A Terry Poem.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13462, 7 December 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Terry Poem.

EMOTIONAL INSANITY. The following is original versification by Lionel • .Terry, 011 a-New York iwvs item*: —Mental experts declare that Many Thaw was suffering from emotional inisanity when lie shot Kianfoicl White, his wife's betrayer. ' L Oh, what a wondrous body is the medical profession ' 'Tis difficult ind'eed to give our feelings due expression. There's nought so dark that- mortal, men xnay do, or think, or say, ' • That, the doetoivi cannot. diagnu;e and 1 make as plain as day. For instance; if a. burglar breaks into your house at. night. And collars all your silver plate and gives your wil'o a. fright, . And you shoot him in the interests of justice, and humanity. Why, you prove yourself a"victim of emotional insanity. 11. And it' crowds of Russian Jews and Chows. invade " your peaceful land, And spread a few diseases of an extraspecial brand ; And if they teach your boys audi girls the latest things in vice, And generally prevent your getting peace at any price; And if at length you strike against a. state of things chaotic, And give free play to feelings which arc ~ mainly patniotic—• Raeli man! your action won't lit iii with modem Christianity,- ' Most clearly you're a victim of emotional insanity. 111. Again, if you should run across a hopeless renegade,. Who struts .-around, and brags about, the girls lie has betrayed; ■4ji-d ifxhe ma.keis; a victim of your daughter or your wife, Yoii!d better cogitate a bit before you take his life. - * ]?oav remember that, however strong may ■ .bo tihe provocation, You'll stand- a 'chance of forfeiting-- your mental reputation. ...... What! the dooloits? Steady, > man ! Don't, utter eue.h profanity, Why, tlnu's ; another. symptom ;of emotional '.insanity.. . ..... ~ : ■: IV.. Th-en raise your hat and 1 bend your knees, and crawl in humble'meekness, Before these wonclrous medicos who probe r your mental weakness. ' There's not a thing that, man lias done •since the dawning of creation, That th®.' experts cannot classify "as mental aberration, And though it' sounds suspiciously like blasphemy and' libel,. Arient- a little tragedy that's mentioned in the Bible, They'd glance 'above* their spectacles, and ■ "stale with calm -.urbanity. That 1 Holy Moses, suffered from .emotional insanity. ' ' • LIONEL TERRY. Sead-iff, Augiist''23, 1907.