P5 ia<=is^ 3L7 isTO FLu^-^s E2s::oi3:.A.3sro-Er). »S 1292 .C455 )4 ^opy 1 ^ BAhERS NOVELTIES HENRY'S come MENAGERIE. 1^ COPVriW Copyright Act, under whioh his valuable stage rights can be fully protected, yiV 'I* enables us to otter to amateur actors a series of modern pieces of the highest 'f? /iV class, all AV have obtained authority to otter thenr for acting purposes at an author's roy- ifiV W altyof W Ten Dollars for Each Performance. This rate does not apply to prqf^essional jierformances, for which terms will be made known on application. /IN ^iS ffS TWP A l\7r A T^OIVJ^ I A Farcical Romance in Thfee Acts. BvArthi^r ^f^ /iV '^ ^^^ -rt-iVirkZ-^^i^O. w. PixKKo. Seven nuile and five female char- iiV *f3 acters. Costumes, .modern; scenery, an>.) Mf SJ;r THE CABINET MINISTER.! l„.S"■^^^^'.VSl"„'■o.^TS■, ,nS'o Vl? ^1^ ■' and nine temale characters, ^k'g, \ff Costumes, luodevn society ; scenery, three interiors. A very amusing piece, in- Mr ^i^ genious in constru'.'n.)!., and brilliant in dialogue. (18'J2.) ^|^ M^ "nAlVJnV DTrT'v 1 a Farce in Tluee Acts. By ARTHUR W. Pixero. Mf 1*4^ l^'rViNl-' I i^lv-iiV» Seven male, four female characters. Costumes, mod- ^k'g yff — ' ern ; scenery, two interiors. This very amusing piece vf ^k'A w'as another success in the New York and Boston theatres, and has been ex- ^A^ Mf tensively played from manuscript by amateurs, for whom it is in every respect M' \k'M suited. It provides an unusual number of capital character parts, is very funny, ^|^ Mf and an excellent acting piece. I'lays two hours and a half. (1893.) Mf Kk'd 1*1-117 ■U'r\T2T2V T-IirM?QT7 I A Comedy in Three Acts. By ARTTirR k*i% \y LtitL ttU15S5Y ilUKbn. w. Pinkuo. Ten male, tive female char- \f/ ^1% ' acters. Scenery, two interiors and an ex- ^|^ ^ff terior : costumes, modern. This piece is best known in this country through the \ff ^1^ admirable performance of Mr. John Hare, who produced it in all the principal \'f cities. Its story presents a clever satire of false philanthropy, and is full of k'A% interest and humor. Well adapted for amateurs, by whom it has been success- \ff fully acted. Plays two hours and a half. (1892.) ^'^ T A"nV "R/^T TIMfTRT TT I A Play in Four Acts. By Arthur W. vf 1^I\LJ1 IDV-'UIN lirui^* I PixERO. Eight male and seven female char- acters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, four vv ^lif interiors, not easy. A play of powerful sympathetic interest, a little sombre in ;j' key, but not unrelieved by humorous touches. (1892.) ... A DESCRIPTION OF HENRY'S Comic Menagerie WITH FULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESENTING THIS HUMOROUS ENTERTAINMENT, SUGGESTIONS TOWARD MAKING IT PROFITABLE, AND A HUMOROUS LECTURE TO BE EMPLOYED IN ITS EXHIBITION BY ABEL SEAMAN Copyright, 1898, by Walter H. Baker & Co. BOSTON: 1898 -1 A-^ •T^A HENRY'S COMIC MENAGERIE. DESCRIPTION. This novel entertainment is especially designed for the use of Church Fairs, though its character and its efficiency as a money- getter fit it admirably for the purposes of any large entertainment conducted for profit. It is intended to be employed as a side- attraction at Fairs, to which an additional admission fee of ten cents may be charged, and through which an addition of from thirty to one hundred dollars per night, or even more, according to the size of the enterprise and its attendance, may be easily added to the receipts. The outfit, which is leased to persons desiring to employ it for one or more nights, consists of a handsomely painted piece of scen- ery, representing two tents and three animal cages, as depicted in the cut upon the opposite page, and papier viacM representations of five animals, modelled, colored, and covered with hair in a strik- ingly lifelike manner, and ingeniously constructed with working parts to closely simulate nature in many actions. The Scene requires a space twenty-eight feet long by five or six wide, and can be set up in any hall having a height of twelve feet. It is made in sections so as to take apart and pack for shipment in very compact form, but it can be set up by any one of ordinary handiness and mechanical skill without the least difficulty. The animals, five in number, are only visible from the front' of the cages. Each one is endowed with life by a man or boy who stands behind the Scene with his person concealed from the waist down, and his body and arms in the head and paws or other limbs of the animal. The Elephant, which projects from between the curtains of the tent on the left, consists of the head, trunk, and fore-legs of that sagacious animal, inside of which a man stands, his head and body 3 4 HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. within the massive cranium of the beast, and his arms employed in working the mechanical devices which give it the appearance of life. The Elephant is constructed so that it can flap its ears, trum- pet with its trunk, and employ that flexible organ to take peanuts and other off"erings from the crowd, and place them in its mouth. (See " Business Hints " on page 6.) The Giraffe, which projects in similar fashion from the other tent, is also only a head, neck, and fore-quarters, the rest being left to the imagination and concealed behind the tent curtains. The Giraffe is a typical " rubber-neck," his long and slender throat being capable of motion in various directions, the effect depending largely upon the ingenuity and humor of " the man inside," who can make the animal laugh, by mechanical means, even if he is unsuccessful in persuading any one else to do so, and if sufficiently talented can also cause its front legs to execute a double shuffle. The Lion, in the first cage from the left, is of noble birth, but of limited talents. He can roar most royally, with the assistance of a Megaphone, and work his jaws in terrifying fashion ; but beyond this the man in charge of him must extract what fun he can from his command of the head and paws which, used human-fashion, present most ludicrous. eff"ects. The Monkey, given into the hands of an active boy who enters into the part as completely as he does into the body of his reputed ancestor, can be safely left to himself to be amply amusing, as this mask is particularly lifelike, and has free movement of the jaws. The Green-Eyed Monster has hitherto been known only in fable, and its actual presentation in the pasteboard should prove a strong attraction. It is able, with human assistance in its interior, to flap its wings and to wink one eye. These animals, it will be seen, are merely masks which conceal the actual performer, and owing to the ingenious manner in which they are presented to the audience, are enabled to be fully venti- lated behind. They are, therefore, perfectly comfortable for the performer in the hottest hall, and do not subject him to the torture which closed heads and bodies can cause in an overheated room. They are shipped in a stout case in which they are packed, one within the other, like dishes, with the utmost economy of space, and are easily unpacked and put on. In performance the actors stand behind a shelf which runs along the bottom of the cages and supports their masks and paws. HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PERFORMANCE* The Scene, should be set up five or six feet from the wall of whatever portion of the hall is set apart for this exhibition, so as to allow plenty of room for the performers behind it, and to give them ample air-space. The ends should be masked in with dra- peries of some sort, which should extend some eight or ten feet in front of the Cages, and conceal them, enclosing space enough for the audience, with an entrance at one end, and an exit at the other, as in the diagram. If a separate room can be provided for this side-show, so much the better ; but if the place, however contrived, can be arranged so as to admit the spectators at one door, and get them out at the other as speedily as possible after the brief lecture, it will be to the advantage of the box-office. At the entrance may be stationed a voluble and unterrified person in a Pierrot dress and provided with a bass drum, who by dint of energetic pounding on this instrument, and such persuasive "pat- ter '"' as his wits and tongue are capable of, may summon patrons to behold the wonders within. A cheeky young fellow with a plen- tiful flow of language and a penetrating voice should be selected for this office, in the fulfilment of which he may picturesquely promise, circus-fashion, rather greater and more numerous attractions than are to be found within. Inside the tent should be stationed the lecturer, a seedy individ- ual, with long, sleek black hair, tight-fitting black clothes in the last stages of decay, and the manner of an actor of the "old 6 HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. school." This personage, in the monotonous voice of one repeat- ing a formula of which he is heartily sick, and in which he never had any personal interest, delivers at intervals as much or as little of the Lecture given on page 9 as he may deem proper, remember- ing the Business Hints which are given later. If any one wishes to go to the expense, a performer in Arab cos- tume may be stationed in charge of the Giraffe, and an Indian mahout be placed by the side of the Elephant ; but these are unne- cessary, and may be omitted if desired. These costumes, and the curtains, dresses, and properties relating more particularly to the business department of this entertainment, are not included in the outfit sent, but must be furnished by the performers. BUSINESS HINTS* Ten cents admission is advised as a fair price to be charged for this entertainment, as neither too high to discourage patronage nor too low to be profitable. Local circumstances may, however, ren- der it advisable to make this fee greater, or even less. Peanuts should be sold by a sharp lad, inside the enclosure, and close to the Elephant's tent, to patrons who may wish to feed this hearty brute. Five cents a bag may be charged for this edible, which the elephant seizes with his trunk and places in his mouth, rejecting, with unerring intelligence, all but perfect bags, which can be sold over again. One of the advantages of our Elephant is that the peanuts eaten by him are not digested or changed in any way, and may therefore be sold over and over again. His intelligence is strikingly manifested by his refusal to receive single peanuts, or any bags that have been tampered with. The Lecturer, in the exercise of his function, should be governed by the strictest business principles. The man outside should ad- mit people in to the tent until, in the judgment of the Lecturer, the enclosure is comfortably filled. Then, at the proper signal, the door should be closed and the lecture begin ; its clamor, the laugh- ter of the people inside, and the growing dimensions of the crowd outside, uniting to form a strong advertisement of the Menagerie. If the crowd outside grows very rapidly, this interesting fact should be communicated by the Pierrot by a preconcerted signal to the Lee- HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. 7 turer, who thereupon abbreviates his lecture so as to make room the sooner for new patrons. If the people hang fire, as sometimes happens, the lecture may be padded out to even more than its full length to keep up appear- ances and popular interest ; but if it is made known to him that a good " house " is ready and waiting outside, he should walk his audience down to the exit as rapidly as possible, condensing his talk, and politely speeding their departure at its close. If business is very slack, the Lion should do an unusual amount of roaring, and the Elephant trumpet as much as possible, to at- tract the notice of the crowd. TERMS* This entertainment can be furnished complete, as described, for one night and rehearsals, for $15.00 a reduction being made for additional nights. This price includes RENTAL and ROYALTY, but does not iiichide cartage and freight or express charges , which must be paid both ways by customers. As the outfit is packed in very compact shape, this is no great matter at small distances. At considerable distances, owing not only to the cost of transportation, but to the time lost in that process, neither we nor our customers can afford the transaction at all, save upon special terms. Persons desiring to employ the Menagerie should make applica- tion for it a long time in advance of their entertainment, and make a definite booking for the date it is wanted, since owing to the cost of the outfit, it cannot be duplicated in case two persons want it for the same date. For this reason, however, each customer can be guaranteed the excltcsive use of it for his date and locality. THE LECTURE. Ladies and Gentlemen : — I have great pleasure in introducing to your notice, Mr. Henry's Great Menagerie, the only one of its kind in ex- istence, which has been collected^ by Mr. Henry at great expense, and at the peril of his life, from the four quarters of the world, and to the training and education of which he has devoted a lifetime of patient industry. The four quarters of the world, gentlemen, making one dollar's worth in all, are here brought together for your amusement and instruction, and all for the ridiculous sum of one dime, or ten cents. This gives you a clear profit of ninety cents on the transaction, to say nothing of the improvement to your mind ; so you will see that it is cheaper to come in and see the show than it is to stay outside, and I hope you will not fail to mention this to all your friends when you go out at the conclusion of the lecture. Boys, keep away from that lion's cage, as he is feeling fierce this morning, and may be tempted to devour you. This {i7idicating elephani) is the Elephantus Bostonien- sis, or Boston elephant, the only specimen of his kind in captivity. Other shows will introduce you tq from ten to thirty common elephants ; we have but one, but we proudly and confidently claim that no other show can produce anything like this one. We hate to talk about ourselves, gentlemen, but quality, and not quantity, is our aim, and Mumbo, the most intellectual elephant in the world, endowed with an almost human intelligence, can 9 lO HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. speak for himself. (The elepha7it flaps his ears joyously and trumpets loudly^ That will do, Mumbo, a simple statement of the fact will suffice. The elephant, as you have learned from books, has fore legs in front and two behind, making six in all. Mumbo is no exception to the rule, as you may see later when the grand procession takes place. The ele- phant is distinguished by great decision of character. At the time of his creation he was confronted by a problem which would have staggered the average human mind ; he was provided, by some freak of nature, with two tails, one at each end of his massive person, thus making it very doubt- ful in which direction he was intended to go. Most animals would have hesitated in their choice and sunk into a con- dition of pitiable helplessness ; but the elephant's great decision of character enabled him to make an immediate choice, and he has walked forward, not backward, in a true Christian fashion ever since. To avoid confusion, his for- ward appendage is known as his trunk, and in recognition of his cleverness, he is permitted to this day to carry it over all railroads without having it checked. In a state of nature the elephant maintains his agreeable plumpness of person by stuffing himself with common or garden hay, but in cap- tivity he has learned to accustom himself to peanuts, which he eats with an enviable appetite by the adroit use of his trunk. If any one doubts his marvellous adaptability to civilized habits, he can feed the animal himself. Peanuts for this purpose are on sale in the lobby at five cents a bag — two bags for one dime. Gold watches, of which he is ex- travagantly fond, or any small articles of jewellery, will answer equally well for the experiment. Watches are pre- ferred by him, however, when he is thirsty, on account of the spring inside. Mumbo, like other elephants, has a great repugnance to tobacco, and never forgets a person who is base enough to betray his confidence by giving it to him. Five years ago, a man in gave him a paper of THE LECTURE. II chewing-tobacco by way of a joke, and upon his return to town three years later, the intelligent animal at once recog- nized the offender, though he had been married over six months, and returned it to him uninjured with a polite bow. Watches and jewellery, however, he was never known to return, and it is the one flaw in his character, that he rarely remembers the donors. The elephant has the smallest feet, in proportion to the size of his legs, of any living ani- mal, the snake excepted, but he is not made vain by this enviable circumstance. Indeed, he is singularly careless of his personal appearance, steadfastly refusing to wear sus- penders, or to have his trousers pressed, or otherwise fit himself for refined society. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Leo Androphagus, or man-eating lion. I do not wish to shock you, but I am obliged to state as a matter of fact that he has a man inside of him at this very moment. (^The operator of the lion, or a?i assistant^ sticks his hand out of the beasfs mouth and waves it for a?t instant.) You observe, gentlemen, there is no deception about this show ; every statement we make we can fully back up — or down, as the case may be. (^The lion roars loudly^ and presses its paius upon its heart ^ You will be pained to see that the man does not seem to be agreeing with him very well ; but alas ! this noble beast cannot be led to moderate his appetite in captivity, where, owing to' his ferocity, we are able to allow him very little exercise, and he is the prey of a terrible dyspepsia which robs his existence of most of its charms. {Business by lion.) The lion's roar — {The lion roars loudly.) The lion's roar — {The lion roars again.) As I was saying, the lion's roar — {The lion roars louder than ever.) That will do, sir ; one of us at a time is better. The lion's roar can be heard at a distance of ten miles, a wise provision of nature, giving his prey plenty of time to make their wills and compose their minds for the last struggle. He is of a hasty temper, 12 HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. usually jumping at conclusions, but he generally jumps right, and if he has decent luck, lands on top. He has remarkable intelligence, and can take in all that is con- tained in the greatest mind, if only the possessor of the mind, in order to facilitate matters for the poor dumb beast, will kindly place his head in the brute's mouth. {The lion opens his Jaws to their widest stretchy by way of illustra- tion^ and roars.) His elocutionary powers are limited, but he fully understands the use of the pause, which he em- ploys with great effect in controversy. His ferocity is ter- rible to witness when roused, and — (The lion raises himself and glares ferociously at the stoutest man in the audience., work- ing his Jaws.) My dear sir ((iddressing the 7nan), pray oblige me by keeping as far to the rear as possible. Your — ahem ! plumpness has rou'sed the animal's appetite. {The lion roars and prances until the matt has retired.) The personal appear- ance of this animal is most striking, and is not easily for- gotten, — his tawny hide, his flowing mane, and his tufted tail. People may forget his tale, but they rarely forget to hide when he is coming, and they are sure to " Remember the Maine.'' The Green-Eyed Monster, ladies and gentlemen, which I now introduce to your notice, is the result of a love- match between a laughing hyena and a bird of paradise, and partakes to some extent of the peculiarities of both parents, while strictly preserving a strong individuality of its own. {llie^ mofister winks affably.) This is the first specimen ever seen in captivity or anywhere else, and in the possession of this most interesting specimen, we afford educational advantages beside which .other shows pale into insignificance. Birds of a feather usually flock together {the monster slowly flaps its wings), but this miserable crea- ture having no feathers, owing to the unfortunate mesalliance of which it is the offspring, is forced to flock all alone by himself. {The mo?tster utters a prolonged, mournful note, and THE LECTURE. 1 3 winks its eye dismally.) This and its food, which consists solely of pickled limes, have soured its disposition, and made it the prey of an overmastering jealousy which has become proverbial. Owing to its sedentary habits it has no liver left to speak of, and being guided in the selection of its food solely by its lights, the poor benighted creature often makes sad mistakes which tend to increase its mel- ancholy. Were it not for this, the keen sense of the ludi- crous which it inherits from its father {a hyena laugh by the monster), and the airy volatility of its mother's nature (the monster ^aps its wings) would unite to make it a charming companion. As it is, it is of a gentle and affectionate dis- position, and particularly susceptible to the passion of love, becoming easily enamored of any pretty girl. (^The monster, who has been winking violeiitly at the prettiest girl in the audi- ence, here snakes a sound of kissing.) My dear young lady {addressing the girl) , please keep in the background, as the intelligent animal is just upon the point of making a pro- posal of marriage. (To the animal.) Behave yourself, sir. You are a disgrace to the show. Its wink, ladies and gen- tlemen (the animal winks violently) is an inheritance from its hilarious father, and is much admired. It is a mere harmless expression of jocosity, and is quite devoid of any sentimental intention or the least offence. We next present to your notice, ladies and gentlemen, the low comedian of the group, the Monkeyus Darwiniensis, or "littla munk," as he is known in Italian — the greatest kind of grandparent of the human race. I have much pleasure in bringing so near to you a distant relative. The relationship of the monkey to the human race is shown in many ways. Even without special education, and in a state of nature, he will fight, steal, and drink intoxicating liquor, guided by mere instinct. He would lie also, but alas! the poor benighted creature has been inscrutably denied the power of speech. (The monkey works its jaws dumbly, and 14 HENRY S COMIC MENAGERIE. scratches himself characteristically^ The only reason why he is not more popular with his human descendants, the heirs of all these traits of character, is because he has no money to leave them. The monkey who can by some means ac- quire real estate and bonds will have no difficulty in discovering his relatives, and will be an honored guest at many a dinner-table. This point has been strangely over- looked by Mr. Darwin, who thus missed the only means of making his theory acceptable to his fellow-citizens. The monkey's personal appearance is not engaging, the peculiar openness of his countenance (^the monkey opens his jaw-s widely') failing somehow to win the confidence of the be- holder. But give him a clean shave and a stand-up collar, and he would compete successfully with the average dude. The monkey's tail is extremely interesting. It is somewhat deficient in plot, but it is full of character and humor, and on the whole compares very favorably with the average mag- azine story. Unlike his human competitor, the monkey is the author of but one tale, but that is invariably true to life, and would be purchased eagerly by either Harper's, Scrib- ner's, or The Black Cat. It is greatly to be regretted, in- deed, that this animal, with his great natural abilities in this line, has never embraced the career of literature. The mischievous character of the monkey has become proverbial, and this is entirely due to his unconquerable propensity to tail-bearing. The last animal that I will bring to your notice is the Camelopard, or Giraffe, the original '^rubber neck," and a living warning against the vice of curiosity. This strange creature is not spotless, as may be easily seen, but his greatest fault is an overweening curiosity, which explains the fact that his kind produces many times more females than males. There are, therefore, many old maids in the Giraffe family. The beautiful animal which stands before you {the Giraffe bows and moves its jams) is one of two sisters, — THE LECTURE. I 5 Kate and Duplicate, — so nearly alike that we are quite unable to state which one it was that died a few years since — an irreparable loss to the menagerie. The only thing that we can be sure of is that we buried the dead one, which- ever it was, and not its surviving sister, which now stands before you. The Giraffe, ladies and gentlemen, in the be- ginning of creation had a rather short neck than otherwise, being quite unable to wear a high collar with any degree of comfort. Its constant association with circuses, however, and other shows, where its dominating vice made it anxious to see everything that was going on, has gradually stretched this member until it has attained its present imposing pro- portions. This is a beautiful instance of the influence of the environment, and I observe the process is going on in a small way in the crowd before me. As might be imagined from its build, the voice of the Giraffe is a high tenor of a most beautiful quality. I regret that it cannot be exhib- ited, but it is much too high for the very moderate price of admission charged, and cannot be shown. The greatest danger that this marvellous animal has to face is that of taking cold, a sore throat in its case assuming proportions of such magnitude as to set medical skill at defiance. The amount of gargle required to reach the seat of the disease usually drowns the animal, while his cough is not unlike the exhaust of a locomotive. But the amount of pleasure that a Giraffe is able to get out of a glass of soda water on a hot day is simply inexpressible, and is out of all propor- tion to its cost. Its food is nearly half an hour in passing from its mouth to its stomach, so that it is the only living creature that can revel at one and the same moment in the delicious taste of raw oysters, green turtle soup, broiled mushrooms, woodcock, and omelette souffle, as they pass in stately procession over his nerves of taste, separated by layers of the choicest vintages. Ah, ladies and gentlemen, when things are coming his way, the Giraffe is indeed to be i6 henry's comic menagerie. envied ; but when adversity comes, and his lot is cast in Italian ArZ-/^ dWiotes, or exiguous circumstances force him to regard a dog-sandwich and a fried hole in the light of a square meal — then it is that he gets it in the neck. The skill of this accomplished animal in the terpsichorean art is remarkable, and the specimen before you is no exception to the rule. {The Giraffe does a double shuffle with his fore legs.) This accomplishment is a natural instinct with the Giraffe, and not an acquired art ; for when in the trackless tropical forest the intelligent creature gets separated from the rest of the herd, it always takes steps to find them again, and in this way has developed surprising dexterity. This, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the lecture. I thank you for your attention, and if you take away from this exhibition some new fact in natural history, some useful bit of knowledge, I shall be at once pleased and surprised. And now, ladies and gentlemen, please pass out as rapidly as possible, to make room for the large crowd of your friends and neighbors who are impatiently waiting on the outside. THE LECTURE. 17 NOTE. This effort is confessedly modelled upon the inimitable *' Lecture on Animals," written by Mr. T. E. Stutson, and introduced by him with such side-splitting effect into the original performance of Mr. R. A. Barnet's " Injured Innocents" by the First Corps of Ca- dets. To this admirable bit of burlesque the writer is indebted for more than one of his points, as well as for his general inspiration, and he wishes to make thankful acknowledgment of these advantages to Mr. Stutson, whose humorous and effective delivery of the original "lecture" was ever inliis mind while penning its offspring and imitator. The publishers earnestly wish that they could offer the services of this clever entertainer in connection with the Menagerie, for if they could be obtained, they would add immensely to its success; but failing this, they strongly urge him upon clients who may have heard him, as a model for the delivery of the lecture. No sugges- tions are needed for the shortening of this composition, as advised in Business Hints on page 6. A paragraph here and there may be easily omitted to this end. For building it up, the wits of the performer must be relied upon, as we think may be safely done. It is recommended that a local flavor be given to the speech in all cases, through the interpolation of anecdote or reference to local celebrities, whenever they can be plausibly tied on to the text. Two or three suggestions as to the manner of doing this will be found in the text, and these may be indefinitely multiplied, if it is found necessary to expand the lecture. NEW PLAYS. The Flying Wedge. A FOOTBALL FARCE IN ONE ACT. By GRACE LIVINGSTON FURNISS. Author of '* A Box of Monkeys," " Second Floob Spoopendyke," " The Corner-lot Chorus," etc. Three male and five female characters. Scene, an interior. Costumes, mod- ern. A bright and vivacious piece in Miss Furniss's very best vein. An over- whelming success in its original Empire Theatre production, and a favorite with amateur clubs in the past two seasons, during which it has been offered as a manuscript piece under royalty. We have mucb pleasure in offering this popu- lar farce for sale as a book, upon the ordinary terms, and in announcing that after Jan. 1, 1898, it may be played without payment of royalty. It is confidently recommended to young people as an amusing, up-to-date piece, full of fun, and yet incapable of giving offence to the most scrupulous taste. This, and the cir- cumstance that it offers parts for more ladies than gentlemen, make its publi- cation an apt answer to a very large and urgent demand for just such a play. It plays about forty-five minutes. Price 35 Cents. A Dead Heat. A COMEDY IN ONE ACT. Five female characters. Scene, an interior. Costumes, modern. A capital little play for ladies, affording four well-contrasted parts of nearly equal value and strength. Described by a professional auditor of its first performance as " the best play for all women that I ever saw." This, too, was one of the nota- ble productions of the late Nelson Wheatcroft, at his successful Empire Theatre Dramatic School, New York, and is a welcome addition to our large, but never large enough, list of plays for female characters. "A Dead Heat " can be played after Jan. 1, 1898, without payment of royalty. Price 15 Cents. A, W. PINERO'S LATEST PLAYS. The riagfistrate. A FARCE IN THREE ACTS. Twelve male, four female characters. Costumes, modern; scenery, all in- teriors. The merits of this excellent ami amusing piece, one of the most popular of its author's plays, are well attested by long and repeated runs in the principal American theatrt-s. It is of the higliest class of dramatic writing, and is uproar- iously funny, and at thesame time unexceptionable in tone. Itsentire suitability for amateur performance has been shown by hundreds of such productions from manuscript during the past three years. Plays two hours and a half. Note. — This play is sold /or reading only. The acting right is reserved, and can be obtained only upon payment of an author's royalty of $10 for each performance. Price .50 Cents. Dandy Dick. A FARCE IN THREE ACTS. Seven male, four female characters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two in- teriors. This very amusing piece was another success in the New York and Boston theatres, and has been extensively played from manuscript by amateurs. for whom it is in every respect suited. It provides an unusual number of cai)itHl character parts, is very funny, and an excellent acting piece. Plays two hours and a half. Note. — This play is sold for reading only. The acting right is reserved, and can only he obtained upon payment of an author's royalty of $10 for each performance. Price 60 Cents. The Hobby Horse. A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS. Ten male, five female characters. Scenery, two interiors and an exterior; costumes, modern. This piece is best known in this country through the adnnr- able performance of Mr. John Hare, who produced it in all tbe principal cities. Its story presents a clever satire of false philanthropy, and is full of interest and humor, "Well adapted for amateurs, by whom it has been successfully acted. Plays two hours and a half. Note. —This play is sold for reading only. The acting right is reserved, and can only he obtained upon payment of an author's royalty of $10 for each Verformance. Price 50 Cents. NEW PLAYS, Broken Bonds. A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS. By F. E. HILAND. Author of " Rodney's RESTAxrRA.NT," "A Town Meeting," " The Old Coujsitky store," etc. Nine male, three female characters. Costumes, mo<1ern and rough "Western; scenery, Varietl, but_not nifficult. TUis is a stirring melodrania ot the conven- tional type, but not lacking in orlgina ity and novelty of story, incident, and character. Its action is rapid and exciting, its dialogue vigorous and fo^ cible, its C(Tiuedy element natural and sympathetic, its serious interest strong Hiid absorbing. It provides several good, heavy parts, and excellent Ic^av comedy, Negro and Yankee, and gives plenty of chances for strong acting. Plays two hours. Price, 15 Cents. SYNOPSIS. ACT I. Scene 1.— "Wilke's new quarters. Bill and Joe concoct a scheme to rob Kichard. "That's the stuff to drive dull care away." Playing for high stakes. "My money gone." The midnight murder. "I'll fasten this on that 80t there." The stricken wife. Richard's vow. " Till then I am dead to all I hold dear on earth." ACT II, Scene 1. -Tifteen years after. The mountain home. Deacon Gimp and his trials. A war cloud on the horizon. Scene 2. — Sam's soliloquy. " Oh, you old reptile, I see yer game!" Wilke makes a discovery. Scene's.— The forsaken wife. "Fifteen >ears and nothing heard from my poor husband." Clara's loss. The villain's letter. "Heaven help you if you are depende)it upon that man!" Wilke's revelation. "A save, would that I never was born! " ACT III. Sckne 1.— War at last. Edward's despair. " Chained at home." Gimp's grip. Sam to th'^ rescue. " Take it, you rid blood-sucker!" Scene 2.— The villain's lair. Edward attempts a rescu . Pete i>uishim<>n the rigln track. Wilke has an unweh'onie visitor. His schemes frustrated. Clara's misery. A friend in need. "That gal's goin' 1 )ng o' ns." Scene 3. — Down by the river. Wilke wiles Sam's big fish. "What shall I deAV with the critter?" Clara's escape, " Yer slave is free ! " Tableau : Crossing the river. ACT IV, Scene 1,— Sam ami Pete happy, Fatlier and Son. Wilke jubi- lant, '• The game is about to fall into my snare." Scene 2.— The loved ones at home. Arrival of Edward and Sam, Sam's stranger, "He's not what he seems." Wilke plnys his trump card. Ward as a witness. " You are inn- ■cent." Happy finale. " We will cast aside our broken bonds." Grand Tableau.— Victory's Crown. A Change of Color. A PLAY IN ONE ACT. By CLARA J. DENTON. Author of " The Man Who Went to Europe," " To Meet Mr. Thompson," etc. Two male, three female characters. Scenery and costumes unimportant, A little dramatic trifle for school or parlor. Plays fifteen minutes. Frice, 15 Cents. NEW PLAYS. New Hampshire Gold. A COMEDY-DRAMA IN THREE ACTS. By KATHERINE E. RAND. Eight male, six female characters. Scenery easily arranged; costumes, modern. An excellent piece, interesting in story, and full of shrewd and hum ir- ons character. It has a strong melodramatic interest, but its general atmospliere is homely and domestic, placing it in the class of plays to which "The Ohl Home- stead " belongs. It provides some capital parts, both serious and humorous, and is well suited for the simplest conditions under which amateur theatricals are given. Printed from an acting copy which has been successfully performed. Plays two hours. Price, 15 Cents. SYNOPSIS. ACT I. At the Gerrishes. The thirst of gold. "A poor fool." David and Daisv, Lessons in flirtation. The laziest man on the farm. Putting out the fire. The landslide. The speculator from Boston. An old fox. The gold mine, "I'm determined to marry a very rich man." The partnership, David's refusal, ACT II, The mortgage. Christie's misgivings. Salting the mine. The lost letter, "The Boston feller." Mandv's paper dolly, A clue. To the mine. " Whatever it is, Christie Gerrish is goni' to be in it." Caught in the net. Dis- semblinff. The speculator's revenge. Daisy's interrupted vow. The awful tid- ings Daisy true gold. "I don't care if it's ten thousand nights; let me go, mother, let me go ! " ACT III. The dead speculator. The convalescent. "As cross as two sticks " A lost memory. Jack and Daisy. A misunderstanding. The Colonel's daughter. " That letter." Gid and Bijah, A thunder-storm, which clears the air. The crisis, David's sacrifice. " I've never been able to remember anything about it." The mortgage. The debt paid. *' I am the richest man in the •world." A Tell=Tale Eyebrow. A COMEDY IN TWO ACTS. By ESTHER B. TIFFANY. Author of "A Rice Puddixq," "A Model Lovek," Etc. Two male, four female characters. Scenery, an easy interior ; costumes, modern and elegant. Avery pretty and gra>-efui little piece of healthy senti- ment and refined humor, pe'fectly adapted for amateur performers and aj.peal ing to the best taste in such matters. In story an I pixKRO. Twelve male, four female char- [ ac'ters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, all interior. The merits of this excellent and amusing piece, one of the most popu- lar of its author's plays, are well attested by long and repeated runs in the principal American theatres. It is of the highest class of dramatic writing, and is uproariously funny, and at the same time unexceptionable in tone. Its entire suitability for amateur performance has been shown by hundreds of such pro- ductions from manuscript during the past three years. Flays two hours and a half. (181)2.) THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH* A Drama in T'our Acts. By Arthur W. PiXERO. Eight male and five female charac- ters; scenery, all interiors. This is a *' prob- lem " play continuing the series to which " The I Profligate " and "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" 0tj\ belong, and while strongly dramatic, and intensely interesting is not suited for jkl amateur perforusance. It is recommended for Heading (Jlubs. (1895.) ffjy ilw TT-TTT PP OTTT Tr" A TP I A Play in Four Acts. Bv Arthur AV. PrxE- v?^ r«\ Jrj\.v^ri-1VJ.M 1 li. ij,-> seven male and five female characters. /I\ jU — ■ — ' Scenery, three interiors, rather elaborate; ^T^ /|\ costumes, modern. This is a piece of serious interest, powerfully dramatic in ^1^ Vv* iiinvf'iiiiJiit- !iml tr:nrio. in its ftvpiit. All admirable «)lav. but not suited for ania.- •»• k (Us «ls M^ f NV SWEET LAVENDER. I i-'^st%:" ^-ii^X'iJiJ'r^::;,^^ 'ifi' movement, and tragic in its event. An admirable play, but not suited for ama- teur performance. (.1892.) . I'MF ^r'MOOT MT^TPF^^ I A Farce in Three Acts. By Arthur 1 nn »5^rH^<^i^lVI10 1 J^JIOO. w. Pinero. Nine male." seven fe- ' male characters. Costumes, mod- ern ; scenery, three interiors, easily arranged. This ingenious and laughable far -e was pbiye 1 by Miss Kosina Yokes during her last season in America with great success! Its plot is amusing, its action rapid and full of incident, its dia- logue brilliant, and its scheme of character especially rich in quaintand humor- ous types. The Hon. VereQueckett and Peggy are especially strong. The piece is in all respects suitable for amateurs. (1894.) THE SECOND MRS, TANQUERAY. A Play in Four Acts. By Arthur W. PiNERO. Eight male and five female char- acters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors. TJIiis Avell-known and powerful play is not well suited for amateur per- fonnaTrc&. It is offered to Mr. Pinerittle Grandmas. A Musical Pantomime for very Little Children. Six very little girls. Jimmy Crow. A Kecitation for a Little Girl. A House in the Moon. A Recita- tion for a Child. Sigll, HoUinger Corp. pH8.5