Consolations of a Faddist
Henry S. Salt
- Publisher: A. C. Fifield, London
- Published: 1906
- Length: 32
- Format: Paperback
Summary
In Consolations of a Faddist, Henry S. Salt presents a lively collection of verses that reflect his sharp wit and passionate advocacy for social reform. Comprising poems previously published in The Humanitarian, this volume showcases Salt’s ability to blend humour with scathing critique, addressing various issues from vegetarianism to anti-vivisection.
Salt opens with a vigorous preface, noting that “the fads of one age are the formulas of the next,” and he takes pride in the progress made against some of the cruelties his verses initially condemned. Notable works include the ten-line “Hymn of Thanksgiving,” written in the wake of the Boer War, and the satirical “Efficiency,” aimed at Liberal imperialists. His poems often lampoon the absurdities of societal norms and highlight the outdated practices he critiques, such as the brutality of flogging or the joys of butchery.
With a delightful blend of parody and poignancy, Salt’s verses examine the follies of human behaviour and the contradictions inherent in social customs. His keen observations extend beyond vegetarianism, targeting politicians, economists, and scientists alike, all while promoting a compassionate worldview. Through humour and logic, Salt encourages readers to reflect on the “fooleries” of their time, making this collection both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Content
- Prefatory Note
- Heart and Head
- Physiologist to Faddist
- The Song of the Naval Lords
- The Deer Departed
- The Modern Descartes
- To the Horses of the Lord Mayor
- Dumb Animals
- The Epitaph of Laissez Faire
- Efficiency
- Hymn of Thanksgiving
- Feather-Top
- Hodge’s Dream
- The Snowdown Railway
- The Moralist at the Shambles
- A Lay of the Tender
- The Butcher Bird and the Gentle Maidens
- St. Grouse’s Day
- Splitting Hairs
- Kith and Kin
- When Butchers Watch Their Flocks by Night
- Fragment of an Ode on the Extremely Distant Prospect of Humane Reform of Eton College
- Grace Before Meat
- The Village Butcher
- Cupboard Love’s Philosophy
- The Hymn of the Flagellomaniacs
- The Shade of Judge Jeffreys
- A Supper-Room Reflection
- The Birch Tree’s Petition
- The Sage of Bray
- Paterfamilias at the Breakfast Table
- St. Horsley and the Snail
- Mr. Facing-Both-Ways
- Valedictory—To the Practical Man
Reviews
- Consolations of a Faddist Justice, April 13, 1907
- Humanitarian Chants The Clarion, November 30, 1906
