Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917.
Burlesque Address (abridged)Fitz-Greene Halleck
L
Enlighten’d as you are, you all must know
Our playhouse was burnt down, some time ago,
Without insurance— ’Twas a famous blaze,
Fine fun for firemen, but dull sport for plays.
The proudest of our whole dramatic corps
Such warm reception never met before.
It was a woeful night for us and ours;
Worse than dry weather to the fields and flowers.
The evening found us gay as summer’s lark,
Happy as sturgeons in the Tappan Sea;
The morning—like the dove from Noah’s Ark,
As homeless, houseless, innocent as she,
But—thanks to those who ever have been known
To love the public interest—when their own;
Thanks to the men of talent and of trade,
Who joy in doing well—when they’re well paid,
Again our fire-worn mansion is rebuilt,
Inside and outside, neatly carv’d and gilt,
With best of paint and canvas, lath and plaster,
The Lord bless Beekman and John Jacob Astor.