Opening
Aux Animaux
In Holland, at the Hague, you know, Well-regulated people go To the Hotel Ozanimo. (The spelling I've carnegified; I often do this on the side). Here all Creation lives in peace, And therefore Wonders never Cease!
ERIC'S BOOK OF BEASTS
DONE IN WATER-COLORS AND ACCOMPANIED WITH APPROPRIATE JINGLES BY DAVID STARR JORDAN
INTERPRETED IN BLACK AND WHITE BY SHIMADA SEKKO
PAUL ELDER AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS·SAN FRANCISCO
Copyright, 1912 By Paul Elder & Company
Prefatory Note
These cartoons were made one by one in moments of leisure to please a small boy. They are now reprinted in the hope of pleasing other small boys and girls. They were originally in color, but for the present purpose they have been made over in black and white by a Japanese artist, who has given them life by occasional quaint touches of his own.
David Starr Jordan Stanford University, California January 19, 1912
L'Envoi
I write and paint in doggerel Though all the Muses shriek and yell! I go serenely on my way Not caring what such folks may say!
Page
Aux Animaux Frontispiece Prefatory Note iii L'Envoi v Eric's Planet 2 The Caravan 4 Jack the Rabbit 6 An Elephant 8 The 'Potamus 10 My Crocodile 12 The Giraffe 14 A Goat 16 The 'Possum 18 Old Sea Catch 20 Quail 22 The Ptarmigan 24 The Pelican 26 The Man 28 The Fish 30 The Lion 32 Horned Toad 34 A Hospitable Reptile 36 A Social Lobster 38 Cats and Kings 40 Little Children 42 Six Kings 44 An Aspiring Monkey 46 Old Time Folks 48 The Wunx 50 Totem Poles 52 Organ and Organ Man 54 In Moonlight 56 Hunter and Deer 58 The Gazelle 60 A Bulldog by the River 62 The Squidgecumsquees 64 Road to Mandalay 66 Mitgard Serpent 68 Saint Georgeing the Dragon 70 Flotsam and Jetsam 72 The Atoll 74 Storm Wind 76 Eric in the Dark 78 Mars' Stars and Pa's 80 The Porcupine 82 The Purple Cow 84 I and Gnu 86 Bobo 88 The Lone Salmon 90 Bean Soup 92 A Lost Shadow 94 The Gazibou 96 In Junglest Africa 98 Eric Fishing 100 Eric's Bulldog 102 The Steering Gear 104 Brother Knight 106 My Daddy's Family 108 Christmas Past 110 The Last Act 112 Inca Tail-piece
ERIC'S BOOK OF BEASTS
Eric's Planet
Eric said to Jupiter: "Here I am. Good morning, Sir, What are your small planets worth? Give me one. I'll take the Earth."
The Caravan
Van! Van! Caravan! Who is the camel and which is the man?
Jack the Rabbit
Jack the Rabbit Has the habit When you look him in the face He is in some other place.
An Elephant
I never saw an Elephant But that's no symptom that I sha'n't.
The 'Potamus
My little 'Potamus and I Walk hand in hand when roads are dry, But when the clouds begin to rain, I creep into his mouth again.
My Crocodile
My Crocodile is good to me— He is as nice as he can be; But when I go out for a ride, I'd rather not come back inside.
The Giraffe
If the Giraffe were not so tall He'd be an Awful Cannibal, But just before he goes to bed He sits awhile upon his head.
A Goat
This little beast is called a Goat, He isn't anything of note, But give him a tomato can And he's a match for any Man.
The 'Possum
The 'Possum sees the little boy; It does not seem to give him joy.
Old Sea Catch
Old Sea Catch comes out on the shore To Roar, And then he thinks it's time once more To Roar, And then he thinks he'll have to roar Some more!
Quail
I would not like to be a Quail, And have Salt sprinkled on my Tail.
The Ptarmigan
The Ptarmigan lives in the Snow; Can Eric see him? I don't know.
The Pelican
If I were born a Pelican, I'd try my best to be a Man!
The Man
If I were born a Man, I'd wish I might associate with Fish.
The Fish
If I were born a fish— but then, No use to wish: Men must be Men.
The Lion
The Lion looks like Santa Claus, I think that this should give him paws. When he on Lionizing's bent, He always looks benevolent.
Horned Toad
Phryne is the beast, his name, Eric loves him just the same; On his back, see, if you please, Eric's name in Japanese.
A Hospitable Reptile
This Reptile is a hardened sinner; But when a friend drops in for dinner, He greets him with an open smile, And makes him merry quite a while. O let us, like this Reptile, be Renowned for Hospitality!
A Social Lobster
The Lobster's home is in the Sea; It is as humble as may be. But he has wandered far afield, And now his presence is revealed Within our best Society. This Lesson to us all is sent To lend us due Encouragement.
Cats and Kings
A Cat may look at any King, If he cares for that sort of thing; And, if he likes the likes of that, Most any King can see a Cat.
Little Children
Little children at their play, Happy, scrappy all the day.
Six Kings
There were six Kings of Yvetôt; They stood up there all in a row, And every time they looked around They cast their eyes upon the ground. I do not like to look at Kings— They do such very awful things; For actions such as this must tend To make one's hair stand up on end!
An Aspiring Monkey
Once a Monkey in Japan Vowed his destiny was Man; So he climbed up in a tree, Then I saw him wink at me.
Old Time Folks
These twain our ancestors must be, (Arboreal, undoubtedly) But this is true; it seems to me, If Adam looked like this and Eve, (With no intention to deceive) Thus in Creation's Rosy Dawn, I'm glad that I came later on.
The Wunx
In their dugout lives the Wunx With his jolly family; Tasting happiness in chunks, Just the same as you and me: Not much use the world to roam— Happiness is found at home.
(After J. W. R.)
Totem Poles
O, my Prophetic Soul! I see a Totem Pole— The only Ancient Screed That Hempl cannot read!
Organ and Organ Man
The children sing in far Japan; The children sing in Spain; The organ and the organ man Are singing in the rain!
R. L. S.
In Moonlight
The squally Cat and squeaky Mouse; The howly Dog, by the door of the house; The Bat that hangs to his bed till noon, They all come out by the light of the moon.
R. L. S.
Hunter and Deer
"The Hunter still the Deer pursues, The Hunter and the Deer a shade."
The Gazelle
I never loved a fond Gazelle But it would jump and snort and yell.
A Bulldog by the River
A Bulldog by the river's brim, A sinful Bulldog was to him.
Squidgecumsquees
The Cats catch Mice and the Goblins chase the Elves, But the Squidgecumsquees they swallow themselves.
(After J. W. R.)
Road to Mandalay
On the Road to Mandalay Where the Flying Fishes play And the Dawn come up like thunder Out of China, 'cross the Bay.
R. K.
Mitgard Serpent
It was the Mitgard Serpient, He grabbed the Earth and away he went; (The Mitgard Serpent was a Cat With a dozen legs, or about like that). He swallowed his tail with all his might, Then spit on his claws and held on tight; And so the world went round all right. And 'twas sometimes day and sometimes night, And 'twas always dark when it wasn't light.
Saint Georgeing the Dragon
There once was a brave Knight of Pendragon, Who tried to Saint George an old Dragon; But the Dragon had Claws At the ends of his Paws, (With no adequate Pauses At the ends of his Clauses). At last when the scrimmage was done, The Dragon had most of the Fun!
Flotsam and Jetsam
There once was a person in Spatsum Who et some and gave to his cat some; But just what he et That I cannot tell yet, But 'twas probably Flotsam and Jetsam.
The Atoll
I know a magic circle in the Sea Etched on the blue with pale gray coral sand. A mountain sank there once, amid the spray, Its widening eddies stiffened into land With lazy surges flapping on the strand!
Storm Wind
One day the Storm Wind came to town And the Barometer went down. And all the dogs and cats had wings— And so had all the other things.
Eric in the Dark
Little Eric in the dark Saw a Boojum and a Snark With a bunch of Gobelins; Also many other things. Such, a small boy sees in dreams When by night he ups and screams.
Mars' Stars and Pa's
The Sun is down, The lazy Hound; The Moon is up, The little Pup. I see the Stars; One of 'em's Mars, I think the others Must be Pa's. The Stars shine bright, I'm sure it's night; Then go to bed, You sleepy-head!
The Porcupine
The Porcupine's awake at Dawn To see how Eric's coming on.
The Purple Cow
"I never saw a Purple Cow!" How can I paint one? This is How!
I and Gnu
When we have nothing else to do We ride together, I and Gnu; And if I'm feeling extra smart, I take him spinning in my cart!
Bobo!
Comes the Bobo from his lair, Cats and squirrels in his hair. Eric's not a bit afraid; He knows how such beasts are made.
The Lone Salmon
Little Eric caught a Salmon Wandering through the field! Mother said: "It is alarmon' What our waters yield."
Bean Soup
Bean soup is bad! It makes me mad When mother gives such stuff to me. But when I pour It on the floor I'm just as happy as I can be. When Mother spanks I give her thanks, Because I know 'tis good for me. A happy Boy Am I. O Joy! What time my Daddy paints for me!
A Lost Shadow
Eric and his little Shadow Went out walking in the Meadow. Little Shadow got away— Haven't seen him since that day.
The Gazibou
Here we go, O Gazibou! Eric's not afraid of you; You may scratch and reach and cough But you cannot throw him off!
In Junglest Africa[A]
When politicians bungle 'Tis quiet in the Jungle— For all the Beasts are tired Because a Man is fired.
And may the parrot teach us This lesson of the hour— That going out of Office Is going into Power.
[A] The cartoon is suggested by one in the "Indianapolis News," 1910.
Eric Fishing
Little Eric went a-fishing With his rod and line and hook, And his wishing cap for wishing Half the minnows in the brook. This is what he caught by wishing: Trout and flying-fish and whale. This is what he caught by fishing: One small tadpole by the tail!
Eric's Bulldog
Bulldog is a fearsome thing— Eric leads him with a string.
The Steering Gear
Brother Knight pounds away with his hammer so gay, While Daddy does stunts with his pen; And mother sits clear at the steering gear And bosses all three of us men.
Brother Knight
Brother Knight is fond of curls; Half his ancestors were girls! So your daddy says; but, then, Half of mine were gentlemen. Thus we understand each other As a sister does a brother. 'Tis a combination fine— Will you be my Valentine?
My Daddy's Family
Brother Knight, he is all right, With Harold, Edith and the rest; But of all my Daddy's family I like myself the best.
Christmas Past
Content am I but just to sign the checks; Nor wot what mystery is brewing next!
The Last Act
Eric's grown up with the men; He won't need these things again. Sweep them out! He'll find his Joy With some other sort of Toy!
Little Incas have long ears, May they sleep a thousand years!
AND SO HERE ENDETH "ERIC'S BOOK OF BEASTS" WHICH DAVID STARR JORDAN DID WITH HIS PEN AND PAINT BOX, BUT THE PICTURES WERE TOO BEE-YOUTIFUL AND 'SPENSIVE; SO HE GOT HIS FRIEND, SHIMADA SEKKO, TO TRANSLATE THEM INTO CALM BLACK AND WHITE. PAUL ELDER AND COMPANY OF SAN FRANCISCO HAVE MADE THEM INTO A BOOK, WITH GREAT GLEE. AT THEIR TOMOYE PRESS JOHN SWART DESIGNED THE TYPE FACE, AND JEAN OLIVER HELPED WITH THE DECORATIONS—AND IT WAS ALL FINISHED AND SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD FOR GOOD BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY, 1912