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No. 14: SONG (King Paramount & Flowers of Progress)
"Society has quite forsaken all her wicked courses."

Midi Symbol MIDI File [40KB, 3' 14"]

King.
Society has quite forsaken all her wicked courses.
Which empties our police courts, and abolishes divorces.
Flowers of Progress.
Divorce is nearly obsolete in England.
King.
No tolerance we show to undeserving rank and splendour;
For the higher his position is, the greater the offender.
Flowers of Progress.
That's a maxim that is prevalent in England.
King.
No peeress at our drawing-room before the Presence passes
Who wouldn't be accepted by the lower middle-classes.
Each shady dame, whatever be her rank, is bowed out neatly.
Flowers of Progress.
In short, this happy country has been Anglicized completely,
Completely, completely!
It really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicizing
We have brought about — Utopia's quite another land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England — with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mother-land!
Click on picture to enlarge
Rutland Barrington as King Paramount, 1893

King.
Our city we have beautified — we've done it willy-nilly —
And all that isn't Belgrave Square is Strand and Piccadilly.
Flowers of Progress.
We haven't any slummeries in England!
King.
We have solved the labour question with discrimination polished
So poverty is obsolete and hunger is abolished.
Flowers of Progress.
We are going to abolish it in England!
King.
The Chamberlain our native stage has purged beyond a question.
Of "risky" situation and indelicate suggestion;
No piece is tolerated if it's costumed indiscreetly —
Flowers of Progress.
In short, this happy country has been Anglicized completely,
Completely, completely!
It really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicizing
We have brought about — Utopia's quite another land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England — with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mother-land!

Click on picture to enlarge
The Minstrel scene as performed by D'Oyly Carte's "D" Company which toured the opera 1893-4
King.
Our Peerage we've remodelled on an intellectual basis,
Which certainly is rough on our hereditary races —
Flowers of Progress.
We are going to remodel it in England.
King.
The Brewers and the Cotton Lords no longer seek admission,
And literary merit meets with proper recognition —
Flowers of Progress.
As literary merit does in England!
King.
Who knows but we may count among our intellectual chickens
Like you, an Earl of Thackery and p'r'aps a Duke of
Dickens —
Lord Fildes and Viscount Millais (when they come) we'll
welcome sweetly —
Flowers of Progress.
In short, this happy country has been Anglicized completely,
Completely, completely!
It really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicizing
We have brought about — Utopia's quite another land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England — with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mother-land!

All.
It really is surprising
What a thorough Anglicizing
We have brought about — Utopia's quite another land;
In her enterprising movements,
She is England — with improvements,
Which we dutifully offer to our mother-land!

At the end all rise and replace their chairs.

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