The day now arrived for the startling “début,” And our heroine smiling emerged to the view Of the Boulevards, where “tout le monde” in a maze At the strange apparatus in wonder did gaze.
This strange apparatus, as I before said, Perched on heels that supported a hump on the head, A hump on the back and a crook in the arm Presented a vision entitled to charm
The eyes of all artists; for sure ’tis their duty To recognize always the true curve of beauty; And who can deny that here was a curve Sufficiently curving as model to serve?
The world, as I said, at first in a maze, With sneers at the strange apparatus did gaze; But when this same world at last did discover The “strange apparatus” was she, and no other,
Who only last year the gay fashion did lead, And lived on the Boulevard Malesherbes indeed! They suddenly found that her present strange style Was but a new fashion she’d set all the while.
Upon the discovery that, without doubt, The humps and the crooks were “_the_ latest out;” With common accord the dear feminine gender, At once set to work in trying to render
Themselves in appearance as near as could be, To her who was now all the fashion, you see. So where only yesterday out on the street But one crooked female you might chance to meet,
To-day there existed a hundred at least, Who made up a pantomime, truly a feast Of color and form, to him who delights In fine graceful contours and that sort of sights;
And yet it is proper that I should confess (For to know “what is what” I did never profess), The sight of curved females at first raised a question Which seemed to me worthy some solid reflection.
The question was this: if ’tis true as averred, Human origin may to the ape be referred, Then we are now turning, I boldly declare, To monkeys again. Pray look at the air
Of that monkey the organ-man carries about. Gaze but a short moment and you will find out When standing, his back just describes the outline Of that fashionable female, in garments so fine.
Does not this resemblance, oh, tell me, I pray, ’Twixt apes and the fashionable dames of to-day, Suggest to your mind the identical question, Which seemed to me worthy some solid reflection?
I say, that it _seemed_, for I must explain, On seeing the bend, I could not refrain At first from scorn and dejection, but now My feelings are altered entirely, I vow.