[Editor: This poem by W. T. Goodge (using his pseudonym of “The Colonel”) was published in his “Nutshells” column in the Orange Leader, 18 October 1899.]
The New Test.
They give George Reid a souvenir
To show they hold his friendship dear,
But when the toasts are done we fear,
And gone is all the wine and beer,
But few who stay
Will try to sap:
“Citizens’ silver souvenir!”
Source:
Orange Leader and Millthorpe Messenger (Orange, NSW), 18 October 1899, p. 1
Editor’s notes:
citizens’ silver souvenir = a silver medal to commemorate a service or occasion, although not an official medal issued by a government, but one created by a citizen or a group of citizens
George Reid = Sir George Reid (1845-1918), leader of the Free Traders in New South Wales, NSW parliamentarian (1880-1901), federal parliamentarian (1901-1909), and the fourth Prime Minister of Australia (1904-1905)
[Editor: Changed “Citizens” to “Citizens’” (added an apostrophe).]
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