippers.”
The King’s eyes grew big, “What about ’em?” he puffed.
“I have proved”—here the sage shut one eye—
“There’s hardly a cold or a cough or a chill
Where the slipper proof does not apply.
“It will have to be said, people jump out of bed
And go barefoot more often than not
Before they are dressed, and I’m really distressed—
It will have to be stopped on the spot.”
“All right; go ahead; make the laws that you need,
And proceed all Supposies to measure
For slippers!” Sir Solomon made a deep bow
And remarked that ’twould give him great pleasure.
And forthwith each foot in the Kingdom was shod
With warm slippers for morning and nights,
And old Solomon kept several slipper men just
To inspect and to keep them to rights.
Copyright © 2026 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.
