The Life of Pleasure
Vanity Fair (UK) (November 10, 1904)
(General Kuropatkin has stated that “this is the pleasantest war I was ever engaged in”.)
WHENE’ER I sally to the fight,
I feel a sort of calm delight:
I think I never hit on quite
So high a time before.
A fellow really gets a lot
Of quiet fun from dodging shot;
And as for night attacks! Great Scott,
This is a jolly war.
I wonder if you know the Japs?
They’re most delightful little chaps:
The way they make my plans collapse
Compels a man to roar.
Some Generals might not think it fun
To lose a regiment or a gun;
I’m far from being such an one:
This is a jolly war.
Their leaders are a genial set.
I own somehow I haven’t met
Oyama or Kuroki yet:
That pleasure’s still in store.
But yet, to judge from all reports,
They’re wonderfully decent sorts:
It’s fun to see them storming forts;
This is a jolly war.