The Poor Was Mad

"The Poor Was Mad" by Charles Battell Loomis is a satirical novella that explores the absurdities of societal norms and the complexities of human nature through the lens of poverty and madness. The narrative follows a nameless protagonist who delves into the experiences and perspectives of the impoverished, exposing the often ironic and humorous contradictions in the ways society views wealth and class. Loomis's witty prose critiques social attitudes, challenging readers to reconsider their preconceptions about poverty, sanity, and the value placed on material wealth. Through engaging characters and sharp observations, the book offers a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition.

• Short story

								
A FAIRY SHTORY FOR LITTLE CHILDHER

Wance upon a toime the poor was virry poor indade, an’ so they wint
to a rich leddy that was that rich that she had goold finger-nails,
an’ was that beautifil that it ’u’d mek you dopey to luke at her.
An’ the poor asht her would she give thim the parin’s of her goold
finger-nails fer to sell. An’ she said she would that, an’ that ivery
Chuesdeh she did be afther a-parin’ her nails. So of a Chuesdeh the
poor kem an’ they tuke the goold parin’s to a jewel-ery man, an’ he
gev thim good money fer thim. Wasn’t she the koind leddy, childher?
Well, wan day she forgot to pare her nails, an’ so they had nothin’
to sell. An’ the poor was mad, an’ they wint an’ kilt the leddy
intoirely. An’ whin she was kilt, sorra bit would the nails grow
upon her, an’ they saw they was silly to kill her. So they wint out
to sairch fer a leddy wid silver finger-nails. An’ they found her,
an’ she was that beautifil that her face was all the colors of the
rainbow an’ two more besides. An’ the poor asht her would she give
thim the parin’s of her silver finger-nails fer to sell. An’ she
said that she would that, an’ that ivery Chuesdeh she did be afther
a-parin’ her nails. So of a Chuesdeh the poor kem an’ they tuke the
silver parin’s to the jewel-ery man, an’ he gev thim pretty good
money fer thim, but not nair as good as fer the goold. But he was the
cute jewel-ery man, wasn’t he, childher? Well, wan day she forgot to
pare her nails, an’ so they had nothin’ to sell. An’ the poor was
mad, an’ they wint an’ kilt the leddy intoirely. An’ whin she was
kilt, sorra bit would the nails grow upon her, an’ they saw they was
silly to kill her. So they wint out to sairch for a leddy wid tin
finger-nails. An’ they found her, an’ she was that beautifil that
she would mek you ristless. An’ the poor asht her would she give
thim the parin’s of her tin finger-nails fer to sell. An’ she said
she would that, an’ that ivery Chuesdeh she did be afther a-parin’
her nails. So of a Chuesdeh the poor kem. An’ did they git the tin
nails, childher? Sure, that’s where y’ are out. They did not, fer the
leddy had lost a finger in a mowin’-machine, an’ she didn’t have tin
finger-nails at arl, at arl--only noine.
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