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THE GAY REBELLION
"She looked at him almost insolently. . . . 'Presently,' she said." [Page 82]]
_The_
GAY REBELLION
_By_ ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
ILLUSTRATED BY
EDMUND FREDERICK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANYNEW YORK AND LONDON: MCMXIII
COPYRIGHT, 1913, BYROBERT W. CHAMBERS
Copyright, 1911, by the COLUMBIAN-STERLING PUBLISHING CO.
Printed in the United States of America
TO
SUZANNE CARROLL
_Though J. H. jeer And "Smith" incline to frown, I do not fear To write these verses down And publish them in town. The solemn world knows well that I'm no poet; So what care I if two gay scoffers know it?
Buck up, my Muse! Wing high thy skyward way, And don't refuse To let me say my say As bravely as I may. To praise a lady fair I father verses, Which Admiration cradles, Homage nurses._
_For you, Suzanne, Long since have won my heart; You break it, too, And leave the same to smart full sore Whenever you depart for Baltimore. You're charming;--and in metre I endeavour To say you are as winsome as you're clever._
_Winsome and wise, Subtle in maiden's lore, With wondrous eyes-- Alas for Baltimore, That grows this rose no more! As for Manhattan, that benign old vulture Wins one more prize in fancy horticulture._
_So now to you I dedicate this tale; It's neither new Nor altogether stale,-- Nor can completely fail, For your bright name as sponsor for my story Assures the author of reflected glory._ _R. W. C._
PREFACE
THESE stories, mademoiselle, as your intuition tells you, are forold-fashioned young people only; and should be read in the Golden Future,some snowy evening by the fire after a home dinner a deux. Yourpredestined husband, mademoiselle, is to extend his god-like figure upona sofa, with an ash-tray convenient. You are to do the reading, curled upin the big velvet wing-chair, with the lamp at your left elbow and thefender under your pretty feet. As for me, I shall venture to smile at younow and then from the printed page--but with discretion, mademoiselle,not inconveniencing your party a deux. For, to be rid of me, you havemerely to close this book.
FOREWORD
The attention of the civilized world is, at present, concentrated uponThe Science of Eugenics. The author sincerely trusts that this importantcontribution to the data now being so earnestly nosed out and gathered,may aid his fellow students, scientifically, politically andanthropologically.
* * * * *
Miris modis Di ludos faciunt hominibus!
R. W. C.
"Facta canam; sed erunt qui me finxisse loquantur."--OVID.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
"She looked at him almost insolently . . . 'Presently,' she said" _Frontispiece_"'To begin,' he said, 'I came here fishing'" 46"Only one fleet-footed young girl remained at his heels" 184"'Pray, observe my unmatched eyes'" 246