WHAT ARE NEWSPAPERS?

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1089, 15 July 1873, Page 3

WHAT ARE NEWSPAPERS?

Organs that gentlemen play, my boy, To answer the taste of the day, my boy. Whatever it be, They hit on the key, And pipe in full concert away, my boy. News from all countries and climes, my boy, Advertisements, essays, and rhymes, my boy, Mixed up with all sorts Of flying reports, And published at regular times, my boy. Articles, able and wise, my boy— At least, in the editor's eyes, my boy ; And logic so grand, That few understand To what in the world it applies, my boy. Statistics, reflections, reviews, my boy, Little scraps to instruct and amuse, my boy. And lengthy debate Upon matters of state, For wise-headed folks to peruse, my boy. The funds as they were and are, my boy, The quibbles and quirks of the bar, my boy, And every week A clever critique On some theatrical star, my boy. The s,ge of Jupiter's moons, my boy, The stealing of somebody's spoons, my boy; The state of the crops, The style of the fops, And the wit of the public buffoons, my boy. List of physical ills, my boy. Banished by somebody's pills, my boy, Till yon ask with surprise, Why anyone dies. Or what's the disorder that kills, my boy. Who got married, and to whom, my boy, Who were cut off in their bloom, my boy, Who has had birth On this sorrow-stained earth, And who totters fast to the tomb, my boy. The price of cattle and grain, my boy, Directions to dig and to drain, my boy, But 'twould take me too long To tell you in song A quarter of all they contain, my boy.