THE SONG OF THE MESS 



Then followed the metrical record in question, 

 in connection with which it must be explained 

 that the " boxes " mentioned in the seventh verse 

 are the little shanties occupied at night by those 

 devoted stewards who are content, for the better 

 discharge of their duties, to sleep in the show yard 

 instead of at headquarters. 



THE "BATH AND WEST " MESS. 

 A tributary offering. 



" Dulce est desipere in loco."" Horace. 

 " ' Tis joyous folly that unbends the mind." 



" When the Show Yard's at rest and the day's work is done, 



There's a halt in the strain and the stress, 

 For ' dinner is served,' so the message doth run, 

 Which summons us all to the Mess, to the Mess, 

 The cheery old * Bath and West ' Mess. 



The Chaplain our ancient traditions well knows, 



So his grace is commendably brief, 

 And life seems to all of us couleur de rose 



By the time we've worked through to the beef, to the beef, 



Through the soup, fish and entree to beef. 



At the President's call, having toasted ' The King ! ' 



The night is with happiness crowned, 

 For then every smoker's permitted full swing, 



And the word, ' You can light up,' goes round, all around, 



Soon the baccy-clouds circle around. 



The problems of life, of the Show, of the day, 



We tackle in search of the truth, 

 And we settle 'em all in a light-hearted way, 



As we did in the days of our youth, of our youth, 



And with all the cook-sureness of youth. 



And the jokelets abound and the chaff waxes hot, 



For a shaft flies from many a bow, 

 But the arrows by friends and not foes are all shot, 



So the victims no pangs undergo, undergo, 



'Tis a give-and-take battle, I trow. 



279 



