When Roses cease to bloom, Sir, 1
And Violets are done－
When Bumblebees in solemn flight
Have passed beyond the Sun－
The hand that paused to gather 5
Upon this Summer's day
Will idle lie－in Auburn－
Then take my flowers－pray!
And Violets are done－
When Bumblebees in solemn flight
Have passed beyond the Sun－
The hand that paused to gather 5
Upon this Summer's day
Will idle lie－in Auburn－
Then take my flowers－pray!
(F.8/J.32)
[1] Rose:: a peerless or matchless person (OED n.1 5). cease to bloom:: to stop to be good.
[2] Violets:: modest men. done:: exhausted.
[3] Bumblebees:: bumble bees; blundered people with whimsical thoughts.
[4] Sun:: the authority. beyond the Sun:: beyond the law.
[7] Auburn:: name of the New York City prison.
Such was the origin of the Auburn prison, [1816.] This prison, which has become so celebrated since, was at first founded upon a plan essentially erroneous; it limited itself to some classifications, and each of these cells was destined to receive two convicts: it was of all combinations the most unfortunate; it would have been better to throw together fifty criminals in the same room, than to separate them two by two. This inconvenience was soon felt, and in 1819 the Legislature of the State of New York, ordered the erection of a new building at Auburn, (the northern wing) in order to increase the number of solitary cells. However, it must be observed, that no idea as yet existed of the system which has prevailed since. On the Penitentiary System in the United States (1833)
