p^ e^_ ernational Copyrighted (in P:ngland, her Colonies, and tht rb b Ja J gj^^ggj Edition of the Works of the Best Authors .Z9 copvi "B^" No. 217. I ^ • J V ^tln Xlbree Bets GUSTAV BLUM AND E. FERN HAGUE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL 79, NEW YORK CITY J of this play. y. New York SAMUEL FRENCH ^ PUBLISHERS V 28-30 West 38TH Stree' A V VA'W T T~^ T~\ X" y •'^ T^ A T~*\T T /i ^ g < "f~> ^ i EVERYGRADUATE i % (HIS QUEST FOR SUCCESS) AN ALLEGORICAL PLAYLET FOR GRADUATING % CLASSES g A A I A A BY £ A A A A A lu A y No peimission is required by amateurs for the production A A A A g Copyright, 191 i, by Samuel French jjj St Ht Z PRICE, 35 CENTS S A A London jj SAMUEL FRENCH Ltd. S 26 Southampton Street A Strand jj A V »»»>»»»>»»»^»^^^^^>^^^^^^>^^^^^^^>s EVERYGRADUATE (HIS QUEST FOR SUCCESS) AN ALLEGORICAL PLAYLET FOR GRADUATING CLASSES flu XTbree Bets BY GUSTAV BLUM AND E. FERN HAGUE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL 79, NEW YORK CITY Copyright, 191 i, by Samuel French New York SAMUEL FRENCH PUBLISHER 28-30 WEST 38TH STREET London SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 26 Southampton Street, STRAND EVERYGRADUATE. CHARACTERS. EvERYGRADUATE— New graduation suit, long trousers, etc. Everybody — Long cloak with hood attached Ambition— (A girl) blue cloak, dress, etc. Folly— (A girl) girl's gaudy red dress Everymother — House dress, apron, etc. EvERYFATHER— Smoking jacket and slippers, etc. Industry— (Work) gray cloak with silver shining bright under costume Perseverance— Costume of athlete, cloak to cover Truth— (A girl) girl's white dress, bright cloak Kindness— (A girl) girl's dress, modest Temptation — Bright red scheme Conscience— (A nurse) typical nurse costume Fear — Gray scheme Fame — Bright costume r ] Conceit— Gaudy, stiff apparel Success— (A girl) beautiful dress, beautiful girl (The positive Virtues wear bright colors underneath and reversible cloaks— gray outside— the negative Virtues the opposite.) TMP92-008671 gClD 25909 V'V f) , 1 EVERYGRADUATE (HIS QUEST FOri SUCCESS) ACT I. Scene — The home. A modest cosy interior — the sittijig- roo?n. Before rise — ENTER in front of curtain Everybody. EvERYHODY. Good day, kind people. 'Tis well that you and I are here, for now the wheel of time has turned another cog and Everygraduate is happy. And so are you and so is Everybody. But truly, now the task is first begun and this is but beginning's end. Let us stay awhile and view what Everygraduate must betide.- -Life's old, old struggle, (a thorny path through rosy bowers), is now inviting, and who must finally re- joice when Success, Everygraduate wins and who shall all the while frustrate the winning? Everybody. (EXIT behind curtain.) ( Curtain rises. Everymother discovered serving buttons on Ever ygr ADIT ate 's ne7c> shirt, cleani?i^ his suit, etc. — at table R. Everyfather sitting in rocker i,. smoking or reading neivspaper.') Everymother. Everyfather, the day has come at last. To-morrow our dear boy, Everygraduate, leaves school. He is finished. But you do not seem very happy about it. Everyfather. Dear Everymother — I am happv 3 4, EVERYGRADUATE. but Everyfather seldom shows how he feels. You knowl am happy. But when you think all iS over, you are mistaken, you know he has only begun. This is the time Everygraduate thinks he knows all there is to know, that life and his battles are fully understood by him and only by him. But dear Everymother, you know this is far from true. Everymother. Well, what shall we do now ? Send him to business or let him continue his studies ? Everyfather. The times have changed. If I am to decide, 1 say " Let him become either a business man or an engineer " — The professions are over- crowded and the arts barely bring enough to live on. Everymother. Then what do you think is best, Everyfather ? Everyfather. I think — we had better leave it to him. Let him decide. Everymother. With our/help and guidance. Everyfather. Yes, Everymother, with our help and guidance, for he may be too young to know his own mind. Everymother. Here he comes, let us ask him. (ENTER Everygraduate skippi7ig mid smiling together 7vith Conceit, Folly, and Temptation.) Everygraduate. Ah, good afternoon dear Every- mother and dear Everyfather. All is arranged. We know our positions and our songs and all is ready. Is my suit in good order ? How funny it will feel in long trousers. I believe I shall stumble and fall right in the middle of the room when I am called upon to re- ceive my diploma. Everyfather. O, you'll get used to them. I did. Everymother. Ah, I w^as beginning to worry about you. Everygraduate. Just like you, dear Everymother. Everyfather. I wasn't. EVERYGRADUATE. 5 EvERYGRADUATE {Smi/ifi^/v) And like you too, Everyfather. Ah, but I almost forgot. These are ^ny friends — Conceit, Temptation and Folly. 1 want you to meet them. EvERYMOTHKR. Pleased to meet you, friends of Everygraduate. Everyfather {Ciu-tly) How do you do. Everygraduate. B'olly has been my classmate right through school. He doesn't study much, but has lots of fun. Although he seems to be continually gttting into trouble, Conceit is a new member of our class. He entered the class in time to graduate with us. {aside to Everymother and Everyfather) You'll find him a little stiff, but that's his way. And Tempta- tion, my ! what a persistent fellow. Everyfather. Well, Everygraduate, come here. 1 want to talk to you for a few minutes. Folly. O, let's take a walk or go skating — it's fine outside. Conceit. Walk ? Skating ? Pooh ! How^ undig- nified for Everygraduate. Temptaiion. Yes do come, the air is bracing — and there are pretty girls in the park, — Ambition and Success. Evervmother. Ambition and Success. You must be mistaken. I just saw them in the factory next door and later on the bridge. Everyfather {Afii^n/y) But when I ask Every- graduate to listen, there is only one thing for him to do. Everygraduate. Yes— to obey. Everyfather. The time has come when you must help us decide. We want to help you, not stand in your way. Everygraduate. Yes, dear Everyfather. What is it? (ENTER Conscience, a nurse). EVERYGRADUATE. EvERYFATHER. We want to know what you should like to be later in life. EvERYMOTHER. We feel that if you choose tor your- self, you will then win Success. We have noticed your fondness for her already. EvERYGRADUATE. It is true, dear Everymother, I do love her — dear, sweet. Success. Conscience. But Ambition is always with her. You can win Success only through Ambition. Conceit. But is it worth while ? Folly. 1 had rather live — live — and be merry ! Temptation. Yes — why worry — it doesn't pay. You know how 1 hate Ambition and her friend In- dustry, that crabbed old fellow. Everyfather. Now I must ask you all to kindly desist and not interfere. This is a family matter, for us to decide. Everygraduate, you must choose now. It is not well that you do what your heart is not in, do choose wisely and deliberately. Everymother. Yes— which shall it be — Business, Alt or Science? Everygraduate. I do not know — I cannot tell yet — let me wait awhile to think it over. Folly. Yes, let us play awhile. Temptation. There is plenty of time to decide. Why not wait ? Conceit. Yes, it is not so very important a matter. Conscience. But it is, Everygraduate, too impor- tant. Everymother and Everyfather. Yes, Everygrad- uate — listen to Conscience, she is always right. CURTAIN. EVERYGRADUATE. ACT II. Scene — The Assembly Room in School. (ENTER before curtain, Everybody.) Everybody. Ah, clear friends, you ure still here and wait our stoiy's progress. 'Tis commonplace you say and tells you naught that's new. Quite true. But who is really interested in the welfare of Every- graduate. And who is concerned, even though in- directly? Everybody. (EXIT Everybody.) (ENTER R. Everygraduate — dressed for g?'aduation exercises together with P'kar, Folly, Conceit atid Kindness, meeting P'ame and Ambition 7i