86 MY LIFE 



masterpieces of old Greek Art. A cast, however, of one of these 

 masterpieces— the finest <>f the several statues of Discoboli, or Quoit- 

 throwers- -was found by the presenl writer in the Montreal Museum 

 of Natural History ; it was, however, banished from public view, to 

 a room where were all manner of skins, plants, snakes, insects, etc., 

 and in the middle of these, an old man stuffing an owl. The dialogue 

 — perhaps true, perhaps imaginary, perhaps a little of one and a little 

 of the other — between the writer and the old man gave rise to the 

 lines that follow.] 



Stowed away in a Montreal lumber-room, 

 The Discobolus standeth, and turneth his face to the wall; 

 Dusty, cobweb-covered, maimed and set at naught, 

 Beauty crieth in an attic, and no man regardeth. 



Oh God! oh Montreal! 



Beautiful by night and day, beautiful in summer and winter, 

 Whole or maimed, always and alike beautiful, 

 He preacheth gospel of grace to the skins of owls, 

 And to one who seasoneth the skins of Canadian owls. 



Oh God! oh Montreal! 



When I saw him, I was wroth, and I said, " O Discobolus ! 

 Beautiful Discobolus, a Prince both among gods and men, 

 What doest thou here, how earnest thou here, Discobolus, 

 Preaching gospel in vain to the skins of owls ? " 



Oh God! oh Montreal! 



And I turned to the man of skins, and said unto him, " Oh ! thou man 

 of skins, 



Wherefore hast thou done this, to shame the beauty of the Discob- 

 olus?" 



But the Lord had hardened the heart of the man of skins, 



And he answered, " My brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spur- 

 geon." 



Oh God! oh Montreal! 



" The Discobolus is put here because he is vulgar, — 

 He hath neither vest nor pants with which to cover his limbs; 

 I, sir, am a person of most respectable connections, — 

 My brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgeon." 



Oh God! oh Montreal! 



