Destiny and Victuals.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 245, 21 August 1902, Page 3

Destiny and Victuals.

Fair woman, could your 8 »ul but view The intimate relation ’Tvrixt food and faib, there’d bo a new And higher dispensation; Could you but see for “ destiny ” A synonym in “ dinner And what the kitchen’s alchemy Could make of mortal sinners, You'd leave odd fads and learn to bake A loaf and cook a “ taler,” To roast a joint or broil a steak, Than which no art is greater.

What deeds of fame are left undone, What thoughts are 1 -ft unspoken, What waiting lauiels ne’er are won, What grand resolves aie broken Because of soggy bread and pies And vianda spoiled in broiling, Of sickly tarts and greasy fries And coffee left a-boiling.

For though with fortitude he braves The terrors dread of butle, Wh le proudly aloft his standard waves And round him bullets rattle, Man often fails of noblest aims, Unconscious of his power When pills and potions press their claims In some dyspeptic hour, Mayhap ’tis said he lacks the “ grit" Or genius essential, By critics, blind, with all their wit, To causes inferential.

But “ grit ” and genius are nought When Nature’s distillations In ignorant alembic wrought Into abominations, Are set before him day by day, More fitting a collation Mere brutish cravings to allay Than for man’s delectation. “ Man cannot live by bread alone,” ’Tia well and wisely spoken, But make that bad, he’ll die unknown And give the wofld no token Of high ambition’s potencies Or genius’ slumbering fires Imbred in him through galaxies Of grand illustrious sire*.

Theq all ye dames and maidens fair Who burn with high ambition, Who crave to nobly do your share To belter man’s condition, You’d give us, could your soul bul view The intimate relation 'Twixt food and fate, ere long, a new And higher dispensation.