Explore "France (the Baby's Baedeker)" by Harry Graham on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The natives here remark 'Mon Dieu! ' / 'Que voulez-vous? ' 'Comment ca va? ' / 'Sapristi! Par exemple! Un peu! ' / 'Tiens donc! Mais qu'est-ce que c'est que ca? ' / They shave one portion of their dogs, / And live exclusively on frogs.
They get excited very quick, / And crowds will gather before long / If you should stand and wave your stick / And shout, 'A bas le Presidong! ' / Still more amusing would it be / To say, 'Conspuez la Patrie!'
The French are so polite, you know, / They take their hats off very well, / And, should they tread upon your toe, / Remark, 'Pardon, Mademoiselle! ' / And you would gladly bear the pain / To see them make that bow again.
Their ladies too have got a way / Which even curates can't resist; / 'Twould make an Alderman feel gay / Or soothe a yellow journalist; / And then the things they say are so / Extremely -- well, in fact, -- you know!
_MORAL_
The closest scrutiny can find / No morals here of any kind.