A Complaint of the Times

     
  
  So much regulation and so few lives saved, 
 So much loud music and so little melody, 
 So many doctorates and none wiser made, 
 Such license in the name of liberty, 
      So much compassion preached, so little shown, 
      Since the world's beginning there was never known. 
  
  So much production of so many shoddy goods, 
 So little saving and so much money spent, 
 So many rulings so little understood, 
 Such lavish shows and such poor amusement, 
      So many bureaus fat and purses lean 
      Since the world's beginning there was never seen. 
  
  So much to bed, so little marrying, 
 So many new police and no less crime, 
 So many churches built, so few prayed in, 
 So many new dollars not worth a dime, 
      So much speculation on so little ground 
      Since the world's beginning there was never found. 
  
  So much change of fashion and no beauty gained, 
 So much expense so little justified, 
 So many principles so ill explained, 
 So much self-praising with so little pride, 
      So much prophecy of ruin and so little heed, 
      Since the world's beginning can no scholars read.