IV. CITIZENSHIP

How slowly learns the child at school

The names of all the nobs that rule

From Ponsonby to Pennant;

Ere his bewildered mind find rest,

Knowing his host can be a Guest,

His landlord is a Tennant.

He knew not, at the age of three,

What Lord St. Leger next will be

Or what he was before;

A Primrose in the social swim

A Mr. Primrose is to him,

And he is nothing more.

But soon, about the age of ten,

He finds he is a Citizen,

And knows his way about;

Can pause within, or just beyond,

The line‘ twixt Mond and Demi-Mond,

‘ Twixt Getting On — or Out.

The Citizen will take his share

( In every sense ) as bull and bear;

Nor need this oral ditty

Invoke the philologic pen

To show you that a Citizen

Means Something in the City.

Thus gains he, with the virile gown,

The fasces and the civic crown,

The forum of the free;

Not more to Rome's high law allied

Is Devonport in all his pride

Or Lipton's self than he.

For he will learn, if he will try,

The deep interior truths whereby

We rule the Commonwealth;

What is the Food-Controller's fee

And whether the Health Ministry

Are in it for their health.