TO WHAT BASE USES!

By Bert Leston Taylor

This the spruce with the glorious plume

That grew in the forest primeval.

This is the lumberman big and browned

Who felled the spruce tree to the ground

That grew in the forest primeval.

This is the man with the paper mill

Who bought the pulp that paid the bill

Of the husky lumberjack who chopped

The lofty spruce and its branches lopped

That grew in the forest primeval.

This is the publisher bland and rich

Who bought the roll of paper which

Was made by the man with the paper mill

Who bought the pulp that paid the bill

Of the lumberjack with the murderous ax

Who felled the spruce with lusty hacks

That grew in the forest primeval.

This is the youth with the writing tool

Who does the daily Newport drool

That helps to make the publisher rich

Who ordered the stock of paper which

Was made by the man with the paper mill

Who bought the pulp that paid the bill

Of the husky Swede in the Joseph's coat

Who swung his ax and the tall spruce smote

That grew in the forest primeval.

This is the lady far from slim

Who changed the hour of her daily swim

And excited the youth with the writing tool

Who does the Newport drivel and drool

For the prosperous publisher bland and fat

Who ordered the virgin paper that

Was made by the man with the paper mill

Who bought the pulp that paid the bill

Of Ole Oleson the husky Swede

Who did a foul and darksome deed

When he swung his ax with vigor and vim

And smote the spruce tree tall and trim

That grew in the forest primeval.

This is the shop girl Mag or Liz

Who daily devours what news there is

Concerning the lady far from slim

Who changed the time of her ocean swim

And excited the youth with the writing tool

Who does the daily Newport drool

For the pursy publisher bland and rich

Who bought the innocent paper which

Was made by the man with the paper mill

Who bought the pulp that paid the bill

Of the Swedish jack who slew the spruce

That came to a most ignoble use —

The lofty spruce with the glorious plume —

The giant spruce that used to loom

In the heart of the forest primeval.