V-A-S-E, The

From the madding crowd they stand apart,     The maidens four and the Work of Art;     And none might tell from sight alone     In which had culture ripest grown,     The Gotham Million fair to see,     The Philadelphia Pedigree,     The Boston Mind of azure hue,     Or the soulful Soul from Kalamazoo,     For all loved Art in a seemly way,     With an earnest soul and a capital A.         *    *    *    *    *     Long they worshiped; but no one broke     The sacred stillness, until up spoke     The Western one from the nameless place,     Who blushing said, "What a lovely vace!"     Over three faces a sad smile flew,     And they edged away from Kalamazoo.     But Gotham's haughty soul was stirred     To crush the stranger with one small word.     Deftly hiding reproof in praise,     She cries, "'Tis, indeed, a lovely vaze!"     But brief her unworthy triumph when     The lofty one from the house of Penn,     With the consciousness of two grandpapas,     Exclaims, "It is quite a lovely vahs!"     And glances round with an anxious thrill,     Awaiting the word of Beacon Hill.     But the Boston maid smiles courteouslee,     And gently murmurs, "Oh, pardon me!     "I did not catch your remark, because     I was so entranced with that lovely vaws!"             Dies erit praegelida             Sinistra quum Bostonia.