XXVI 

 GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER 



THE goose, like certain ladies who let lodg- 

 ings, has seen better times. It is a bird 

 that has come down in the world. For 

 some reason which I have never been able 

 to discover, it is nowadays the object of popular ridi- 

 cule. It is commonly set forth as the emblem of 

 foolishness. Invidious comparisons are proverbially 

 drawn between it and its more handsome cousin, the 

 swan. The modern bards vie with one another in 

 blackening its character. As Phil Robinson says, 

 " It does not matter who the poet is — he may be any- 

 one between a Herbert and a Butler — the goose is a 

 garrulous fool, et frceterea nihil." Well may the bird 

 cry tempora ! mores ! It has indeed fallen upon 

 evil days. Things were not ever thus. Time was 

 when men held the goose in high esteem. Livy was 

 loud in his praises of the bird. Pliny was an ardent 

 admirer thereof. The Romans used to hold a festival 

 in honour of the feathered saviour of the Capitol. 

 The degradation of the goose is, I fear, a matter of 

 looks. Its best friend can scarcely call it handsome. 

 It is built for natation rather than perambulation ; 



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