Ballads Of Drive And Camp

Shirts of red and checkered flannel are the smartest form, by far.

And that gents may chew tobacco was declared in all ways fit

If they only use discretion as to when and where they spit.

And above all future cavil, sneer or jeer or vain disputes,

High was set this social edict: “Gents may

wear their spike-sole boots.”

Then the men of Rapo-genus and the men of Murphy’s crew

They dissolved their joint convention--they were near dissolving, too!

And to counteract the action of the water on the skin

They applied some balmy lotion to the proper parts within.

Then they danced till ruddy morning, and their drying garments steamed,

And awful was the shrinkage of those seven- dollar suits!

And the feet of Murphy’s woodsmen gashed and slashed and clashed and seamed,

Till a steady rain of slivers rained behind those bradded boots.

--And all disputes of etiquette were buried once for all,

At that Christmas social function, the Rapo- genus Ball.