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A delightfully cynical song from a naive age, this novelty number (with lyrics written by Vincent Bryan and music by Harry Von Tilzer) came closer to the truth than most people wanted. Though the tune redeems itself
somewhat in the second verse, the song faded into obscurity (perhaps quietly suppressed by an embarrassed public) but the subject matter is as relevant today as it was then. Irving Kaufman, a vaudeville and recording veteran,
recorded this in 1915 on an Oxford Indestructible cylinder (marketed through Sears-Roebuck). He handles this tune like he handled everything, with workman-like precision. As is typical with Kaufman's records, you can understand
all of the words with little strain. (A detailed essay about Irving Kaufman resides at Tim Gracyk's web site, and another recording of this tune -
by the Peerless Quartet - is on-line at the Virtual
Gramophone of Canada.)
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