ch's International Copyrigfhted (in England, her Colonies, and the United vStates) Edition Of Ihe Works of the Best Authors Na 510 O > w X. n > rOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN H ipla^ pageant 3for a (5ar^en in ®ne Hct BY CONSTANCE WILCOX Princess Pignatelli Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox Copyright, 1920, by Henry Holt & Company (In a volume "Told in a Chinese Garden" and four other Fai Plays for outdocrs or indoors) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CAUTION.— Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that ' I'old in a Chinese Garden," being fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America^ the British Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, asid in all countries of the Copyright Union, is subject ''to a 'oyalty, and anyone presenting the play without the consent of the author or her authorized agents will be liable to (he penalties by law provided. Applications for the professional and amateur acting rights mugt be made to Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. PRICE, 30 CENTS New York SAMUEL FRENCH publisher 25 WEST 45TH STREET London SAMUEL FRENCH, Lm 26 Southampton Street STRAND MouogrrapJi BILLETED. A comedy in 3 acts, by F. Tennison Jesse and H. Harwood. 4 males, 5 females. One easy interior scene. A charming comedy, constructed with uncommon skill, and abounds with clever lines. Margaret Anglin's big success. Amateurs will find this comedy easy to produce and popular with all audiences. Price, 60 Cents. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. A comedy in § acts. By James Montgomery. 5 males, 6 females. Cos- tumes, modern. Two interior scenes. Plays 2J^ hours. Is it possible to tell the absolute truth— even for twenty-four hours? It is— at least Bob Bennett, the hero of "Nothing But the Truth," accomplished the feat. The bet he made with his business partners, and the trouble he got into— with his partners, his friends, and his fiancee— this is the subject of William Collier's tremendous comedy hit. "Nothing But the Truth" can be whole-heartedly recommended as one of the most sprightly, amusing and popular comedies that thii country can boast. Price, 60 Cents. IN WALKED JIMMY. A comedy in 4 acts, by Minnie Z. Jaffa. 10 males, 2 females (although any number of males and females may be used as clerks, etc.) Two interior scenes. Costumes, modern. Plays 2^ hours. The thing into which Jimmy walked was a broken-down shoe factory, when the clerks had all been fired, and when the proprietor was in serious contemplation of suicide. Jimmy, nothing else but plain Jimmy, would have been a mysterious figure had it not been for his matter-of-fact manner, his smile and his everlasting humanness. He put the shoe business on its feet, won the heart of the girl clerk, saved her earing brother from jail, escaped that place as a permanent boarding house himself, and foiled the villain. Clean, wholesome comedy with just a touch of human nature, just a dash of excitement and more than a little bit of true philosophy make "In Walked Jimmy" one of the most delightful of plays. Jimmy is full of the religion of life, the religion of happiness and the religion of helpfulness, and he so permeates the atmosphere with his ''religion" that everyone is happy. The spirit of optimism, good cheer, and hearty laughter dominates the play. There is not a dull moment in any of the four acts. We strongly recommend it. Price, 60 Cents. MARTHA BY-THE-DAY. An optimistic comedy in three acts, by Julie M. Lippmann, author of the "Martha" stories. 5 males, 5 females. Three interior scenes. Cos- tumes modern. Plays 2H hours. It is altogether a gentle thing, this play. It is full of quaint humor, old- fashioned, homely sentiment, the kind that people who see the play will recall and chuckle over tomorrow and the next day. Miss Lippmann has herself adapted her very successful book for stage service, and in doing this has selected from her noyel the most telling incidents, infectious comedy and homely sentiment for the play, and the result is thoroughly delightful. Price, 60 Cents. (Tho Above Are Subject to Royalty W hen Produced) SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York City New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogrue Mailed Free on Request TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN PLAY PAGEANT FOR A GARDEN IN ONE ACT BY CONSTANCE WILCOX Princess Pignatelli Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox Copyright, 1920, by Henry Holt & Company (In a volume "Told in a Chinese Garden" and four other Fantastic Plays for outdoors or indoors) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CAUTION. — Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that "Told in a Chinese Garden," being fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America^ the British Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, and in all countries of the Copyright Union, is subject to a royalty, and anyone presenting the play without the consent of the author or her authorized agents will be liable to the penalties by law provided. Applications for the professional and amateur acting rights must be made to S.amuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. New York SAMUEL FRENCH Publisher 25 WEST 45th STREET London SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 26 Southampton Street STRAND ^i^J.O TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED "Told in a Chinese Garden" is fully protected by copy- right in the United States of America, the British Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, and all countries of the Copyright Union, and all rights reserved. In its present form this play is dedicated to the reading public only, and no performance, representation, production, recitation, public reading or radio broadcasting may be given except by special arrangement with Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. It may be presented by amateurs upon payment of a royalty of Five Dollars for each performance, payable to Samuel French one week before the date when the play is given. Professional rates quoted on application. Whenever the play is produced the following notice must appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the play: "Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French of New York." X(p AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO MY FATHER FIRST PRODUCED IN MADISON, CONN. Copy of the original program : Told in a Chinese Garden A STORY IN ONE ACT Characters in Order of Appearance Tai-Lo (a gardner on the estate of Wang-Chu-Mo) - - - T. Skinner Poa-Ting-Fang. (Guest of Wang-Chu- Mo) ----- G. Scranton Wang-Chu-Mo - - - - E. Gorden A page E. Wiener Li-Ti (daughter of Wang-Chu-Mo, affianced to Poa-Ting-Fang) - A. Scranton Ling-Tai-Tai (Governess to Li-Ti) - A. Chapin Lang-Tai-Tai (Governess to Li-Ti) - M. Wiener A Guard E. Wiener A Scribe C. E. Hill RUNNERS F.Dowd P. Harts C. Bigelow M.Hill E. Chapin UMBRELLA BOYS E. Butterw^orth G. Cody The Scene. A Chinese garden. Time. A Summer afternoon. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1918 A collection will be taken for the benefit of the New- Haven Base Hospital for soldiers wounded in France. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN ^ (A Play Pageant) Scene. A Chinese garden. Time. A summer afternoon. CHARACTERS Tai-Lo, a Gardener on the estate of Wang-Chu-Mo. Poa-Ting-Fang, Guest of Wang-Chu-Mo. Wang-Chu-Mo. Ll-Tl, Daughter of Wang-Chu-Mo. Ling-Tai-Tai, Governess to Li-Ti. Lang-Tai-Tai, Governess to Li-Ti. Two Guards. Scribe. Pages, Coolie Runners and Others. (The Songs are all Old Chinese — and also the quota- tions) 1 Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN A Story in One Act r I ^AI-LO is working ivith clippers at a flower bed m around a goldfish pool in the center of the "^^ garden. He wears a peaked straw hat and faded blue jacket and trousers. He sings at his work. Tai-Lo '' The flower fairies bring Their playmate spring; But the spring goes And leaves the rose. She fills all hearts With incense and departs. '' The river fain would keep One cloud upon its breast, Of the twilight flocks that sweep Like red flamingoes fading west, Away, away, To build beyond the day. ** Give me the green gloom of a lofty tree, Leaf and bough to shutter and bar My dream of the world that ought to be From the drifting ghosts of the things that are; 3 4 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Mine is the secret land where spring And sunset clouds cease wandering." (Poa-Ting-Fang and Wang-Chu-Mo ad- vance slowly down the path and into the gar- den. They are in gorgeous embroidered coats and scarlet and black hats with long tassels. A servant shields them from the sun with a bright, many-colored silk umbrella. They carry fans.) PoA (fVith a stately wave of his hand as they walk around the pool) As I have frequently observed, a garden is soothing to the eye — the flowers are like the many-colored moving disks of the counting board as they shine in the sun — I was ever fond of a garden in which to prepare my accounts — so warm, so undisturbed — Wang I had learned of your Excellency's preference — and you will find that my daughter Li-Ti — your most subservient wife-to-be — has the history of each flower at her finger tips. I have had her trained four hours every day in this very garden so she may be able to recite for your Excellency's delectation when she walks her honorable wifely paths in your garden. PoA Most erudite and solicitous host and father-in-law- to-be, the sun is no more warm on my back than your words in my ears. My late brother (may the Gods TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 5 grant him peace in heaven) took delight in his garden, and since I have come into his house and possessions, I have been pleased to add new blooms, one from each country, and cunningly intermingled like the enamel on a Ming vase. It is on view Thursdays and Satur- days — for a mean consideration. (They come upon the gardener. He bows so low that his sun hat completely hides his face; and, picking up his basket, he goes to a distant flower bed.) And gardeners — I have thousands — like brown- legged storks — and their wages — they will pick the pennies from my eyelids. Wang My daughter will have much to learn in your great household, and I have taught her to imbibe silently, and speak not until there are wise words in her mouth. As the Sage says, " A woman with a long tongue is a flight of steps leading to calamity." POA (Picking a flower with a great air) I myself am a man of few words and many affairs. Wang Yes, again to quote : " Love of knowledge without the will to learn, casts the shadow called Instability. Love of goodness without the will to learn casts the shadow called Foolishness. Love — " 6 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN POA Exactly, exactly. Now about the great scarlet bed that is part of your daughter's dowry — may I say that it is of an admirable richness and if there were silken quilts — Wang "• There — there are. They are to be carried to- night in the wedding procession on blue lacquered tables of great value — ten coolies it will take to carry them — and the household utensils and camphorwood chests — PoA {Jotting down the items in a notebook) Excellent, O excellent and generous, O my father- in-law-to-be. It is indeed fortunate that a propitious omen is about to bring our two great houses together. I would welcome your daughter were she as sharp as the vicious Aunt East Wind — which I am sure she is not. Wang My daughter is far from ill-favored. But as one has said, " Beauty without the will to — " PoA It does not matter. It is of an insignificance. I remember too, ** Admirable is the wise woman, but she is an owl." As befitting a man of affairs my wife and I will meet but seldom, and as you say she has the gift of silence. How does the verse go? " The wise man's wisdom is our strength, TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 7 The woman's wisdom is our bane. The men build up the city walls For women to tear down again." Wang It rests my ears to hear that you are fond of poetry. Do you know — POA Ah, I remember the sequence, " No man from any woman's wit Hath yet learned aught of any worth, For wise is she, but unto ill, To bring disorder on the earth. What does she in affairs of state? Her place is in the inner room. Her wisdom doth least hurt in this. To mind the silkworm and the loom." But enough of the arts. Were there not perhaps screens ? Wang Of purple colored teakwood, set with silver and ivory, and hangings of orange brocade hand painted with dragons. PoA A good omen — a good omen. (They go off slowly talking.) (A little boy in livery enters running. He peers about the garden and runs back to hold aside the shrubbery for a gilded, canopied chair 8 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN carried by coolies. In the chair is Ll-Tl, her scarlet and gold gown stiff with embroidery, and her hair elaborately dressed and twisted with strings of jade and pearl. Long earrings frame a lovely, expressionless face, white with powder and vividly carmine on cheeks and lips. Her eyes are heavily black and droop wearily. She carries a peacock feather fan with a mirror in the handle. Behind the chair walk the two elderly governesses in drab-colored gowns as unprepossessing as their sharp yellowed faces. They carry rolls of manuscript and a servant behind holds a bright umbrella over them.) The Boy The garden is empty, Celestialness; only an under- gardener is here. Li-Ti {Peering out) My father and Poa-Ting-Fang were just walking through the paths. I wish I might catch a glimpse of them. Ling-Tai-Tai It is not seemly. Lang-Tai-Tai It is not in comportment. It is curiosity! {The little procession advances slowly around the pool.) Lang The five worst infirmities that afflict the female arc TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 9 indocility, discontent, slander, jealousy and silliness. The worst of all and the parent of the other five is silliness. Your desire to see your honorable husband- to-be is silliness. Ling Leave on the knees of the Gods the joy of your first sight of him. It comes soon enough. {The bearers set down the chair.) Li-Ti I have heard that he is old, and that he poisoned his brother so that he could take his estates, and that his brother's heir ran away from him. Ling It is incredible that I hear these words in your mouth after our teaching. Lang Some sprouts do not blossom, some blossoms bear no seed. You are a stranger to us. Li-Ti {She descends from her chair. She is very small and sways on her bound feet) I am not myself. I am so soon to be some one else — the wife of a man that is old and greedy. I will drink only his will, and eat only his thoughts — he who I know poisoned his brother for money. {The bearers arrange a low stool for Ll-Tl and the little boy holds an umbrella over her. The governesses take their place standing in lo TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN front of her and unroll their long yellow scrolls. They also have a boy to hold their umbrella. The bearers take off the chair.) Ling Servants' chatter. Only girls and servants are hard to train. Draw near to them and they grow unruly; hold them off and they pay you with spite. Lang Remember that thou art young. What thou dost know is not to be compared with what thou dost not know. Li-Ti It is common talk. Why then did his brother's only son and heir run away? Ling Because he was a worthless ne'er-do-well and shame- lessly preferred the freedom, as he called it, of vaga- bondage, to the honorable responsibility of his father's estate. That is common talk also. Li-Ti Very like he did not care for the responsibility of such an uncle. Lang It ill fits your mouth to speak thus. If the shiftless Fang-Tai were to return and claim his lands before the allotted time when they legally belong to his uncle, you would not have a round penny as a wife. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN ii Li-Ti Then my father would not have me be a wife at all. That would be pleasing. Ling Undutiful girl! Let us go to our lessons. (They unroll the long strips of parchment.) Lang Your parent has instructed us to impart one more lesson in the histories of the flowers before you go to your husband to delight him with your knowledge. Recite, I pray you, the complete ancestry of the mari- gold. Li-Ti {In a singsong) Fathered first by our lord the Sun, whose sevenfold beams falling on the plant wove into curling petals, and then the sweet West Wind in passing from the bazaars of the great spice grove scattered in a pinch of — of — cinnamon — Ling Fie, fie — a pinch of musk. Li-Ti A pinch of musk, and Ku-Wu the bee with the golden stripes fashioned for it in the heart of the flower a pouch of tiny petals — so now — so now — Will Poa-Ting-Fang, my future husband, be angry with me? I have forgotten what comes next. 12 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Ling He will rap the tips of your fingers and leave you alone in the pavilion. *' So now the musk — " Li-Ti I do not know. Let us go to the gilly-flower. That is not so hard. Ling Fie! What is it the great Sage says about those who take the easy path? Li-Ti " The stones will be slippery and they will twist their feet." Lang So now the musk — {A runner enters who goes to the governesses.) Runner The Lord Wang-Chu would confer with you in the inner courtyard on a matter of immediate im- portance. Lang We come at once. Ling {Thrusting a parchment into Ll-Tl's hands) We return anon. Waste not the moments we are gone. Lang Listen not idly to the drone of the bees, or the dragonflies will sew up your ears. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 13 Ling The list of the flowers is there. Read it well, and remember each in its place. Lang And there is the song of the willow flowers for the lute. Last time the notes sounded like a mouse on the strings. (Ling and Lang go out with the runner and their umbrella man. The gardener crosses and begins work on the beds about the pool.) Li-Ti {In a very small voice as she strums her lute) " O willow flowers like flakes of snow, Where do your wandering legions go? Little we care and less we know ! Our ways are the ways of the wind — Our life in the whirl, and death in the drifts below." {She turns to her little umbrella boy, who stands patiently first on one leg and then on the other,) You twist so that your shadow flickers like a moth in the grass and drives the cadence out of my head. Go over there and rest — I do not mind the sun on my head. {He marches over to a far corner, and curling up on the ground under his umbrella promptly falls asleep.) 14 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Li-Ti (Running a finger through her eyelashes) It is not seemly that he should see tears. {She takes up the parchment.) The green verbena is the herb that the willow nymph tried to crush into tea for her lover, and the fragrance of her hands — the frag- rance of her hands — {She buries her face in her hands. ) Tai {Humming at his clipping) " Prone beside the Western stream, In the lilied dusk I dream. And mocking me the wind of spring Such medley of perfume doth bring, I cannot tell what fragrance blows. Nor guess the lotus from the rose." Li-Ti {Standing up and looking across the flower beds) Who is it sings when I wish to be sad? Tai It is I — Tai-Lo, the gardener. Li-Ti You are the gardener? Approach. (Tai-Lo comes before her, basket on arm and bo%vs I on/,) TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 15 Li-Ti Why do you have so many different kinds of flowers in the garden? Tai So they will bloom as varied and bright as the hem of your celestial skirt that brushes them as you pass. Li-Ti I v^^ould have all one kind — all gillyflowers. Tai The garden would be a desert — brown and yellow — deadening to the eye. Li-Ti I would like it. There would be less to learn. Tai You know the flower lore and yet would have the heart to turn them out of their homes? Li-Ti Horrid, stiff, prickly things! Take them up and put in gillyflowers! (Tai-Lo kneels with his trowel and puts one or two plants in his basket.) Li-Ti {As she watches hinij she strums carelessly on her lute) i6 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN " Through the green blinds that shelter me, Two butterflies at play, Four wings of flame whirl joyously Around me and away, While swallows breasting to the shore Ripple the waves they wander o'er. And I that scan the distant view, Of torn white clouds and mountains blue — Tai (Finishing it for her) Lift to the north my aching eyes — 'Tis there — 'Tis there the city lies — Chang — An arise! Arise!" Li-Ti You know that, too? Tai I am an exile. I know another wanderer song that might please you. (He takes the lute.) " I was a child in Yung- Yang, A little child I waved farewell, After long years I dwell again In world forgotten Yung- Yang. Yet I recall my playtime, And in my dreams I see The little ghosts of Maytime Waving farewell to me. " My father's house in Yung- Yang Has fallen upon evil days, TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 17 No kinsmen o'er the crooked ways Hail me as once In Yung- Yang. No longer stands the old Moot hall, Gone is the market from the town. The very hills have tumbled down, And stoned the valleys in their fall. Yet I recall my playtime. And in my dreams I see The little ghosts of May time, Waving farewell to me." Li-Ti Do flowers have ghosts? Tai {Returning to his work) Yes they are people. Poor little mangold lady! {He holds up an uprooted plant,) She holds the lan- terns of the garden. When the nights are dark she lights up the thick green jungle so the katydids can dance. Li-Ti {She consults her paper) That is not what I learned about the marigold. It is much prettier. Tai Ah, what you know, my lady, is the allegorical an- cestry, very befitting one of your quality. But this is the true story of the flowers that the fairies prick on the leaves. And the golden cup that the dew king fills for the moon fairies. They will go thirsty after their dance to-night. i8 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Li-Ti You need not pull up so many. What is the little white flower by your foot? Tai They are the slippers of the firefly elves left out to dry in the sun, but you mustn't tell any one. Li-Ti And those tall green ones over there? Tai Hush! Mandarins — see their green caps? Li-Ti And how solemnly they nod their heads! Tai And how the bees fly in and out telling them state secrets. Li-Ti h-ow dear and funny! (She peers over towards the high flowers.) I wonder if the bees' wings tickle their ears — they buzz so — I wonder how it feels to have a bee tell you secrets. Tai ( Gravely ) 1 can show you. This is the way. {He kisses her behind her fan.) Are you angry, celestial lady? Li-Ti No — o. It must be rather nice to be a flower. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 19 Tai You are one. Li-Ti I consider you only as a bee — in the garden. Tai A poor sort of vagabond, accountable to no one — flying in and out — not ever staying long enough to care — or have any one care — Li-Ti You shall stay and tell me funny stories. Tai All my poor little bee secrets are yours, lady. Li-Ti And sing songs about — Yung-Yang. O, I wish I had known there was a bee in the garden before ! Tai The bee saw the flower over the wall. Li-Ti Oh — I should not have been chattering and be- having in this unseemly fashion. Here come my hon- orable governesses. They will be so displeased if I am not occupied in a fitting manner. Go and send over the umbrella boy. I hope I have not faded in the sun. {She takes up her lute. The umbrella boy returns to stand over her. Tai-Lo goes back to his work.) 20 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN " O willow flowers like flakes of snow, Where do your wandering legions go? Little we care and less we know — " (She breaks off in a suppressed giggle that turns into a grave courtesy as the governesses hurry up. They are out of breath and excited.) Ling The unheard of has occurred! Lang O most unfortunate of girls! Ling The house of Mo can never smile again ! Li-Ti What is the matter? In what have I offended? Ling Not you. It is that the great Poa-Ting-Fang, your future husband-to-be, while walking in this very gar- den — O wretched landscape — has lost his emerald ring! Lang It is of the honorable size of a pigeon's egg, and worth the price of a thousand silver mines. Ling More valuable than all your dowry. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 21 Lang It holds in its secret chamber the seal of his house cut from the tomb of his first ancestor — Ling Never has one of his house been without it! Lang And it slipped from his august finger while he picked those miserable flowers! Ling But that is not the most calamitous! He vows he will depart in anger — that he will never look upon your face — if his ring is not returned. It is an ill omen and the two houses cannot come together un- der it. Lang The garden must be searched to the very seeds, or you will be scorned as a bride and the world will laugh at our rejected house! Li-Ti It does not appal me — that he will not marry me. Lang In this garden it vanished — the ring worth sixty diamond mines! It was to be a signet of your mar- riage. How can he overlook the omen of its loss? Ling Who has seen it? Who? Who? 22 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Li-Ti There has been no one here but ourselves — and the gardener. Lang That is it. O merciful heaven that has delivered him into our hands. (They approach Tai-Lo who bows. Ll-Tl wanders about looking in the beds.) Ling - Your name? Tai Tai-Lo. Lang How long have you been here, and why did you come? Tai I have been gardener among your honorable flowers for twice seven days. (Ll-Ti stops to pick up something that glitters as she turns it in her hand.) And before? Tai I wandered. Lang Ah! Ling And your reason for coming? TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 23 Tai {Watching Ll-Tl as she stands in the sunlight) I liked the flowers in your garden. Ling And you found them what you expected? Tai Better, excellencies. {He bows.) {With a furtive motion Ll-Tl crouches down and buries what she has found deep in the soft earth Tai-Lo spaded up.) Ling Enough! Seize him! Lang "A flaw can be ground from a scepter white — A slip of the tongue no man right." Ling I 'iv^ satisfied. "Unruly when young — unmen- tioned as man, undying when old — spells good-for- nothing." Li-Ti {Coniing betwee?i them) No! Lang Your chair waits. In a moment your honorable father and the wronged Ting-Fang will be here to search the garden — and the gardener. 24 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Li-Ti Untie him. He has not seen the ring. Ling We shall see — Lang What we shall see. Tai There are ways of proving that I have not the ring. Li-Ti (She has ascended her chair. She twists her hands nervously) I — I — (She looks at Tai.) I will see that you are not found guilty. Tai Graciousness ! ** Richer the silver of your voice than in the hollow pojols that make moonlight about your ankles." Ling " Honeyed words confound goodness." Lang " The vulgar always gloss their faults." Ling Forward ! (The bearers carry off the chair, followed by the governesses under their umbrella. A man stays to guard Tai-Lo.) TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 25 Man Where did you hide it? Tai What? Man The ring. Tai I have not seen it. Man I will take it safely out of the garden and we will go shares. Tai I tell you I have not seen it. It is fortunate for your master that I am gardener here instead of you. Man Do you think I can believe you such a fool that you were working here on the very bed under his foot when the ring slipped from his finger and did not put your hand over it? Bah ! Tell me where it is or I'll swear I saw you swallow it! Tai The only kind of fool I am not, is to tell anything to such a dirty knave as you. Man (Imperturbably) Everything you say will be used against you. 26 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Tai I have no doubt. " Trees are more upright than men." Man " Money makes a blind man see." (Wang-Chu-Mo a7id Poa-Ting-Fang, under their umbrellas, come into the garden. They are followed by servants with rakes,) Wang {Directing the men) Barely touch the surface of the earth — the slightest scratch may bury the ring beneath It as you work. And remember: you are held responsible if we fail. Oh, my honorable guest — and son-in-law that I hope you shall still be — would I could heap the unworthy dust of this garden on my head In apology. Fang It is Indeed a calamity of unmitigated enormity. My ancestral jewel is of the size of a pigeon's egg and of the value of a thousand silver mines. {He consults notebook.) Whereas your daughter's dowry, I regret to say, does not possess Its equivalent. Wang Its equivalent shall be found. Where is the gar- dener Lang-Tai-Tai told me of? Tai-Lo Here. (Tai-Lo and Poa-Ting-Fang stare at each other.) TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 27 Wang wretched stork, what have you filched with your beak! POA 1 would question this man — alone. (Wang goes off, fussily directing the men who scratch the flower beds with their rakes.) PoA Fang-Tai ! Tai My estimable uncle! PoA What are you doing here ? Tai I might better ask the same — what are you doing here — in my father's coat, and wearing — or, rather, being very careless, with my father's signet ring — while I, my father's heir, am still in a position to claim them? But I fear the question might Inconvenience you — PoA Very unsuitable. Tai We will let It pass since It Is of my own free will that I wander. Be benign enough to assure these peo- ple that I am no thief and I say nothing. 28 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN POA And how long do you continue saying nothing? Tai As long as my good pleasure and your good be- havior. PoA Am I to be at the beck and call and in constant fear of a paltry vagabond? Oh, my high-bred sensibilities! I shudder to my finger tips! Tai Most unsuitable of you, dear uncle. When my father died I chose some years of freedom to wander through the by-roads unhampered — and left you the freedom and the care of the estate. It was my favor that gave you these honors. It is not my fault if you assume too much — take too much — and force me to return. PoA That was why you stole the ring — so that you could prove your estate instantly! Tai Your morals, my uncle, are odd. I take no such method. PoA Bah ! Hypocrisy ! Tai I have seen that which makes me think I shall return in any case. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 29 POA Am I to give up my position — my hard-fought gains — my improvements won by the sweat of my toil and the clink of my gold — Tai My gold. PoA To give place to you — you — a vagabond squan- derer — a shiftless pleasure lover — who would waste and change and turn me into the laughing stock of the country? Tai No doubt. PoA It is unthinkable — that /, — I should have to give way to a beardless ne'er-do-well. It is a thousand deaths! And I would give a thousand rings to have you dead, scourge of the worthy! Tai No doubt. POA You mock me — will you — monkey -eared frog — you — Tai Tell these people that I am no thief, and have done. POA They would not believe it. 30 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Tai I have around my neck the amulet, the duplicate of the sacred amulet in my father's ring. They will believe Tai-Fang. PoA You cannot prove a grain of it. The amulet of a ragged gardener. It might be any stone. Tai The ring will be found and it fits there. POA I will throw the ring into the river before it is opened. I will grind it under my heel — Tai " The chase of gain is rich in hate — " My uncle, do you think there is a man on our estate who would not know me? POA But here — here they do not, and the word of a vagrant servant is the wind in the grass — empty. Whether the ring is found or not, I will say you con- fessed to stealing it. They will only be too eager to string you on the nearest branch to appease me. And what is one dead gardener more or less? By the sacred Gods that guard the cornice of our house, I will do it — unless you swear to go and never molest me again. You swear? Tax I do not. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 31 POA There will be trial and court in this very garden and you will be hung. Tai If it happens that I am not it will fare hard with you. Hbw well I see now that *' Gold is tested by fire and man by gold." PoA You will never go out of that gate unless, when the rope is about your neck, you promise me on the grave of your ancestors — Tai You old thief! I'll see you strangled first! {He tries to free his hands.) PoA {Calling) My honorable father-in-law. This man is violent! (Wang hurries up.) Wang He confesses? POA To having disposed of the ring. My astute ques- tioning — Tai I do not. Wang Peace! Lest your tongue burn in your mouth. 32 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN POA My intricate insinuations and subtle probes have brought the taste of guilt to his trembling mouth. Tai ' You lie ! My Lord Wang, if you know — Wang {Angrily) I am about to know. POA He admits to having taken the jewel but as to where he has hid it, he has the cunning and secrecy of the weasel. Wang We will discover at once. O that I should have nourished such a viper in my garden! POA Eating your bread and lining his unworthy pockets with your silver. My unhappy friend, I indeed grieve for you. Wang It can be crushed out. Tread on the snake's head, and he will not bite. PoA I truly believe that nothing would give me greater happiness than to see your garden spot cleared of all evil. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 33 Wang O most felicitous and generous guest ! Truly " to rank the effort above the prize may be called Love." It shall be cleared of Evil — Tai One moment. Wang Your time to speak shall come. Poa He should have only one moment. I am sincerely convinced that such is my friendship for you that im- mediate removal of this rascal — since he has in part confessed — w^ould greatly tend to smooth my pride in the matter of the ring — and my feeling towards your daughter — Wang We wall hold a court at once. Poa Is that necessary, in a case of such confessed guilt ? Wang {Pompously) " When not in office I discuss not policy." I per- form no deed that is not strictly in accordance with the mandates of the law — " Gentlemen cherish worth ; the vulgar cherish dirt. Gentlemen trust in justice; the vulgar trust in favor," says Confucius. But this will be very summary — just a few ceremonies in this gar- den — we will not disturb the festivities outside. 34 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN POA Most laudable Intention. But no strangers I pray — no fuss — no scandal ; of all things I deplore scan- dal — and were there outsiders I would feel it my painful duty to explain — my emerald seal — Wang No one but ourselves — and the men In this garden — to act also as executioners In case — POA Exactly and excellently planned. Worthy father- in-law, your scheme Is as neat as a snail in Its shell. Tai I claim the right to defendants. Wang {Pointing to the two guards) These can be your defendants. They are your fel- low servants and know the most about you here. PoA Precise as a crab In Its skin. Tai .Some one from my own province — Poa Question not your master's generosity, wretched fel- low. Your past Is best buried In obscurity. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 35 Wang Unhappy man, the crime was committed here. Who more fitting than these witnesses? POA My father-in-law, the tea-leaf eyelids of the Sages would quiver at your perfect comprehension and jus- tice. Tai You will regret this. PoA Very like. I am tender-hearted and ever hate to witness suffering. Wang • I depart to seek the law books. " To foster right among the people — to honor the ghosts of the dead while keeping aloof from them may be called Wisdom." PoA For a theft of over a thousand gold pieces it is hang- ing, is it not? My ring was worth twenty thousand. Wang That is the penalty. PoA And that this should defile your garden! In my grief for you I feel sorrow and desire for my ring passing away. Is it not dangerous to leave these men with the prisoner? He might confer falsely or even divulge the hiding place of the ring, and they escape. 36 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Wang True. Is he well tied ? Guard Perfectly. (Tai-Lo is roped hand and foot.) Wang He Is as safe there as a clipped sparrow, and we will guard the gates. Come, men, you will be allowed to confer with the prisoner for his defense under our eyes. Ah, if all would hark to the words of the Sage — " Living on coarse rice and water with a bent arm for pillow, mirth may be ours, but ill-begotten wealth and honors^are to me a wandering cloud." Poa We are not all born with the righteousness of Con- fucius In our breath as you are, my esteemed father-in- law-to-be. {They walk out slowly) Guard {In Tai-Lo's ear) Tell me where it Is — that ring — Tai You knave! Guard Remember then — by Kong-Fu-Tsu, I'll say you swallowed it, and then — {He makes the motion of ripping open Tai's body with a knife.) It is not pleasant even with a sharp knife — and I doubt if they wait to hang you first. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 37 Wang (Callinff) Come here, you loiterers ! Guard I was but tightening the ropes. (The Guards ^0 out.y (Ll-Tl enters on tip-toe. She sways, and ad- vances very slowly. Suddenly, very swiftly, she stoops and feels in a flower bed. Tai-Lo whistles a little tune.) Li-Ti {Her hands behind her) You are spying on me! Oh! Tai If you move your celestial path to another circle, I cannot see you. Li-Ti Oh, poor gardener — you are bound ! Does it hurt ! Tai A little, but not so much as that you should see me so. Li-Ti You do look funny! Ah, I did not mean that — I will see that you are unbound. I want to hear you talk again. I hate to see you so. Can't you move? Tai My position is honorably uncomfortable. Your 38 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN august father is pleased to accuse me of taking your estimable husband-to-be's ring. Li-Ti But you did not. They were estimably In the wrong. Tai You believe I did not steal? Your words are as sweet as the song of the Fung-Noang, the wonder- birds. Li-Ti Would it free you if the ring were found? If the emerald the size of a pigeon's egg and the value of sixty pagodas of pearl were to be spaded up in this flower-bed ? Tai I am afraid not. Li-Ti It would not matter? Tai You are pleased? Li-Ti Oh, it is only a little matter — something to do with myself, and not at all important as your troubles are. It is only that if the ring were not found, I heard It said that Poa-TIng-Fang — my husband-to-be — would look upon me with frowning, and not take me to his house, but go away. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 39 Tai You do not want to marry him? Li-Ti I have heard that he is old and ugly and stupid, and likes dry things to learn by rote instead of — of know- ing nice pretty flower stories such as — Tai As I know? Li-Ti Yes. But I must not take up all the time with this idle chatter of my affairs. There must be found a way to free you and then the ring will never be found. Oh, I would stamp it to pieces myself rather than that, and I would never have to learn any more stupid lists for Ting-Fang — only funny flower stories here in the garden with you, and we w^ould be so happy and care- free. Wouldn't we ? Tai It would be as a thousand springtimes. I wish it were possible. Li-Ti Why not? Tai You yourself have poured water on the last spark of hope. Li-Ti You think the ring could free you after all? Tai If anything. But speak not of that. 40 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Li-Ti I must {in a very faint voice) ; and the ring shall be found. Tai I hope not, for your honorable sake. You will stay- in the garden and talk to the bright lilies, and all the wicked lacquered goblins on the cornice of the house of Ting-Fang shall wriggle their fire-colored tongues in vain, for they shall not have you to eat. Li-Ti But I should not like it if you were not here. Tai You think so? To-night even in the great citron light of sunset when the Three Councillors open their cold bright eyes in the Northern sky, you will have forgotten. Li-Ti No! Your ghost would come to me. Tai Do not fear for me. " Those who have not tasted the bitterest of Life's bitters can never appreciate the sweetest of Life's sweets." And even if the emerald should be found growing like a celestial magic leaf upon these flower stems, there are those to say I hid it, and that is theft confessed. Li-Ti But if some one else were to say he took it? TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 41 Tai jewel In the lotus, do you think others wait to hang in my stead ? Li-Ti {Slowly) 1 could not live, and think that I had harmed you. Tai That Is very kind. Li-Ti You do not believe me? It Is true! ^ Tai Did you not just say, Almond Flower, that it was your happiness for the ring not to be found? That is proof. Li-Ti When I think of going with that dreadful old man, it is like holding my hand in a crab's tooth. But a way will be found to free you. It must. Tai To argue with you, little one, is like throwing water in a frog's face. Li-Ti Oh, you are so funny! Have I a face like a frog? Tai More like a lotus petal. 42 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Li-Ti Ah, I cannot bear it ! I must tell you — it is a secret — Tai Tell me. The dead have no tongues to wag. Li-Ti Don't say it! Tai-Lo, you are not going to diel Tai That is nonsense. What is your secret ? Li-Ti #It is that I — Oh, I dare not — I cannot — {She hides her face behind her fan.) Tai Your esteemed father and his honorable guest your husband-to-be are approaching. It would not be seemly that they find you in converse with a prisoner. Li-Ti {Looking up steadily over her fan) Good-by. Tai-Lo. Tai Good-by. (Ll-Tl vanishes in the hushes.) (Wanc-Chu-Mo and Poa-Ting-Fang enter, followed by servants bearing two high gilded chairs. Two others carry parasols, and an- other books, papers, and a long quill pen. One man has a heavy rope slung over his arm. At TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 43 a reasonable distance the two governesses follow, whispering importantly under their umbrella. The bearers put down the chairs and Wang and PoA ascends them, the umbrellas being held over their heads. A scribe sits cross- legged at their feet, with his materials spread before him. The governesses stand behind Wang's chair, and the servants in a row be- hind Poa's. Wang motions for Tai-Lo to be unbound. He comes to stand in front of the chairs. ) Wang {Reading from a book) " To leave untaught and then kill is cruelty ; to ask full tale without warning is tyranny. To give care- less orders and be strict when the day comes Is rob- bery; to be stingy in rewarding men is littleness." Court is open. This man is accused of a theft sur- passing the mark of ten thousand gold pieces. I be- ing judge of this province may acquit him, or find him guilty. If he is found guilty, he may be hanged. POA {Fanning himself) Most suitable, most suitable. Wang Who stands against this man? POA {Rising) I do. 44 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN {Several of the servants bow, and the gov- ernesses come forward timidly.) Wang {Speaking to the Scribe) Put down the names. PoA Of us all — Wang Yes, all except those two. {He points to the two guards of Tai-Lo.) They are to speak for the prisoner. PoA {Coldly) Ah, those. {He leans over to them.) Merely tech- nical, my men, I assure you. There will be no pen- alty attached for you if your — ah — client — is found guilty. Tai I will speak for myself. Guard {In his ear) And what have you to say to me? Tai That you can go to the devil. {The guard whispers vindictively.) Tai You blackguard! {He falls on the man, half knock- TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 45 ing him down, and is pulled back by the other guard. Wang and Poa both rise. The governesses scream.) Wang {Shrilly) Stop It there! How dare you, vagrant beetle that you are, interrupt and insult the honor of the court before my eyes! Oh, lamentable viciousness! Poa Scandalous ! Wang {Sinking back in his chair, the guards having pulled Tai-Lao back) An execrable beginning. Poa Contemptible. To maul his very fellow defendant! Tai It is not as you think, Lord Wang; if you will hear me, this man — Poa Out of order. {Fanning.) Tales, tales. Wang Out of order, certainly! and there is nothing to excuse your incredible actions. " The people are the root of a country, if the root is firm, the country will be tranquil; if the root is rotten, the country breaks like a house with a cracked floor." 46 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Guard I refuse to answer for this man. I want to accuse him — POA Very proper spirit, very proper. Guard I can tell you — Wang All in appropriate time. Put his name down there. {He raps sharply on the arm of his chair with his fan.) Proceed! We will omit the formalities and come to the accusations. Scribe {Reading from his papers in a high singsong) The gardener, Tai-Lo, is accused of theft in the third degree of — Poa Time presses. Wang Come to the list of evidence. Scribe First: He was known to be alone in the garden when the great and honorable Lord Poa-Ting-Fang lost his most precious emerald ring — clear as the sunset after rain — of the size of a pigeon's egg — and the value of ten thousand silver mines. He was seen to work under the very feet of the great Poa-Ting-Fang as the ring slipped from his finger — TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 47 Tai If he knew when It fell, why did he not pick it up ? Wang Again, silence. POA Note that down — if he knew — if he knew. {Making a note in his book.) Scribe Second: He confessed openly to have been a wan- dering beggar and questionable character before his entering as a gardener only a few days before the notable Poa-Ting-Fang was due for a visit, and he admitted in the access of his unworthy triumph that he had found the gleanings of the garden even more than he had expected. Ling That we found out — Lang He admitted it to us. PoA Most admirable example of female intelligence! Ling ( To Lang, as they settle back) '* A man thinks he knows, but a woman knows better." Scribe Third : The guilty one is known to have confessed 48 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN to taking the ring — into the august ear of Poa-Ting- Fang himself. POA Is that not sufficient? Scribe Though, being as a weasel in his ways, he will not confess where he has hid away the jewel. {He rolls up his paper, and sits down.) Tai Poa-Ting-Fang has made my confession incomplete because he does not know any more than I do where the ring is. POA Does the court permit this slander on my person? Wang We will hear the man though his ridiculous insinua- tions are hardly worth the attentions of our august ear. " But he who contains himself goes seldom wrong," says the wise man. We will listen though it be wind in our ears. POA " Politeness before force." Tai I have not seen the ring. POA That is an — ah — inaccuracy. The person has seen the jewel on this very hand, flashing in the sun TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 49 before his greedy eyes — as I walked in the garden. Could any one have overlooked the sacred emerald of the house of Fang? Of the value of five hundred Ming vases all fragile as the v^ings of a moth? His statement is v^^orthless. Tai Yes, my uncle, my esteemed and proud relative, I have seen the ring — on my father's finger it was — my father — whose estates you will steal to your own ends — seen it with my eyes — the eyes of Fang-Tai — my father's son. PoA His guilt has gone to his head. Too bad, too bad. " Memory makes dizzy his thought like the perfume of some venomous flower." Wang What proof have you for this monstrous imper- tinence ? Tai " When a bird is to die his note is sad, when a man is to die, his words are true." Do you deny that I am your nephew. Lord Ting- Fang? POA Most certainly. My Lord Wang-Mo, do you per- mit this man to question whether I know my own nephew? Indeed " if the tongue have no fear, words are hard to make good." 50 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Wang Consider which way your tongue goes. How can you utter such an assertion? POA " The charioteer of Resolve has lost control of the wild team of Fancy." Governesses (Behind their fans) Very pretty — very pretty. (PoA smiles indulgen ly.) Tai {Holding out an amulet that is a string about his neck) I have here the perfect duplicate of the sacred amulet of the house of Fang, the secret seal of our ancestors, given only to the first sons of our house. PoA Very unlikely. Tai And any man from our province would know me — I can tell you the secret and inmost furnishings of our palace — POA The man must have a whole band of accomplices to lie for him. Governesses " Evil is not hermit. It has ever neighbors." TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 51 POA Exact and just. Tai Do you deny, Poa-Tfng-Fang, that In the hidden corner of your chamber — PoA Whose word Is to be taken — this vagabond's or mine? Are my household gods to be dragged out and shamed before the whole countryside — and In the mouth of every lying rascal? I have said that he Is a thief. My word Is used as carelessly as a lead penny. {He rises.) This court shall keep me no longer. I will go forth, and say that It Is no court. Wang My most exalted guest, your word Is as valuable as a ruby. Into a court Is sifted both chaff and grain. We must winnow all. Be satisfied that the affair will be settled here — and take It no further. (PoA seats himself. ) PoA (Sulkily) " Long visits make short compliments." Wang You have an amulet? PoA Like most gardeners — apes are we all. 52 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Governesses Yes, yes, apes. Wang Speak slowly — and take heed of your words — concerning it. The offense is great. How can you prove your assertion here and now? Tai The amulet is cut so cunningly that it fits into a hidden part of the ring of our house. PoA And the ring is lost! Very neat, very neat. Wang You testify to your own guilt. Tai I dare you to find the ring, Poa-Ting-Fang. Guard He can't do it! He can't do it! Wang Why not? Guard {Pointing to Tai-Lo) Because he's swallowed it! All Swallowed it! TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 53 Tai That — that is too absurd ! Guard ( Vindictively ) When he knew he was caught — he did it — to hide his guilt — Tai And how do you prove that? Guard {Significantly) There is one way to prove it — quick and sure. Wang This is most distressing! POA Most shocking to my delicate sensibilities — Guard Will you hang him first? My Lord, does such a liar deserve it ? PoA Perhaps the guard is right — and since the man claims to exalted ancestry, however knavish his asser- tions, that is a more — ah — aristocratic way of — ah committing suicide. But, oh, my tender perceptions. Wang I must complete my duty and the law. 54 TOLD IN A CHI^IESE GARDEN Guard {Delightedly producing a knife in one hand and a rope in the other) Have I your august permission to — {The bushes part suddenly and Ll-Tl appears.) No! My daughter! Li-Ti {Shrilly) Wang POA My future bride! {He modestly hides his face be- hind his fan.) Wang This is the culmination of unseemliness! Unhappy girl! Li-Ti {Prostrating herself) I will walk in obedience all my life. I will be faith- ful and light lanterns before all the household gods, and obey your slightest eyelid quiver as your most sub- servient and unworthy wife, my Lord Ting-Fang, but I cannot live and know that such a crime was done in my name. Wang In your name? Li-Ti Oh, a thousand pardons, most august and best of TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 55 fathers — ten thousand, O most exalted husband-to-be — but I with my miserable eyes had never beheld the countenance of my Lord Ting-Fang — and knew that he could care naught for one so lowly as I — and I found — O, a million apologies, most celestial ones — that my unworthy heart was not with him — that it lay in the hand of another — and when I heard — from all mouths that my Lord Ting-Fang would not have me if his ring were not found — I thought only of myself in my unhappiness — and I saw the ring where it lay fallen in our most unworthy garden, slipped from his august finger — and I stole it. Wang You! Li-Ti Yes. Cover me with a thousand confusions. Bury me forever in the cold cells of the sacred Pagoda. But do not harm Tai-Lo. (She holds out her hand.) Here it is. POA {Coming suddenly down from his chair) Let me see. Tai (Forestalling him, and covering the ring with his hand) No. Ling {Catching a sleeve of Ll-Tl and pulling her hack) Little spider — is this how you reward our teaching! 56 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Lang {Pulling her by the other sleeve) " The five worst Infirmities that afflict women are—" Wang Peace. Tai Behold; my Lord Wang. (He holds the ring and his amulet together in his hand.) Wang Complete. How strange indeed are the Gods! Tai There will now be time to prove more — POA {With a majestic wave of his hand) My worthy and honorable Lord Wang-Chu-Mu, and others that are here, I admit that this person is unfortunately my nephew. I admit that I denied him before you. I admit that I would rather have my tender, high-strung sensibilities racked to their core as they would have been by the shedding of my own flesh and blood and the thrice regrettable demise of my unfortunate nephew than to have the lands of my ancestors ravaged and the gods of my household pro- faned by falling into the hands of a profligate and a waster. But through the interruption of, I may say with a blush, your unmaidenly daughter, all this can- not be. But the hem of my skirt will be clear of it from now on. I resign my lands into the hands of TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 57 this rascal, preferring that they perish quickly and without the open scandal of a lawsuit with such as he. And you, Wang-Mu, I congratulate you that you have not had the inconvenience of having your daughter re- turned to you, as she surely must have been had I seen her in my house. I leave her to my nephew. I fear they are only too well suited to each other. I have the pleasure of bidding you an honorable farewell. And try, I beg you, though I fear it will be difficult, to remember that ** A gentleman is consistent and change- less and a combination of art and nature well blent." {He moves off with great dignity, signing to a man to follow him with an umbrella. All bow.) Wang Alas ! Like the famous man, ** He wears a mask of love but his deeds belie it." Ling Such a splendid creature ! Lang Like the full moon his face, with eyebrows like swallows' wings — Tai My uncle has always dignity and discretion. Wang Completely polite. (Poa-TiNG-Fang disappears,) 58 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Tai May I have the honor of suggesting that I am now as my uncle — though undoubtedly somewhat less august and complete in my gifts — and stand in the most exalted shoes of your son-in-law-to-be? Wang I will consult the law upon that most desirable point. My garden is yours, and my house — and all that I have. {He goes off slowly, followed by the scribe, chair and the others. All bow deeply.) Tai (To Li-Ti) So that was your secret? Li-Ti {Prostrating herself) Oh, most honorable lord, forgive my boldness. Tai {Lifting her to him) You would have sacrificed yourself so no harm should come to me. It gives faith to a poor vagabond to take up the works of his ancestors again. {The bearers come back with Ll-Tl's chair. She ascends it.) Tai I shall remember that the first day I saw you was the birthday of a thousand flowers, and each succeeding day will be the unfolding of a new petal. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 59 Li-Ti Oh, most honorable one! I will have no more se- crets from you — I will tell you all. Tai In a garden — where there are plenty of bees. {He bows. The bearers carry off her chair, LiNG and Lang follow.) {As the chair reaches the opposite of the pool Ll-Tl leans out and throws him a kiss. Tai- Lo follows them out slowly, humming the same tune as when he first came into the garden.) 6o TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN FOR OUTDOOR PRODUCTION OF TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN Any garden could be used for this play. To make it appear Chinese, large flat gray sil- houettes, cut to represent the stone lanterns and pagoda ornaments so often seen in Chinese gardens could be easily made, and placed about. It is pretty to have a little walk or vista down which the processions can come on entering the garden. The bright colored costumes are very effective against the green. For amateur production, Chinese costumes and prop- erties are easy to find, and the coolie costumes can be very effective with soft colored smocks and peaked straw hats. FOR INDOOR PRODUCTION A simple scene would be — A white wall extends across the back of the stage, with a little red door let in on one side, through which the characters enter inPto the garden. The top of the wall is colored with a band of scarlet, blue and gold tiles, and perhaps the curving scarlet tip of a Chinese roof shows over the top of the wall against the vivid blue sky. The grass in the garden is very bright green, with a little pebble path running through it, and prim flower beds against the wall, and in the foreground, brilliant, stiff flowers. On either side, stunted, Chinese pines, in lacquered pots. For ornament, two red lac- quered sitting Chinese dogs guarding the door in the n^all. TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN NOTES ON COSTUMES AND SCENERY FOR AMATEURS COSTUMES Poa-Ting-Fang and Wang-Chu-Mo as high Chinese dignitaries should have long embroidered silk coats and skirts. These can usually be borrowed, or else rented from any costumer. Their hats can be made very effectively of circular rims about four inches wide of red cardboard cut to stand out from the face, with a gold Chinese character painted in front, and a silk tassel hanging over the side from a button on top of the crown of the hat, which is made of close-fitting black silk or a stocking cap. Their shoes should be embroidered Chinese if possible, and they should carry black and gold paper Chinese fans. If the embroidered costumes are not possible, coats and skirts cut in voluminous Chinese pattern from plain bright yellow or green or purple silk lining material or even paper muslin, and decorated front and back with a dragon or Chinese Character design carefully copied from some reliable picture, and painted on with black and gold can be quite effective. The shoes could be straw sandals or leather slippers — but in no case use ordinary heeled shoes. The chief point is to have these costumes look authentically Chinese as well as picturesque in color and outline, and particular care should be taken to make the details harmonious no matter how simple or how elaborate the costume. Li-Ti as a Chinese Great Lady should also have elaborately embroidered coat and trousers, but if this is not possible, coat and trousers can be cut of plain silk in green or yellow or scarlet or blue, and a Chinese Dragon or Flower design appliqued in gold or con- trasting colors back and front of the jacket. It is very simple to make her a gold Chinese headdress by cutting the correct design out in cardboard, and gilding it, and trimming it with flowers and tassels at each side. But if this is found unbecoming or at all cumbersome she can wear her hair (which of course must be smooth and black) parted in the middle, drawn into coils at each side with flowers at the back or over her ears. She also must have embroidered Chinese slippers. She can wear as much jewelry as is found attractive, but it must be in harmony and at least look Chinese even if it is not genuinely so. Her make-up must be very elaborate with a great deal of care and formality in the making. Ling-Tai-Tai and Lang-Tai-Tai, the govern- esses, can either wear less elaborate embroidered robes than Li-Ti, or coats and skirts cut from purple, blue or grey silk or cloth. Their headdresses can be cut from cardboard also, painted silver and decorated with long hanging tassels. These headdresses should be copied from some authentic old Chinese picture, other- wise they may be ridiculous. Pages and Scribe. These can be simply costumed in coat and trousers of some bright plain color, with heraldric Chinese Dragon or Character design back and front. They wear close-fitting black silk caps with button on top and a long black queue — which can be made of plaited black cloth, and tied at the bottom with strings of scarlet and yellow. The smaller the Pages are the prettier the effect. They can wear colored leather slippers or straw sandals. Tai-Lo wears the soft colored long smock-like shirt, and roUed-up cotton trousers of a coolie. His hat presents the only diflSculty, and that should be a real Chinese straw coolie's hat, either hired, or bought in Chinatown. It should be somewhat different in shape, size, etc., from the hats of the other workers. He has the long queue, and either bare feet or straw sandals. Coolie Runners, Bearers, etc. These wear soft color cotton smocks and trousers and Chinese straw hats. These are always very effective and with the long black queue are all that is needed to characterize the costume. They have bare feet. PROPERTIES The Parasols are the most effective bit of scenery one could have in a garden, but in no case must they be confused with Japanese parasols. They must be the real Chinese glazed and ribbed umbrellas or the effect of all the costuming is spoiled. Chinese parasols, or copies, are easy to find or to buy and are always useful afterwards. The Fans must also be real Chinese, and not con- fused with the Japanese more common paper fan which will be instantly recognized as wrong by any discerning person. Li-Ti should have a peacock feather fan — (can be bought very reasonably in Chinatown) and the others as carefully chosen authentic fans as possible. If Tal-Lo is to carry a basket it must be of real Chinese weave. It is very picturesque to have him carry two of these as he first enters the garden. They can be slung by ropes on the ends of a light bamboo pole which he carries over one shoulder. Chairs for Court Scene. These must be very simple. In one production they were most effective made of plain boxes, with straight high boards for backs, painted a brilliant lacquer yellow, with black Chinese Characters on them and grotesque painted Chinese mask heads cut and painted on cardboard for their heads. However, unless some real effect like this can be achieved, simple boxes, lacquered scarlet or black, are far better than the wrong sort of chair. The Palanquin is not difficult to make. It can be made of a plain chair firmly nailed between two strong poles. A light square frame of thin wood laths is built over the chair and curtained back, front and sides, with Chinese embroideries or silk curtains. Li-Ti sits cross-legged on the chair and four bearers can carry it easily. It is pretty to have Chinese cornices cut from stiff cardboard, lacquered black, scarlet and gold and put on the corners. Of course the Palanquin is not necessary, but it is very effective. THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY. The famous comedy in three acts, by Anne Warner. 7 males, 8 females. Three interior scenes. Costumes modern. Plays 2% hours. This is a genuinely funny comedy with splendid parts for "Aunt Mary," ■Jack," her lively nephew; "Lucinda," a New England, ancient maid of all work; 'Jack's" three chums; the Girl "jack" loves; "Joshua," Aunt Mary's hired man, etc. "Aunt Mary" was played by May Robson in New York and on tour for over two years, and it is sure to be a big success wherever produced. We strongly rcoommend it. Price, 60 Cents MRS. BUMSTEAD-LEIGH. „A pleasing comedy, in three acts, by Harry James Smith, author of The Tailor-Made Man." 6 males, 6 females. One interior scene. Cos- tumes modern. Plays 2^ hours. Mr. Smith chose foi< his initial comedy the complications arising from the endeavors of a social climber to land herself in the altitude peopled by hyphenated names— a theme permitting innumerable complications, according to the spirit of the writer. This most successful comedy was toured for several seasons by Mrs. Fiskc with enormous success. ^ Price, 60 Cents. MRS. TEMPLE'S TELEGRAM. A most successful farce in three acts, by Frank Wyatt and William Morris. 5 males, 4 females. One interior scene stands throughout the three acts. Costumes modern. Plays 2J^ hours. "Mrs. Temple's Telegram" is a sprightly farce in which there is an abund- ance of fun without any taint of impropriety or any element of oflFence. As noticed by Sir Walter Scott, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" There is not a dull moment in the entire farce, and from the time the curtaini rises until it makes the final drop the fun is fast and furious. A very exceptional farce. Price, 60 Centsj THE NEW CO-ED. A coinedy in four acts, by Marie Doran, author of "Tempest and Sunshine," etc. Characters^ 4 males, 7 females, though any number of boys and girls can be introduced in the action of the play.^ One interior and one exterior scene, but can be easily played in one interior scene. Costumes modern. Time, about 2 hours. The theme of this play is the coming of a new student to the college, her reception by the scholars, her trials and final triumph. There are three especially good girls' parts, Letty, Madge and Estelle, but the others have plenty to do. "Punch" Doolittle and George Washington Watts, a gentleman of color, are two particularly good comedy characters. We can strongly recommend "The New Co-Ed',' to high schools and amateurs. Price, 30 Cents. (The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced) SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York City New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DOROTHY'S N |||ll|||l|ll|l|l|l|l||ll|ll||ilillllllllllllllll ^ A u J A ' £ . 018 378 321 A ^ A brane new comedy in four acts, _^ „*«x.^ x^uiau, autnor of "T New Co-Ed," "Tempest and Sunshine," and many other successf"* play 4 males, 7 females. The scenes are extremely easy to arrange; two plai; interiors and one exterior, a garden, or, if necessary, the two interiors will answer. Costumes modern. Plays 2J^ hours. The story is about vocational trainimg, a subject now widely discussed; also, the distribution of large wealth. Back of the comedy situation and snappy dialogue there is good logic an«' I sound moral in this pretty play, which is worthy the attention of the experi- enced amateur. It is a clean, wholesome play, particularly suited to high school production. Price, 30 Cents. MISS SOMEBODY ELSE. A modern play in four acts by Marion Short, author of "The Touch- down," etc. 6 males, 10 females. Two interior scenes. Costumes mod- ern. Plays 2%. hours. This delightful comedy has gripping dramatic moments, unusual character types, a striking and original plot and is essentially modern in theme and treat- ment. The story concerns the adventures of Constance Darcy, a multi-million- aire's young daughter. Constance embarks on a trip to find a young man who had been in her father's employ and had stolen a large sum of money. Sir almost succeeds, when suddenly all traces of the young man are lost. At thi point she meets some old friends who are living in almost want and, in order assist them through motives benevolent, she determines to sink her own aris: cratic personality in that of a refined but humble little Irish waitress with tl family that are in want. She not only carries her scheme to success in assistinc the family, but finds romance and much tense and lively adventure during ihc period of her incognito, aside from capturing the young man who had defrai'rlc, her father. The story is full of bright comedy lines and dramatic situations m ' is highly recommended for amateur production. This is one of the best oorr-.r dies we have ever offered with a large number of female characters. The di.iloarr.e is brierht and the play is full of action from start to finish; not a dull moment in it. This is a great comedy for high schools and colleges, and the wholetom'- Story will please the parents and teachers. We strongly recommend it. Price, 30 C PURPLE AND FINE LINEN. An exceptionally pretty comedy of Puritan New England, in three, acts, by Amita B. Fairgrieve and Helena Miller. 9 male, 5 female char- acters. This is the Lend A Hand Smith College prize play. It is an admirable play for amateurs, is rich in character portrayal of varied types and is not too difficult while thoroughly pleasing. Price, 30 Cent*