more "Limerick" quotes

[Stephen Goranson]

In 1892 the word "Limerick" appeared in a perhaps noteworthy setting. This quote was found last year by Dr. Bob Turvey (who also found the 1895 Kipling quote). By now I assume his article, "An 1892 Use of the Word 'Limerick' in America" has been published in "The Pentatette" Limerick newsletter, edited by Doug Harris (and formerly edited by Arthur Deex).  Thanks to them for sharing this text with me last year. The quote is in Printers' Ink, A Journal for Advertisers (New York) v. 7 no. 23 Dec. 7, 1892 pp.749-50. It is a report from London, but to an American audience. T. B. Russell recalls that certain ads used nonsense verses, which he--and not the ads--termed "Limericks."
http://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=limericks+allcock+intitle:ink&num=10

Doug Harris also noted an article in which comment on "Limerick" may reflect the reputation of the verses--or, at least, such may be a plausible inference. New York Times. Jan 21, 1894 p. 8 "Not Lady Limericks Please"
"A Worthy Organization Feels Most Grossly Libeled....What's in a name?...unlike the poet's rose...." the [New York] Limerick Women's Benevolent and Social Association objected to being called Lady Limericks.

In the May 1860 quote (posted by Garson O'Toole) for Lecompcon I suggest reading Lecompton [Kansas], and interpret the passage as reflecting the impending Civil War.

Recall also, along with other US "come to Limerick" quotes (in the sense of surrender or settle or the like):
Nov. 1880 Canadian "wont you come to Limerick" (after "There was a young rustic named Mallory....") and the
Dec. 1880 "Limerick Rhymes" (published in New York). George Wilkes was associated with both the National Police Gazette and with The Spirit of the Times, that published five-line nonsense verses during the Civil War.
Nov. 13, 1881 "Limerick Rhymes" Daily Globe. (St. Paul, Minn.)
Oct. 10, 1891 "Limerick license," apparent play on "poetic license." The Critic (New York) no. 406, p. 179: "...we would say, with Limerick license, that if Mr. Knight's novel were the only one ever written about Theosophy, it would still be the worst."
Jan. 1895 letter (with "Limericks") from Kipling, then in Naulakha, Vermont.
Oct. 1898 Broadway magazine - Page 557 v2 n1
"VIVACIOUS VERSES, by Lawrence Limerick. This is a collection of scintillating
stanzas, intended, we presume, for the eyes of children. But grown-ups can
derive singular pleasure from the perusal of some of them. This, for instance:
There was a young girl of New York,
Who never ate bacon nor pork;
When they said: "Have some ham?
She replied "Yes I am!"
Which surprised the young men of New York.
This little book of verses will probably be distributed in the schools in this
fall."

Would it then be accurate to write "Add in the earliest examples of the term being from the UK and _limerick_ would more probably have appeared first in Britain."? Or more accurate: the poem name limerick is, on present evidence, first attested in North America?

Stephen Goranson
http://www.duke.edu/~goranson

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