b15966410_0021_191_2 THE CRYSTAL PALACE UN-VISITED. (After Wordsworth.) By an Honourable and Gallant Member. THROUGH Piccadilly we had been; The mazy throng unravelled; The hideous mounted Statue seen, And by the Corner travelled: And when we came to Albert Gate, In earnest or in malice, My comrade cried—” We ‘11 turn aside, And see the Crystal Palace!” “Let foolish folk who come to town, And leave their buying, selling, There spend their money, ‘tis their own, Each unit pay his shilling! Let Farmers join the reckless race, To Free-Trade ruin callous; But we will down by Wilton Place, And shun the Crystal Palace! “What is it but a shed of glass, With idiots flocking under? Outside I happened once to pass, And thought it no such wonder !“— Strange words they seemed of slight arid scorn, My friend waxed somewhat jealous, And whistled when he heard them said About the Crystal Palace! “Oh, dull,” said I, “the Koh-i-noor, The greatest humbug going! The fountains may be bright and pure, Yet we will leave them flowing. By Belgrave Square, or through Mayfair, We ‘11 wander for our solace; But though so near, we will not turn Into the Crystal Palace. “Let those who can afford, partake The sweets they dearly pay for; Where ice, unless you’re wide awake, Costs double—ice and wafer; We will not have it; let it go, Their lemonade in chalice! Enough if by repute we know The viands of the Palace. “Be all the Show unseen, unknown!. It must,or I shall rue it; I have a notion of my own, And why should I undo it? The pledges of the Session past, With all my fiery sallies, Would melt in ai- if I. went there, To see the Crystal Palace.