[Rarebooks] FS: Verses against bankers, 1874

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Clark, William Adolphus. State Street. A Satire. [Boston:] A. W. Lovering, [1874]. First edition. 8vo, original blue wrappers, 29 pp. Covers creased and stained, dampstain to the foredge of the first several pages; final two leaves and rear cover with some erosion in the upper right corner (not affecting any text). A good copy of a scarce, ephemeral work; not in OCLC. 



A fascinating verse diatribe which spends a handful of lines railing against commoners and immigrants in Boston who pretended to good breeding, plebians who put on airs and pretended to be gentlemen, and women who would only entertain the attentions of men with money (“Their lady loves had charms to win / ‘Good looking fellows who had tin’ / so ‘went for them’ and laughed to see / Those left go mad in misery”). Most of the work, however, is aimed against dishonest bankers: 



“The banks are run by those who play 

Each unto each through every day. 

There are those who get what they desire, 

All full of consequence and fire, 

Paying but moderate for a loan, 

While others for it sweat and groan. 

What these may make by honest toil 

They pay away as State Street spoil! 

… 

‘They talk up stocks not worth a d—n,’ 

While knowing they are all a sham! 

And get good money for the same, 

Without the slightest sense of shame. 

Who can be gulled will grow so poor, 

They’ll State Street curse forever more.” 




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Greg Powers 

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