Dear Soubrette

                                 I.

O, dear soubrette, a song to you I often wish to sing,

Whene’er you flutter on the stage, just like some fairy thing;

Your shapely legs and nimble feet kick sorrow all askew,

And ‘neath those bonny lustrous eyes, my heart goes out to you.

                             Chorus

O, dear soubrette, would I could get

     For you a diadem;

The leading lady is the star,

     But you’re the brilliant gem.

                                 II.

O, soubrette, to you we owe the sunshine of the stage;

And here’s a hearty song to you, no matter what your age.

Dark tragedy may make us weep, and villains make us hiss,

But you, sweet fairy of the wings, you fill our hearts with bliss.

                             Chorus

O, dear soubrette, my footlight pet,

     For you a diadem;

The leading lady is the star,

     But you’re the sparkling gem.

Sept. 26, 1895

Pub. in the N.Y.

Dramatic News,

  Oct. 5, ‘95

Diadem - a crown that is worn especially by a king or queen as a symbol of royalty

                                                                                                                                                                             http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diadem