Newspaper History presents media sourced from a United States newspaper dating back 108 years.

  • The Daily Dangle

    From the Evening Star, December 29, 1912. By Philander Johnson.
     
    
     They sing about the dear old farm,
         And of the leafy lane,
     And of the village school whose charm
         They cannot quite explain.
     And since they wander through the map
         While touching strains are sung,
     I’ll carol of the street car strap,
         Where I have often hung!
     
     How I swayed with courage stout,
     Like some banner tossed about!
         I almost learned to take a little nap.
     With a cultivated twist
     Of the muscles of my wrist,
         I have dangled daily from the street car strap!
     
     We strive to view the roof o’erhead
         With an expression sweet.
     We say “Beg pardon!” as we tread
         On one another’s feet.
     How proudly shines the polished place
         Round which our hands we wrap,
     As in suspension there we grace
         The dear old street car strap!
     
     How it helped to keep my nerve
     As we went around the curve
         And almost fell into somebody’s lap.
     I enjoy my only chance
     At a modern ragtime dance
         As I hang upon that dear old street car strap.