Grand Comic Opera

Southland Times, Issue 13503, 21 July 1896, Page 3

Grand Comic Opera

“The Star of the South.” Enter—dramatis person® : He flourishes his “ warrant” for appearing, and sings. Tune—“ When Other Lips.” I’ll stick to dear old Southland, While Southland sticks to me. We’ll go togeth.br hand in hand, Nor ever cross the sea. Hear, yeomen b rid of Winton ! Hear, farmers stout of Gore 1 Hear, voters of the sea-port 1 And all ye hundreds more. I have been friend to all of you. I’ve bought, to sell, your grain ; I’ve made a fortune in your land, To lose it —on the main. I’ve spent a good five thousands, Grabbed from a tottering bank; If you should feel the better It’s me you have to thank. The “Ass.—my stalking donkey—bore The burden of my books. I said the profits you would share, The gains of hooks and crooks. See 1 dividends and bonuses, And part of my goodwill; I only owed you 50 quid, With three noughts sticking still. I heard about that “ thirty thou”— A small commercial dodge—--1 cannot see why moral folk Their funny plaints should lodge. I wouldn’t, harping’s not my line, Oh ! here, shareholders, look 1 They said my balance-sheet was cooked, Then passed it on to Cook. Some say that I shall go to gaol, And if I do I swear Some decent folk—not you, my friends, The prison garb shall wear. , I want your pity. Falling down, I pulled down all I could ; I can call names behind a wall With reckless hardihood. If you’ll look up my Hansard You'll see how I can name The wicked and wrong-minded folks Who tried decry my fame. You the right-minded people are, Right-minded is, you see, The adjective for those who have Strong sympathy with me. I do not mind a cheque or two, To prove your courage true; For as long as you’ll stick close to me I’ll surely stick to you. So make your true minds easy, I’ll never cross the sea ; For I’ll stick to dear old Southland While Southland sticks to me. —Veritas.