98 With Feet to the Earth 



in the hall concludes his remarks, beaming 

 with satisfaction that he has convinced a 

 lot of people who were already convinced ; 

 and hark ! the throbbing of an organ 

 and a chant, the Miserere. In all this light- 

 ness the conscience of the city is awake, 

 and hope still claims the hearts of men. 

 Heigh-ho ! Solemn themes get few listen- 

 ers, for not one remains on the sidewalk be- 

 fore the church, whereas a throng is forging 

 in at the brilliantly lighted theatre. Listen : 

 it is a loud, acid voice, and of a woman, 

 that holds the multitude in joyous trance : 



"I went to Brogan's, Saturday night. 

 There I met Callahan. We got tight. 

 In came O'Brien along wit' his gang. 

 Callahan told him he'd better go hang. 

 O'Brien fetched Callahan one in the eye. 

 Says he, 'I'm onto you. You're my pie.' " 



And so on. Some think it wit ; some 

 think it music ; some enjoy it with the 

 studious air of a critic, seeming to give 

 thought to it. There is no discrimination. 

 Among the hoi polloi " everything goes." 

 I wonder if the pleasures of good taste are 

 as keen as those of bad taste and no taste. 



