The Project Gutenberg eBook, Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104,
February 11, 1893, by Various, Edited by Francis Burnand

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Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, February 11, 1893

Author: Various

Editor: Francis Burnand

Release Date: June 12, 2007 [eBook #21818]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

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PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI

VOL. 104

FEBRUARY 11, 1893

THE LAST WOMAN.

(_A contemporary Pendant to "The Last Man."_)

[It is stated that the dreaded Crinoline has actually made its
appearance in one or two quarters.]

All modish shapes must melt in gloom,
Great WORTH himself must die,
Before the Sex again assume
EVE'S sweet simplicity!
I saw a vision in my sleep,
Which made me bow my head and weep
As one aghast, accurst!
Was it a spook before me past?
Of women I beheld the last,
As ADAM saw the first.

Regent Street seemed "No Thoroughfare,"
Bond Street looked weird, inhuman;
The spectres of past fashions were
Around that lonely Woman.
Some were the work of native hands,
Some had arrived from foreign lands,
Nondescript jumbles some!
Pall-Mall had now nor sound nor tread,
Park Lane was silent as the dead,
Belgravia was dumb.

Yet, lighthouse-like, that lone one stood,
Or whisked her skirts around,
Like a wild wind that sweeps the wood,
And strews with leaves the ground.
Singing, "Our hour is come, O Sun
Of Fashion! We'll have no more fun.
Solitude is _too_ slow!
True thou hast worn ten thousand shapes
(In spite of man's sour gibes