Punch,  61 (1871), 166.

Gregarious Chatter

Anon

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Sociology, Human Species


    Compares members of 'Social Science gatherings' to rooks who caw in concert 'with the clack / Of many a garrulous jackdaw'. Notes their 'sere and brown' caucus on foliage. Likens the prating of social science gatherings to the noise at the 'Parsons' Congress' — an 'annual parley' that sounds like a meeting of rooks and jackdaws. Notes that once a year the jaws of members of these gatherings 'o'erleaps all bounds'. Thinks the 'Sage and Divine and likewise Bird' are united in their 'common noisiness' and their common interest in 'hearing and being heard'. Concludes that musical ears prefer the chorus of birds to the talk of sages and divines.



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