Chapter I: Foreword: THE WORLD WE LAUGH IN! xi

RHYMES FOR THE TIMES

'WHAT'S IN A NAME?' 1

NOBODY'S DARLING! 3

ROSES ALL THE WAY 6

THE TRIUMPH OF JAM 8

EGREGIOUS EASTBOURNE 10

SARAH OWEN 12

THE LAST HORSED 'BUS 15

STAGE SUPPORT 17

SCRIBBLERS ALL! 20

THE LYONS CUBS 22

'THE CRIES OF LONDON' 25

THE MODEL FARM 27

THE ADVENTURER 29

A PLEA FOR PONTO 31

THE 'WASTER' 33

THE CHOICE 36

ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF BOSTON SCHOOL 38

THE SPORTING SPIRIT 40

PERSPECTIVE 43

'RAG-TIME' 45

'THE PIPES' 47

MODERN DANCING 49

THE PUBLIC INTEREST 52

THE MILITANTS 54

PLAGUES AT THE PLAY 57

A SUGGESTION 59

THE MODEL MOTORIST 61

THE PARISH PUMP 64

POLICE COURT SENSE 66

CLUB CANTOS

CANTO I. THE ATHENAEUM 69

CANTO II. WHITE'S 72

CANTO III. THE BACHELORS' 74

CANTO IV. THE GARRICK 76

CANTO V. THE AUTOMOBILE 79

CANTO VI. BROOKS'S 81

CANTO VII. 'THE BEEFSTEAK' 84

CANTO VIII. THE TRAVELLERS' 87

CANTO IX. 'THE BATH' 90

SONGS IN SEASON

NEW YEAR'S EVE 93

FEBRUARY 95

SPRING 97

SPRING-CLEANING 100

'ROYAL ASCOT' 102

'ROSES' 105

THE END OF THE SEASON 107

THE COCKNEY OF THE NORTH 109

'THE TWELFTH' 111

NOVEMBER 113

THE CYNIC'S CHRISTMAS 115

ENVOI 119