THE "HAREM" SKIRT,

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 11 March 1911, Page 6

THE "HAREM" SKIRT,

0 woman , whoso whims' have been wayward, And fanciful fashions supreme. Since Adam, unable to say word, Discovered your fig leaves a "dream", Your feminine freaks and' caprices, Mankind has accepted as such; And- wondered and worshipped—but this is • .•;..• A trifle too much. -

When arms nature meant for embraces. You puffed but like some big balloon, We submitted, with funny grimaces, We knew you would alter them soon; When waist? which to circle was rapture, Scarce seen for the crinoline's swell, A hemisphere sundered from capture,, We did not rebel.

When you. went with a hump "like a camel; We patiently swallowed "the bend", When with jungles 'and "zoos" you must tramniel . Those hass, we continued your friend, When, your feet tightly tied in the •,. hobble, Bach gutter you found an abyss, And a mountain each bump in the . cobble, . ' To help you was bliss. But <alaS; human nature has limits, So drivfe not your 'slaves .to despair, For fear our long patience o'er-brim its . . Chafed banks and a vengeance we dare * . . ■ Though We shift and bedeck and beclrape us. • In garments that make the gods groan,

O queens we adore, do not ape us; Leave trousers alone. .. O why, in dim Turkish soraglios, A costume "advanced" think to find? Will Venus in loose pants or bagly . lios« Bewitch more and dazzle mankind? 0, if you unhooted would wear 'em, This safeguard at least man implores, Take the law, with the pants, of the harem, ' And stay within doors.