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 His poems often lampoon the absurdities of societal norms and highlight the outdated practices he critiques, such as the brutality of flogging or the joys of butchery.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