extraordinary accuracy with which they succeeded in balancing
trees or parts of trees, branches, logs, beams, planks, ...
etc., ... with their trunks (the beams carefully supported at their
centre of gravity, the logs carefully supported at their centre of
gravity, the elephants without a smile at_ their _centre of
gravity)
From Rangoon to Mandalay?_

_For--_

_On the road to Mandalay the flying-fishes play,
But there are no omnibuses to ply.
Is there not a thirst here, and are there any ten commandments?
O you commandments! you first, second, third ... and tenth
commandments!
What has Mandalay to do with you, and what have you to do with
Mandalay?_

_Ha! What is that?_

_Is it a sound, is it the thunder, the sudden thunder, strepitant,
tonant?
Is it the midday (twelve o'clock) cannon?_

_ No!_

_Is it not then the ocean, the storm of the ocean?_

_ Divil a bit!_

_Return, return then O soldiers,
Return, you that have been discharged with pensions, as time-expired
men, or as incorrigible and worthless,
Return, for it is the dawn, and it is calling to you as it comes up
from China,
Though why from China do you ask me?
Then ask me another!_

A BALLAD OF BUTTONRY

_Clothes and the Man I sing._ Reformers, note
These of the Subaltern who owned a Coat.

He was what veterans miscall, for short,
By that objectionable term, a wart:[2]

The Coat an item of the 'sealed' attire
Wrung from his helpless but reluctant sire;

Also the tails were long; and, for the pride
Thereof, were buttons on the after-side;

Majestic orbs, whose gilded obverse bore
The bossy symbol of his future corps.

The youth, ere sailing for a distant land,
Did, in the interval, receive command

[Footnote 2: A last-joined young officer.--_Military Definitions._]

To join a 'Course,' where men of grave repute
Instruct the young idea how to shoot.

Thither he sped, and on the opening day
Rose, and, empanoplied in brave array,

(Ample of flowing skirt, and with great craft
And pomp of blazoned buttonry abaft)

Won to the mess, and preened his fledgling plumes
Both in the breakfast and the ante-rooms.

Awhile he moved in rapture, and awhile
Thrilled in the old, inevitable style

To that st