Life, 1895-09-05 · page 12 of 16
Life — September 5, 1895 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Whale and the Sprat" This is a humorous narrative poem by Bliss Carman depicting two animals on a drinking binge. A large whale and tiny sprat travel together, consuming cocktails and ale across vast distances. The whale boasts excessively about his power—flattening seas, thrashing harpooners—while growing increasingly intoxicated and verbose. The sprat, recognizing the whale's drunken bragging ("talk through your hat"), wisely exits the situation. The moral appears satirical: the smaller, smarter creature escapes while the powerful, self-important one destroys himself through excess. The piece likely mocks wealthy or powerful men who drink heavily, boast, and lose perspective, while suggesting that intelligence and restraint (represented by the small sprat) prove more valuable than size and strength. The bottom section, "The Passing of the Seal," jokingly predicts sealskin coats will become extinct, suggesting husbands will soon buy wives cheaper mail armor instead—satirizing both environmental depletion and marriage economics of the era.
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156 THE WHALE AND THE SPRAT. S the whale and the sprat Came down Ararat, ‘They felt a desire to go ona bat. said the sprat to the whale, Shall we travel by rail, Or would you prefer just an afternoon sail ?” » abe Pe; Said the whale to the sprat, *T should much prefer that ; The land always makes me as sick as a cat.” Said the sprat to the whale, ** Will you have a cocktail ‘To tone up your system? You look rather pale.”” Said the whale to the sprat, “Tam getting too fat ; [am drinking too much, but I can’t resist that.” Then the sprat and the whale Had another cocktail, And several others ; and then they took ale, So the whale and the sprat They played tit-for-tat, From the Straits of Belle Isle to the Ant- arctic lat Till Sprat said to Whale, * Do let me prevail On your del der quail. fe stomach with toast un- “My dear Mr. Sprat, I really am gr: Ified at your offer.” sat. So down they both Said the sprat to the whale, *Tadmire your tail ; I should think it would be of such use in a gale.” Said the whale to the sprat, “TL admire your chat— So charming I hardly know where I am at. * LIFE A STORY WITH A MORAL. é c * The people all quail When I wallop my tail ; And I thresh the harpooners like chaff with a flail. ““T lay the seas flat ‘As a crumpled door-mat, Or churn them all up like the froth in 2 vat. ** The sea is my pail ; The shingle and shale Are the dregs when I shake it to sec if it’s stale. “Dear me,” said the sprat, “That's all very pat ; But aren't you afraid you will talk through your hat?” Then the high-dudgeon whale Flew off on a trail ; And he rounded the Horn with a flip of his tail, Said the cute little sprat, “Tam well out of that!" And he winked to himself as he tied his cravat. Bliss Carman, THE PASSING OF THE SEAL. F the eports from Bering Sca be true, the coming woman will not be able to have a sealskin over- s the hunters from that region declare that the seal is extinct there. whos sealskins were new Lire felicitates those ladies last winter and mourns with those who have none. for from present indications it will not be long before the average husband will consider it cheaper to buy his wi’e a cloak of mail set with diamonds and other precious stones. SUGGESTIVE. i is HUSBAND: Would you for- get me if I should die ? THE WIFE: No, not entirely, I'd think of you every time I made a fire. H I wonder what she meant by tell- ing me she could never marry a man. SHE: Perhaps she said it to encourage you.