Wt}t tost of Cfjrtstmas -BY- JULIA M. MARTIN PRICE 25 GENTS Eldridge Entertainment House Franklin, Ohio sb* Denver, Colo. 944 So. Logan Street YOU WILL BE GLAD TO KNOW OF THESE NEW PLAYS Training Mary By Mary Shaw Page, A bright 1-act play with sim- ple stage setting. William, husband of Mary, essays to train Mary, especially along the lines of correcting carelessness. As is always the case, William Tets in deep water, but finally wades out. 2 males, 4 fe- males, and plays about 45 minutes. Price, 25c. The Hired Man's Courtship By Alice Cripps. A short comedy-drama in 2 acts. Captain Edwards tires of wealth an$ the city, and procures work on Hortozi's farm, only to find that the farmer's daughter is an eld swee^&eari; Because of an intrigue on the part of the c~ ::ain*s cousin, an es- trangement takes place, which e:."ds happily when the captain finds the source of certain stories and re- futes them. Aunt Hepsey, Jim and Ezra (colored), add comedy to the piay. Piays about 45 minutes, and is for 3 males and 3 females. Price, 25c. Merely Anne Marie A comedy in 3 acts by Beulah King. 3 males, 5 "ss. Time, 2/Va hours. The scenes are laid in a fashionable bearding house, and the characters are all distinct types and worth while. A successful play- wright, desiring to escape notoriety, seeks seclusion at Mrs. Teague's and becomes the hero of Anne Ma- rie, the dining room maid. The dialogue is bright, the situations clever and the story ends happily. 35c> A Bit of Scandal By Fannie Barrett Linsky. Comedy-drama in 2 acts. Francina, who is to play at the recital, composes he.- own number. On the evening of the recital, Mary Sherman, who precedes her en the program, plays Francir.a's compositions, which she has stolen. The reascr.s for the theft ail come out later and of course, all ends well. Nine characters. Plays about 1 hour. Price, 35c. Miss Burnett Puts One Over By Ethelyn Sexton. A rollicking 1-act girls' play for 6 characters. Barbara's mother has a friend, Ann Bur- nett, who is to visit the girls at college, with the in- tention cf giving a generous sum to the school. The girls, wishing o gain her good will, practice their "manners." Miss Burnett, however, appears in dis- guise and has much fun at their expense. All ends well and the school gets the money. Plays about 45 minutes. Easy setting and costumes. Price, 25c. Eld ridge Entertainment House FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 944 S. Logan St. THE QUEST OF CHRISTMAS By JULIA M MARTIN COPYRIGHT 1922 Eldridge Entertainment House PRICE 25 CENTS PUBLISHED BY ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE Franklin, Ohio also Denver, Colo. -?*<•■** The Quest of Christmas (The Whitson family have just set up their Christ- mas tree, ornamented as yet only with its own dark fol- iage, when Mr. Whitson enters.) Father — Thought I told you once for all, this year we shall have no Christmas. Let us have no fuss about it — Christmas wasn't meant for poor folk. What with taxes, what with freight rates, what with half a price for apples, what with losing on the hay crop, there'll ba nothing left for Christmas. Now let that be understood. Margaret — {running to hug his burly old neck) Never mind — we shall not miss it. (Exit Father, left.) Susy — Oh, I think it's just too horrid! Bobby — Old man's getting tighter'n ever. Susy — (awed) Bobby ! Mother — (in a low but severe tone) Bobby, dear, how could you? Father feels it very keenly. That was why his voice was gruff. Margaret — That was why he left the room. Bobby — Didn't mean to be ungrateful. Well, I know how Father toils. Think, though — not to have a Christ- mas! Why, it's just too stupid, Mother! Margaret — Well, I think it might be better if we all got rid of Christmas — All the fuss, I mean, and shop- ping.. Every year it's more expensive. Bobby — Oh! Then whatcha crying for? (Margaret hastily dabs at her eyes and laughs.) Mother — Simply loyalty to Father prompted Mar- garet to say it. (To Margaret, with a caressing hand 2 ©CI.D (33219 TMP9o-0C70i9 _ . : DEC3C The Quest of Christmas on her shoulder) And we love you for it, daughter. (To all.) But I doubt if we, so blessed in our family rela- tions, wholly could get rid of Christmas by refraining from the shopping. Let us think, and wait, and see. (Exit Mother, left, slyly beckoning to Margaret, ivho follows. Enter at opposite wing, Little Idea, danc- ing to sprightly music.) Susy— Bobby! Bobby! Who is that? Little Idea — A Little Idea, perhaps you would call me. I came into being from no one knows where. No money can tempt me; I go where I fancy. For purse and pretension Tis little I care. Susy — What a pretty thing she is ! Oh, if we could only keep her! Little Id,ea — I'm very desirable just before Christ- mas, and people who capture me find the day bright. So don't be a stupid; wake up and pursue me. Just pucker your forehead and follow my flight. Susy — So I will. If I could catch her! (Exit Little Idea, followed by Susy, rear. Enter Puck, at right, dancing fantastically.) Bobby — Who can that be, now, I wonder? Puck — Don't you know who I am? Puck, the soul of fun. Want to know a secret? Well, I'll tell you one. I'm a friend of Christmas; I know his address. Tisn't in a bank book — make another guess. (He starts out, making a sportive thrust at Bobby as he goes.) Bobby — Wait a minute, little fellow — maybe you could help us out. Won't you spend your Christmas with us? We should never miss the presents if we seated at our table such a jolly lad as you. Puck — If you truly want me, look for me— ho ho! Where I am invited I'm pretty sure to go. (Enter Margaret and Mother L.) Mother — Something, surely, we could plan. Darling, where's our thinking cap ? The Quest of Christmas {Margaret puckers her forehead. Enter at right, Forethought, with the cap on.) Margaret — Oh, where can it be? Why, Mother, someone else is wearing it. (Points at Forethought.) Forethought — Just a tiny Forethought. That is all my name. Thought I might be useful, So, you see, I came. (She places her cap on Mother's he-ad and boics to do her honor. Then she steps aside and stands puck- ering her brow and occasionally moving her lips as if in profound abstraction. Enter Co-operation, right, carry- ing a pair of scissors.) Co-operation — Knew you'd like to have me come. So I thought I would. Now you'll work together well, as dame and daughter should. Guess my name. Mother — Co-operation. Co-operation — Right — I thought you would. Look — without the other blade, neither's any good. (As he speaks, Co-operation holds the scissors open. Then he presents them to Margaret and takes his place beside Forethought.) Margaret — Scissors will be useful, Mother. We shall use this pair together. (Enter Invention and Economy, both at right.) Invention — Invention will come to your rescue when Riches and Luxury won't. She's a far better friend to have in the end. She grows as you spend; they don't. (She unfolds a reindeer pattern cut out of heavy paper.) Now, why not a gingerbread reindeer? He's for your table, you know. This fellow was seen in an old maga- zine. I traced him, to cut in the dough. (She lays the reindeer pattern in Mother's lap, and begins to adorn the tree with long processions of little reindeer cut out of white pcvper.) Economy — After the reindeer is cut from the dough, Little odd bits will be left, you know. Don't for mercy's sake, throw them away. Make them all count for your Christmas day. They will make many a star or bell, but The Quest of Christmas that isn't what I was going to tell. (She unrolls paper.) These are the spangles I cut for the tree. Guess what they're made of. I give you them free. Margaret — Made of something bright and pretty. We should have to buy it though. Economy — Don't be too sure till you know what they are. Here is a yellow one, shaped like a star. Took an old syrup can; loosened the label — Result, a bright spangle for tree or for table! Pasted two stars back to back, as you see. So it's pretty all round as it twirls from the tree. (She tivirls it and then hangs it, Uvirl- ing, on the tree.) Here is a red one I shaped like a bell. Made of a soap wrapper! Now could you tell? Maga- zine covers I also find ready to serve an ingenious mind. Margaret — What's your name? I'd like to know you. Economy — You could learn it of your, mother; she has known me long and well. Mother — 'Tis Economy, my dear. (Enter Father and Susy L., with an armful of boughs.) Father — After all, I brought some green. Thought it wouldn't cost a penny. Just to brighten up a bit. (He stops, amazed at seeing the company present. Sternly.) Then you did invite some guests? Mother — Yes, a few good angels, Father, we invited unawares. (Enter rear, Puck, Bobby and Little Idea, hand in hand.) Bobby — Hello, folks! You didn't know there'd be guests for Christmas, did you? (Stops amazed at see- ing those already present.) Susy — (clapping hands gleefully) Oh, yes, Bobby, yes, we did ! Bobby — Guests for Christmas — I should say so! Well, you see, I brought you more. The Quest of Christmas Father — (recognizing Forethought and crossing to shake hands with her) This is Forethought, I declare! Bobby — (wondering) Father seems to know them, too. Forethought — Yes, indeed, your loving father is no stranger, child, to Forethought. Father — Come to think about it now, Fve invited guests myself. (He admits at left door, Christmas In- spiration, who carries a ham-shaped parcel, tied with a narrow red ribbon.) Christmas Inspiration — (modestly) Mr. Whitson just remembered that you needed some supplies, so he purchased them today, thinking they would seem, per- haps, in a way, a Christmas present. (She holds up the ham.) Father — And I think she even whispered in the jol- ly grocer's ear , since he tied them up with ribbon. (Ad- mitting Pop-Corn Ball at left door.) Then I just re- membered Pop-Corn. He's a very wholesome guest, rath- er sweet of disposition and so sensible, as well! Pop-Corn Ball — You nearly forgot the Pop-Corn Ball, who wishes you Merry Christmas, all. Fve wonder- ed you didn't prize me more, when Fve been with you oft before. Fm white as the troublous cotton snow, that some folk put on the tree, you know. Fm fully as white; Fm just as light, and I wonder you hadn't found me so. But I haven't sulked, nor pined away. Keep light of heart, I say. Fm daintier far than heavy sweets, that leave you a head that throbs and beats: Fm prettier, too, on the Christmas tree, as I twirl and wind and bob, you see. (Whirling and bobbing.) Fm a safer thing than a candle's glow; I make you grow — like me, you know — And Fm nearly as bright as the candle light. I wonder you haven't remarked it, though. But I haven't sulked at neglect, at all — Keep sweet, says a Pop-Corn Ball. Bobby — Pop-Corn Ball is a jolly fellow. The Quest of Christmas (Enter, right, Christmas Carol.) Bobby — Who's the latest guest, I wonder? (Christmas Carol waltzes to the center of stage and sings any good Christmas carol; then recites:) I'm just a little Christmas air That drifts upon your ear, But you're so wealthy, scarcely have you Need of me, I fear. In a tender thought, in a heart that loves Is the key to Christmas Day. You're far too rich to need me, so, You see, I float away. (Waltzing toward door.) (The family intercepts her and brings her back to center of stage. Some member recites.) You lovely Christmas melody, You sha'n't, you sha'n't depart! Too sweetly have you charmed the ear And hovered 'round the heart. In a song that lilts, in a song that thrills, Is the soul of Christmas day. You tender little Christmas air, You've come, you see, to stay. (From behind the scenes, at right, they are pelted with snowballs by Surprise, who now bounds into view, young and rosy.) Surprise — Ho — you didn't see me! Thought you wouldn't, though. (Pointing at Bobby.) Tell me— and recitations — "Silent Night," ."Little Town o ; * Bethlehem," "When Good Old Kris Comes 'R^und," "Favorite Carols," etc. Contains the music a!r?. 40c. Eldridge Entertainment House FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 944 S. Lcgan St. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 400 760 3 Money-making Entertainment lxoveiues for Church, School or Lodge Miss Nibbs' Novelty Shop By Alta Becker- This is a novel and humorous en- tertainment, introducing 'Liza Ann, Miss Nibbs, two traveling salesmen, shoppers, mechanical dolls and mechancal maid of all work. A good little stunt where a short, clean, humorous number is desired. Plays about 30 minutes. Price, 25c. The Brightville Indoor Chautauqua By Bessie Baker and Nellie Hanna. Here is a brand new idea for an evening's entertainment. It is in 5 parts, each part representing a day at Chautauqua. Gives wide scope for introduction of large cast and many specialties. Complete programs suggested as follows: Part 1, Chautauqua Concert Company; Part 2, Living Pictures; Part 3, Musical Entertainers; Part 4, Farmers' Night; Part 5, Coonville Jubilee Singers. Price, 35c. Sorepaw & Fells Indoor Circus By Margaret S. Bridge and Margaret H. Hahn. The Grand Annex and Musee, Freaks, Curiosities and Monstrosities, never were in it with the marvelous, amazing, mystifying array outlined in its pages. Ar- tistic, ambling, agile, 'andsome acrobats; cajoling, cadaverous, costlyj curious, cunning clowns; Hee- Shee, the Monkey Girl of Yucatan; all of these and many others will be seen in the Big Peerade before the show starts, ladies and gentlemen. Keep to the right — don't crowd. Price, 25c. As Ye Sew A "talking doll" missionary play by Dorothy Crich- ton. A lot of fun and some wholesome lessons are contained in the conversation of the dolls who dis- cuss the motives of their donors. Splendid for Young People's or Missionary Societies. 10 girls, 1 boy, or all girls. Time, 20 minutes. Priee, 15c. Finding the Key A dialog and drill for 10 or 12 girls and boys. Suit- able for any religious program, but especially for Easter. Time, 20 minutes. Deals with problems of youth, recreations, etc.; also with those of Commun- ity Life and the present spirit of Unrest. Interspersed with suggested songs. Drill very effective. 25c. Eldridge Entertainment House FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 944 S. Logan St.