NO PLAYS EXCHANGED, 'StGfai&3l&&3f3fiaifBf&3KL BAKER'S Edition or Plays Little Miss America Price, 25 Cents SS?^^^£Q /j J1. m. Pinero's Plays Price» 50 Cents Eacb TIIF AMAZONS Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, five fe- lll£i i\ali\iA\Jl%0 males. Costumes, modern; scenery, not difficult. Plays a full evening. TUr rAKIWrT MIMKTCP Farce in Four Acts. Ten IIIL LAd111£.I lYUllidilLK males, nine females. Cos ttimes, modern society; scenery, three interiors. Plaj'S a full evening- HANHY niPlf Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, four fe- l/AllLFl i/lViV males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two inte- riors. Plays two hours and a half. Till? C kV I nPn rilTFY comedy in Four Acts. Fourmales, IfflEi UAl JLUIVU ViUEiA. ten females. Costumes, modern; •cenery, two interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening. UIC UAf TCI7 TM ADni7D Comedy in Four Acts, Nine males, niO nUUOCi lll I/AUILA. tour females. Costumes, modern; fioenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. TUr UriDIIV UriDQI? comedy in Three Acts. Ten males, inCi nUODI nUlVOEi Ave females. Costumes, modern; scenery easy. Plays two hours and a half. fp|C Drama in Five Acts. Seven males, seven females. Costumes, 11**^ modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. I AnV RniTWTIFITI Pl^y "1 ^our Acts. Eight males, seven I^Ul pUUlllirULi females. Costumes, modern; scen- fpy, four interiors, not easy. Plays a full evening. I FTTY ^rama in Four Acts and an Epilogue. Ten males, five BAtl 1 1 females. Costumes, modern; scenery complicated. Plays a full evening. TUP IVIAr'IQTP ATI? Farce in Three Acts. Twelve males, inCi iU/iUIk3 1 IV A 1 £1 four females. Costumes, modem; , jil|,|ait'©rior. Plays two hours and a half. Sent prepaid on receipt of price by Waittv % pafeer Sc Compan? I* 5 HamUto^ PIace» Boston, Massachusetts I Little Miss America and The Happy Children A "Jingle History of the United States A Patriotic Play in One Act By MARY MONCURE PARKER Author of **Art Clubs Are Trumps^''' etCo NOTICE The professional stage and moving picture rights in this play are reserved by the author, and all persons wishing to produce it publicly and for profit should apply for permission to the author in care of the publishers. Amateurs may produce it without permission. BOSTON WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 1918 Little Miss America and c^^^^<^' The Happy Children^ " ' "^^ CHARACTERS Miss America. Christopher Columbus. Columbia. History. England. Large Girl [representing France. Mother Country). Italy. Small Child [representing Russia. Colon ies ) . Belgium. Chinese Girl. North American Indian. Commodore Perry. Quaker. Uncle Sam. Holland. Teacher. Spain. Four Pupils. Americus Vespucius. NOTE This one act play is a Happy Little History Play, that can be given by children or older boys and girls, or even by grown-ups, masquerading as children. It may be given upon a bare stage, witii five chairs and a blackboard, the children wearing their ordinary costumes, using only large lettered pieces of pasteboard to show the characters which they represent, and the play may be given by all girls, or by boys and girls. It may be given in a more elaborate manner, the costumes of the various characters may be used, such as English, French, Holland, Indian, etc., or just bright colored paper caps and sashes may be used, this being according to the desire of those staging the play. It is the wish of the author to give those pariicipatmg a happy play, that is also instructive, and that may be easily staged. During the reading by Miss America, children either seated in chairs around the room, or on the floor. The Author. THP96-C06845 Copyright, 191 8, by Mary Moncure Parker As author and proprietor All rights reserved ,,,^ ©ao 50270 AUG 30 1918 ^K t- Little Miss America and The Happy Children SCENE. — A schoolroom. Blackboard and chairs for five people, or, if desired, a number of other chairs. These chairs will have to be removed for the march, so it is desirable to have a fewer number. Enter four Pupils with school-books. They sit down in the chairs. First Pupil {yawning). Oh, dear, I have the spring fever. I would rather play to-day. Second Pupil. So would I. Third Pupil {imitating Treacher's voice). Children, children, I am astonished. You should love your school and your teacher. Fourth Pupil. What is it this morning? First Pupil. History. Second Pupil. I hate History; she is so old and she is such an old bore. Enter the Teacher. Teacher. Good-morning, children. I know you are happy to be here. All {slowly, with long faces). Yes, Teacher. {A knock is heard at the door. Enter History. She wears a white dress with a black cape and black bonnet and glasses, and walks slowly with a cane. ) Teacher. Good-morning, History. History. Good-morning, Teacher. Good-morning, children. 4 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN (Children rise and make a curtsey.) Children. Good-morning, History. History. I came to see if you would excuse me this morning. I am getting old and I have the rheumatism. I thought I would go back home and come to-morrow. I am getting so nervous that I feel a little shaky about my dates lately, so I think it would be better for me to rest. Third Pupil {excitedly). Oh, good! (Teacher looks up reprovingly.) I mean good gracious — I am so sorry. Teacher. We are very sorry that you are not well, History, and of course we will excuse you. History {bowing). Good-day, Teacher. Good-day, children. {The Children curtsey and History goes out slowly.) Fourth Pupil. May we be dismissed, Teacher? Teacher. Certainly not. Do you wish to grow up quite ignorant of the past and quite unprepared for the future? Let me see — what shall we do this morning? {The Children sit down and look discontented. A knock is heard at the door.) Pray come in. Enter Miss America and Columbia. // a special cos- tume is worn, America wears a zvhite dress, with a red Liberty cap and a blue sash. Columbia wears white with a red Liberty cap. Her name is pinned across her breast. These decorations may be of paper, cloth or silk. Miss America. Good-morning. I just met History and she told me of her troubles, so Columbia and I came to help out. We cannot have our dear children lose a history lesson. Teacher. Oh, thank you so much. This is Miss America and Columbia, children. {The Children rise and curtsey.) The children will be glad to have their lesson, will you not, children? All the Pupils {together, slowly). Yes, Teacher. {They sit down.) LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN 5 Miss America. Oh, you do not say that very cheer- fully, children. Well, let me see if we cannot make our lesson interesting. I have everything planned, as His- tory has been growing old and sometimes I am afraid she repeats herself and may be a little prosy, so I have made some new arrangements. You shall see. I have ar- ranged for a patriotic tea. (Recites or reads. As there are a number of verses, if she does not care to memorize them, they may he read. ) Little Miss America Gave a Patriotic Tea To her Allies, to relate to them Our U. S. History. (Speaks.) There! I hope you will like that verse and all of the others. Of course, we will not really have tea, or even cups and saucers, but we will just pretend thus. (Makes a cup of her hand and pretends to drink.) It will be nice to pretend and then there will be no dishes to wash. (Claps her hands together. Enter England, France, Italy, Russia and Belgium. They may zuear paper sashes of the colors of their various countries, or a more elaborate representative costume may be worn. The name of each country must be printed or written in large letters and pinned on the breast of each character.) Dear friends, let me introduce England, France, Italy, Russia and Belgium. (They bow and the pupils curtsey.) Pray be seated. (The pupils offer chairs to the various countries. Reads. ) We'll drink tea and each relate Things that the others ought to know About our ship of state. (Speaks.) Shall I begin? Oh, thank you. (Reads.) Miss Columbia will serve us. Pray let her fill your cup. 6 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN (Columbia pretends to pass the tea and the others pre- tend to drink.) It is harmless and most friendly In this pleasant way to sup. Now let me see, once on a time As all good stories go, America was an unknown land, Our History tells us so. ^ Old Norsemen used to come across And sail along the coast ; Just what it was they did not know Though of their deeds they'd boast. These wild sea rovers went away, They did not colonize; Through their clumsy fingers There slipped this mighty prize. Finally Columbus bold. Who sailed from Spain away, After many tribulations Landed here one splendid day. (A knock is heard at the door.) Enter Columbus, %vho may he in costume, or if not con- venient, may just have the name pinned across the breast. He goes looking about the stage as though in search of some one and finally comes up to America. Columbus. Ah, dear lady, I am quite sure the world is round, but everybody laughs at me. Miss America. You are quite right, Columbus. (A knock is heard at the door.) Enter Americus Vespucius, who wears the name across his breast. LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN 7 {Reads.) Americus Vespucitis, Later known to fame, Though not the real discoverer Bestowed on us his name. (Americus Vespucius hands America a pasteboard containing the name, ''America." She looks at Columbus, zvho shakes his head and walks sadly away. Speaks. ) I am very sorry, Columbus, but this is my name. {She pins it on her breast.) Columbus. This is a very ungrateful world. I really discovered America, you know. (Columbia goes over to him.) Miss Columbia. You see you are really not for- gotten, Columbus. My name is Columbia. ** (Americus Vespucius, stepping proudly, goes to the side of the stage opposite the place occupied by Columbus.) Miss America {reads). From every land came colonists To settle this new world. North, South and East and Middle West Their banners were unfurled. Some came for conquest and for gold, Some v/ith a motive higher ; To worship each in his own way Was the Puritan desire. English and French came to our shores Across the ranging main. The Dutchman settled in New York, The South belonged to Spain, 8 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN (A knock is heard at the door. Speaks.) Pray enter. (Enter little Holland Girl and a Spanish Girl. They may wear costumes of their country or simply have the names Spain or Holland pinned across their breasts.) Oh, how do you do? This is Holland and Spain. (They bow and Columbia conducts them to a seat. There may be a rozv of chairs around the room, or if only the five chairs are used, the children may be seated on the floor in semicircle, some going to one side of the stage as they enter, and some to the other to make an artistic picture.) (Reads.) There were Quakers, quaint and silent folk Under good William Penn. You will ne'er remember all the names Of our strong and sturdy men. (A knock at the door. Speaks.) Some one else. Pray come in. (Enter Quaker Girl, zvearing gray gown, zvhite kerchief and cap.) Oh, how do you do, Quaker maiden ? This is our Quaker maiden, everybody. (The Quakeress clasps her hands together and gives a stiff little bow. Columbia seats her.) (Reads.) We had trouble with the Indians, Who resented our intrusion Upon the place they felt they owned. But this was a delusion. Because they did not use the land And life must mean progression We were not fair to Indian tribes, I make that sad confession. (A loud yelling and pounding is heard at the door. All start up nervously, clinging to each other.) LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN 9 Heavens, what's that ! Never mind, be cahii, everybody. I'm used to all kinds of surprises. Columbia, pray go to the door. (Columbia opens the door and in rushes an Indian, yelling. ) Indian. Wow, Hoo ! Wow, Hoo ! {Runs around the stage. Some of the others scream and hide their faces.) Miss 'America. Oh, do not be afraid. I have made him harmless. There, Mr. Indian, go sit down by Colum- bus, who was always kind to you, and pray keep quiet. We are trying to have a history lesson. (Columbus takes the Indian hy the arm and seats him down beside him. The rest are seated again.) (Reads.) Yet with such strong elements A fine people came to view, Fearless and vigorous pioneers Who built this nation new. Then came the French and Indian Wars. Please pardon me, Lliss France. (The Indian jumps up and calls " IVozv," looking to- ward France. France rises as though to chide the Indian, hut Columbus pulls the Indian hack and France sits down again.) (Reads.) I must tell the truth but hasten on. This is History at a glance. Our next great war — Miss England, Forgive me the allusion — Was in seventeen hundred seventy-six. We resented the intrusion Of too much Mother Country Into our household ways. The Revolutionary War Brought on most trying days. 10 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN We were victorious and free, A babe without its mother, Who tries to walk alone and finds That walking is a bother. {A knock is heard at the door. Enter Large Girl and Child, with the names pinned on their breast, *' Mother Country " and the " Colonies." Child runs away from Large Girl, zvho pursues it.) Large Girl {holding up switch). Come here to me; you cannot walk alone. Child. I can — see. Miss America. Pray stop. Mother Country. Your child can walk alone now. Miss Columbia. I will seat you. (She puts Large Girl and Child on opposite sides of the stage.) Miss America. Soon we grew stronger and with tread Firm and with heads held high We developed to a nation, Looked the vv^orld straight in the eye. I could tell the names of patriots And wise men by the score; Names are quite easy to forget I do not want to bore ; So ril just name our presidents From Washington to Hayes ; From Hayes right down to Wilson, They all deserve our praise. George Washington, the General Was our first president. Elected seventeen eighty-nine A man from Heaven sent. (Speaks.) Columbia, pray hand me the name of our LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPV CHILDREN II president. (Columbia hands pasteboard to America, having the name George Washington upon it.) Now, children, three cheers for our first president — everybody all together. All (cheering). George Washington! (Applaud.) Miss America (reads). Kind, unswerving, first in peace As well as first in war, And first in the hearts of his countrymen. His fame reached near and far. Flags fluttered from the housetops, Cannons boomed — cheer after cheer Proclaimed a joyous freedom, In our first presidential year. Two terms he served, refused the third. John Adams was elected. Well qualified to take the helm. Noble, good and much respected. (Speaks.) Columbia, please bring me the name of John Adams. (Columbia brings name.) Children, give three cheers for our next president, John Adams. All (cheer). John Adams! (Applaud.) Miss America (reads). Our Independence Declaration Of seventeen seventy- six Was written by John Adams. Please try the date to fix. Mr. Adams was our president Until eighteen hundred one. Then in office was succeeded By Thomas Jefferson. (Speaks.) Columbia, please bring the name of Thomas Jefferson. (Columbia brings name.) Everybody ap- plaud our next president, all together — one — two — three. All (cheer). Thomas Jefferson. (Applaud.) 12 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN Miss America (reads). I must not take up too much time But hasten with my story. At this period was the purchase Of the Louisiana Territory, From you, Miss France. Napoleon Sold us that w^estern tract. (France rises and bows and everybody applauds.) Then came Mediterranean troubles Settled with a final pact. The Clarke-Lewis Expedition Explored to Oregon. Robert Fulton made a steamboat Called the Clermont, the first one. (Speaks.) Oh, Teacher, would you please write on the blackboard all these things of importance, so we w^ill be sure to remember them ? ( The Teacher rises and writes on the blackboard.) Thank you. Please write George Washington and John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Don't forget, children, that we bought a large slice of land from France called the Louisiana Territory during the administration of Jefferson, and then the two men by the name of Clarke and Lewis went exploring through the West. Small Child (representing Colonies). What does explored mean? Large Girl (representing Mother Country; holding up switch). Be quiet. Small Child. I do not have to mind you now. I can walk alone. Miss America. Explorers were people who went over this new country to find out just what was in it. They were very brave, as there were lots of dangers and many Indians. Indian (jumping up and yelling). AVow, wow! Columbia. Sit down and be quiet. (He sits dozvn.) Miss America. Children, please remember Robert LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN 1 3 Fulton. You know he made the first steamboat. If he had not, we would have all had to go in canoes or row- boats, or a sailboat, and that would be slow, would it not ? (Reads.) James Madison was next in line From eighteen nine for eight years more. The war of eighteen hundred twelve Came to settle many a score. (Speaks.) Columbia, pray bring the name of James Madison, and, Teacher, will you please write the name on the blackboard? Now, children, all together, cheer our next president, James Madison. All (cheer). James Madison! (Applaud.) Miss America. I really must ask pardon of England for mentioning the war of eighteen twelve. We are allies now, you know, and all the same family, but some- times families disagree. You'll pardon me, England. (England rises and bows.) As I take the place of His- tory to-day, I must tell you the truth. Commodore Perry won victories on the water at this time, just as John Paul Jones did in the Revolutionary days. (A knock is heard at the door.) Pray enter. Enter Boy in sailor costume. Boy. How do you do, everybody? I am Commodore Perry. (This character may be taken by a girl also.) Miss America. Commodore Perry — everybody. (All rise and bow. Columbia seats Perry at one side of the stage as the rest applaud.) Children, we have now an- other wonderful name that I want you to remember. Teacher, will you kindly write the name on the black- board of Francis Scott Key, who wTOte the Star Spangled Banner. (Teacher zvrites; all applaud.) (Note. — // music is procurable, then it may be played to the verse of the " Star Spangled Banner," which is now sung. All rise and sing one verse of the "Star Spangled Banner " and Columbia waves a flag. All seated.) 14 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN Miss America (reads). James Monroe succeeded Madison; It was an era of good feeling, The famous doctrine of Monroe Showed a desire for just deahng. (Speaks.) Miss Columbia, will you please bring the name of James Monroe, and, Teacher, will you kindly write it on the blackboard? Everybody please applaud the name of our next president. (Columbia brings name James Monroe, and Teacher writes. ) All (cheer). James Monroe! (Applaud.) Miss America. I think this must have been a wonder- ful time and everybody must have been happy. (Reads.) A canal was built from Albany Way through to Buffalo. There were troubles with the Seminoles We still had the Indian foe. Indian (jumps up and yells). Wow! w^ow! (Columbus pidls him down.) Miss America. Pray be quiet, Indian, or I shall have to send you away. (Reads.) Lafayette, beloved Frenchman, Came again unto our shore. Right royally we feted him In eighteen twenty-four. In the early days of struggles Side by side with Washington He had fought, endured and helped us Until our goal was won. (Speaks.) We thank you, Miss France, for Lafayette. (France rises and bows.) Everybody please rise and do honor to Lafayette. LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN I5 (All rise and applaud. If there is music, the ''Mar- seillalse" might be played here. All seated.) (Reads.) John Ouincy Adams followed next As president in twenty-five; Eighteen twenty-five to twenty-nine. The U. S. now did thrive. (Speaks.) Columbia, please bring the name of John Ouincy Adams, and. Teacher, please write it. (Columbia brings name; Teacher writes.) All (cheer). John Ouincy Adams! (Applaud.) Miss America. You know, children, we had our first anniversary in this administration. Just think of it, fifty years since the first Fourth of July in '76. America had grown from a puny child to a big nation. (All applaud.) I am glad you feel happy; so do I. (Small Child, representing Colonies, jumps up and runs around stage, pursued by Large Girl, representing Mother Country. Columbia takes girl back to her place, and then seats the child on the opposite side of the stage. ) Andrew Jackson followed Adams as the leader of our nation. (Reads.) A military hero. Intelligent, though rough, Honest, tactless, man of iron, He was made of sturdy stuff. (Speaks.) Columbia, please bring the name of our next president, Andrew Jackson, and. Teacher, please write it. Everybody cheer. All (cheer). Andrew Jackson! (Applaud.) Miss America (speaks). We had now a very won- derful orator, Daniel Webster; do not forget his nam.e, children. And then came another president. Van Buren — Martin Van Buren. Columbia, please bring the name — Teacher, please write, and, children, applaud our next president. AiA. (cheer). Martin Van Buren I (Applaud.) l6 LITTLE MISS AMtRICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN Miss America {speaks). We did not have a very good time, children, during Mr. Van Buren's administr?- t:on, because there v/as a money panic, and it is hard to get along without m.oney. But things were brighter during the next administration. Columbia, please bring the name of our next president, William Henry Harrison, and. Teacher, please write — and everybody applaud. All {cheer). William Henry Harrison ! {Applaud.) Miss America. Charles Dickens, the English novelist, came over to see us and write about America, and then we had a treaty with a country away across the ocean, China. {A knock is heard at the door, and Columbia opens it. Enter China. She may wear a Chinese cos- tume, or just a name pinned on her breast.) Oh, China, how do you do ? We are glad to see you. This is China. {Everybody bows but no one rises.) China. How do evly body. Me washee for you. Miss America. Oh, thank you, China, we shall be glad to keep clean. Pray be seated. (Columbia seals China.) All this time, children, we have been growing and adding a lot of territories and states. {Reads.) After Harrison came James K. Polk, Eighteen forty-five to forty-nine. Then came troubles grave with Mexico Across our boundary line. {Speaks.) Columbia, please bring the name of our next president, and, Teacher, please write it — James K. Polk. Now, children, all applaud. All {cheer). James K.Polk! {Applaud.) Miss America. As we were growing, children, it was natural that we should have growing pains, so that is the reason we had trouble with Mexico, but we won that time. We have had some trouble since, but I hope these border troubles will soon cease. Then something else happened now, children ; everybody went crazy about gold. They found gold in California, and everybody had the gold fever. That was in eighteen forty-nine. Now we have another president, Zachary Taylor. Columbia, will IMPORTANT By a regrettable blunder all mention was omitted from the text of this play of the Presidency of John Tyler. The following correction to page l6 should be made by all persons producing the piece. After the line : All {chee?') . William Henry Harrison. {Applaud.) Miss America. Children, I feel very sad when I have to tell you that Mr. Harrison lived only one month after his inauguration and his Vice President, John Tyler, succeeded. Now, children — all to- gether; let us cheer John Tyler. All. (cheer) . John Tyler. C Applaud) . Miss America. Charles Dickens, the English nove- hst, etc. ■.M LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN 1 7 }^ou please bring that name and, Teacher, write it? Everybody applaud. All {cheer). Zachary Taylor ! {Applaud.) Miss America. I'm so sorry to tell you, children, that Zachary Taylor only lived a year. He was a brave sol- dier and we were very sorry when he died. Our next president was Millard Fillmore, and the next one Frank- lin Pierce. We'll write both those names together. Columbia, please bring them and. Teacher, write them. Everybody applaud. All {cheer). Millard Fillmore! Franklin Pierce! {Applaud.) Miss America. We had a treaty with Japan about this time, made through another Commodore Perry, the son of the first Commodore Perry. (Commodore Perry rises and salutes and America returns the salute.) Now, children, we had a very dignified president, James Buchanan. I want you all to applaud his name, and, Columbia, bring it, please, and. Teacher, write it. Now, one, two, three. All {cheer). James Buchanan! {Applaud.) Miss America. Now, children, the most wonderful thing was done about this time — the Atlantic Cable was laid by Cyrus Field. Everybody said he could not do it, but Field said he could. You know about Robert Bruce and the spider, " Try, try again." That's the way the spider spun his web after a lot of failures and that's the way Field laid the cable, and now we can talk away across the ocean. Quaker Girl. Dear me ! Things never happened like that in my day. Columbus. Nor m.ine, but anyhow I discovered America. If I hadn't, nobody could have talked across the ocean from this country. Americus Vespucius. Don't forget that I gave the name to America. Miss America. There, there, do not quarrel, please. We next have a wonderful man — Columbia, please bring the name of our next president — Abraham Lincol^i — and, Teacher, write it. Everybody cheer. All {cheer). Abraham Lincoln! {Applaud.) 1 8 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN Miss America. Lincoln was a good and noble man and freed the slaves, but I am so sorry to tell you that at this time we had Civil War. (Reads.) Civil War, that awful thing When brother fought with brother. We'll pray with all our might and main We may never have another. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, I sadly must relate He was martyred in the cause. The world bemoaned his fate. (Speaks.) Children, I am going to ask you all to bow your heads for just one moment, for our martyred pres- ident, Abraham Lincoln. (All bow heads until America [to herself] has counted about five, then all lift their heads.) Now^ the next president who comes had a very stormy time. He was a good man, honest and patriotic, but he did not get along with his Congress, and quarreled with them from morning until night. The best thing that I remember about this time was that we bought Alaska. Johnson was a good man and our president, and we'll cheer him even if he did not get along with Con- gress. Columbia, please bring the name of Andrew Johnson, and, Teacher, write it, and everybody cheer. All (cheer). Andrew Johnson ! (Applaud.) Miss America. Now comes a man that I know you will want to cheer. He was a soldier and a patriot, and our next president. Columbia, please bring his name and, Teacher, write it, and everybody applaud — Ulysses S. Grant. All (cheer). Ulysses S. Grant! (Applaud.) Miss America. The world is full of wonders, chil- dren, so we have another marvelous invention : Mr. Bell invented the telephone, that mystery of wire. (Reads.) Mystery of poles and conversation! You just go to a wall And talk to people miles aw^ay By putting in a call. LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN I9 First Pupil {putting up her hand as though to tele- phone across the stage to Second Pupil). Hello! I like this lesson, don't you, and I hope History doesn't come back again. Second Pupil (answering) . Yes, so do I. Miss America. I am glad you like the lesson, pupils, but do not be hard on History. As I told you, children, this is another great invention. Away back in 1844, Professor Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, and then we had the cable, and now we have the telephone. Our next president was Mr. Rutherford B. Hayes. Columbia, will you please bring his name and. Teacher, write it, then, children, applaud. Please do not applaud until I tell you, because it makes too much confusion, children. Now. All (cheer). Rutherford B. Hayes! (Appl(^ud.) Miss America. We have now another great inven- tion. People used to use candles in the long time ago, and then coal oil, and then gas, but now we have a won- derful light, the electric light, so you see how fortunate we are. I feel very sad when I tell you about our next president. He was a good, noble man. Columbia, please bring his name, and, Teacher, write it. Then everybody applaud, — James A. Garfield. All (cheer). James A. Garfield! (Applaud.) Miss America. I am sorry to say that our good pres- ident was wickedly murdered by a bad man, and then his vice-president took the chair — Mr. Chester Arthur. Columbia, will you bring his name and. Teacher, write it ? Applaud, children. All (cheer). Chester Arthur ! (Applaud.) Miss America. All the while we were growing, chil- dren, adding more states and territories, do not forget that, and then something very splendid was given to us during the next administration. Miss France, will you rise, so that we can all thank you for the splendid statue of Liberty, given by your sculptor, Bartholdi. Please applaud, everybody. (France rises and curtseys;. America curtseys and everybody applauds.) I am going to have you applaud two presidents together, because the first one was in four years and then the second one was 20 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN in four years, and then the first one came back again for four years more. Grover Cleveland and William Henry Harrison's grandson, Benjamin Harrison, are the two presidents. Both good, clever men. Columbia, please bring their names and. Teacher, please w^rite them. Wait, children, do not be too eager. Now applaud. All {cheer). Grover Cleveland! Benjamin Har- rison! {Applaud.) Miss America {reads). William McKinley follows next, Beloved — Ohio's son. The war with Spain in ninety-eight Was fought and Dew^ey won. {Speaks.) Yes, children, Admiral Dewey won at the battle oS Manila Bay. I am so sorry to have to tell you of another martyred president; William McKinley was a good man and much loved. Columbia, will you bring his name and. Teacher, write it? Everybody ap- plaud. All {cheer). William McKinley! {Applaud.) Miss America. William McKinley was succeeded by a man who is popular and full of force, who pushed on the big Canal of Panama. {Reads.) Popular and forceful man. He pushed on the great canal Of Panama — because he said, *' Not shall we— But we shall." {Speaks.) Columbia, please bring his name and, Teacher, write it. Don't be too eager, children. It is Theodore Roosevelt. Now% all together. All {cheer). Theodore Roosevelt! {Applaud.) Miss America. For a long time, children, men had been trying to find the North Pole. I suppose they wanted to see where Santa Claus lived, and at last Mr. Peary did succeed in reaching it, but I personally w^ould rather stay where it's warm, wouldn't you? Now for the name of our next president, and it was during his time that Peary reached the pole. {Reads.) LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN 21 Mr. William Taft came next In nineteen hundred nine. A worthy name was his to add To the presidential line. (Speaks.) Miss Columbia, please bring the name and, Teacher, write it; everybody applaud. All (cheer). William Howard Taft ! (Applaud.) Miss America. We are making history in these days, children, days of the great world war. We are sorry to have war, but we know it is a war for right and justice. Our dear boys are in the fight. Our flag will be unfurled across our land, from sea to sea, and will wave us to victory. (Reads.) Mr. Woodrow Wilson is at the helm — Nineteen thirteen was his year — His steady hand will guide the helm To peace and victory dear. (Speaks.) Columbia, please bring the name and, Teacher, write it. Wait, children, until I give the signal. Now, all together. All (cheer). Woodrow Wilson ! (Applaud.) (A knock is heard at the door. Enter Uncle Sam, in costume if possible — if not, the name pinned on the breast.) Miss America. Welcome, Uncle Sam. (The children rise and applaud.) Uncle Sam. I have brought you all some flags, so we can have a grand patriotic march. (Columbia distributes the flags. Music ployed while marching later.) MARCH (At a signal, the children form for a Grand March, coming down stage by twos, then one couple going R. and one couple going l., alternately, until reaching 22 LITTLE MISS AMERICA AND THE HAPPY CHILDREN hack of the stage, when they come down in fours, etc. This is an ordinary grand march figure and may he made simple or elaborate hy those zvho are doing the drilling. They wave their flags and sing, to the tune of " Marching Through Georgia." Uncle Sam and America lead the march.) All (sing). We are the Merry Children And we love our History. (Pronounced historee.) We do not mind these lessons, They are really fun, you see. The children of America are happy as can be, Because we are marching for freedom. Hurrah, hurrah, we'll sound the jubilee. Hurrah, hurrah, the flag that makes us free. The children of America are as happy as can be Because we are marching for freedom. CURTAIN Note. — This play can he given on platform witJiout curtain, and also without extra costumes. It can he given as a school entertainment, or as a school lesson — the His- tory heing ahsolutely authentic. The play is designed to incidcate in the hearts of children, in a happy way, the love of American patriots and historical events. MASTER PIERRE PATELIN A Farce in Three Acts Englished from an Early (1464) French Play By Dr. Richard T. Holbrook Of Bryn Maiur College CHARACTERS Pierre Patelin, a lawyer. GUILLEMETTE, his Wife. GuiLLAUME JocEAULME, a draper. TiBALT Lambkin, a shepherd. The Judge. Four males, one female. Costumes of the period, amply suggested bj reproductions of contemporary cuts; scenery, very simple and fully ex- plained. Plays an hour and a half. A popular edition of this well-known French farce for schools. Its literary and historical interest very great, it is perfectly actable and absolutely modern in its dramatic appeal to an audience, and uproariously funny in its effect if presented with even slight skill. Altogether an ideal offering for schools and colleges. Professor Holbrook's version, here offered, has been acted with distinguished suc- cess at Bryn Mawr College and at The Little Theatre in Philadelphia, and a version adapted from the Holbrook text by Professor George P. Baker was successfully given at his " Workshop 47 " in Cambridge. Strongly recommended. Free of royalty for amateur performance. Price ^ ^o cents JOLLY PLAYS FOR HOLIDAYS A Collection of Christmas Plays for Children By Carolyn Wells COMPRISING The Day Before Christmas. Nine males, eight females. A Substitute for Santa Claus. Five males, two females. Is Santa Claus a Fraud ? Seventeen males, nine females and chorus. The Greatest Day of the Year. Seven males, nineteen females. Christmas Gifts of all Nations. Three males, three females and chorus. The Greatest Gift. Ten males, eleven females. The plays composing this collection are reprinted from " The Ladies' Home Journal " of Philadelphia and other popular magazines in answer to a persistent demand for them for acting purposes. Miss Wells' work requires no introduction to a public already familiar, with her wit, her hu- mor and her graceful and abundant fancy, all of which attractive qualities are amply exemplified in the above collection. These plays are intended to be acted by young people at the Christmas season, and give ample sug- gestions for costuming, decoration and other details of stage production. These demands are sufficiently elastic in character, however, to make it possible to shorten and simplify the performance to accommodate almost any stage or circumstances. The music called for is of the simplest and most popular sort, such as is to be found in every household and memory, This collection can be strongly recommended. Frice, cloth, post-paid by mail, 60 cents net PETREL, THE STORM CHILD A Drama in Three Acts By Charles S. Bird Eight males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours. Petrel Kingman, the adopted daughter of Jabez, a wail from the sea, finds in Bob Braxton, a visiting yachtsman, not only a husband but the means of ascertaining her real parentage and the recovery of her fortune. A strong, simple story with lots of incidental interest and humorous character. Another " Among the Breakers." PricCy 2^ cents CHARACTERS Captain Stubbs, a retired skipper. Sim Freeman, the consiable at ''Bay View** Lem Gale, a sad sea dog. Jabez Kingman, keeper of the village store. Bob Braxton, a young yacJitsman. Harry James, Bob" s chtwi. Ezra Green, ahuays biUtin in, Mr. Brief, a lawyer. Petrel Kingman, daughter of Jabez, but known as Pet, Amanda Libby, a spinster, but noi ivillingly. Bessie Stubbs, the Captain s daughter^ a/id Pefs friend, Mrs. Kingman, wife of Jabez. Cecile, a maid. Bay View Folks. The parts of Lem and Brief may be doubled. SAM BO-JAM AND HIS AFRICAN COLONY A Negro Farce in lliree Scenes By Jay Clay Powers Fourteen males, nine females, all originally played by ladies. Cos- tumes, negro character and eccentric ; scenery, unimportant. Flays an hour with specialties. Sam Bo-Jam turns up at a Negro festivity in Texas M'lth a scheme for colonizing Africa, and takes the whole party with him to the kingdom of Lukattiankilli where the affair resolves itseU into a first class female minstrel show with many novel incidents. Price, 75 cents AT HOTEL-ON-DE-BLINK An Entertainment in Two Parts By George P. Seller Seven male, two female characters. Costumes, eccentric; scenery, a plain interior or none at all. Plays an hour and a half with specialties. A laughable sketch introducing a minstrel show. A complete programme is given but may be varied or expanded as much as desired. A decided novelty that can be recommended. Price, 75 cents B. yj. Pincro's Plays Price, 50 0e ite each Min PHANNFI Play in Four Acts. Six males, five females. "^ii^'V/nrtllliEiLi Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays two and a half hours. THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH ll^r%T. males, five females. Costumes, modern; scenery, all interiors. Plays a full evening. Top PRnFIir'ATF Play in Four Acts. Seven males, five ***" 1 I\v/rLil\Jr\.I El females. Scenery, three interiors, rather elaborate; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. THF QrHfini MIQTDFQQ Farce in Three Acts. Nine males, ini:i OVnV/V/Liirili31IV£iiJiJ seven females. Costumes, mod- ern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY ^lirl2S^Xi females. Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. CWpUT I A VFAiriFR Comedy in Three Acts. Seven males, OllLtLtl Li/WrillLfLjfV four females. Scene, a single interior, costumes, modern. Plavs a full evening. THF THTTNnFRRni T Comedy in Four Acts. Ten males, lll£i inUlll/ILIVOULil nine females. Scenery, three interi- ors; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. THF TTA/IF^ comedy in Four Acts. Six males, seven females. ***■-' 1 11"I^»J Scene, a single interior ; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. THF WFAITFR ^FY comedy in Three Acts. Eight males, inili TT £i/\IV£iI\ uHiA eight females. Costumes, modern; scenery, two interiors. Plays a full evening. A WIFE WITHOUT A SMILE Fh"e^mlles,fourfemale8"o Costumes, modern ; scene, a single interior. Plays a full evening. Sent prepaid on receipt of price by Walttt ^. pafetr Sc Company No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 015 910 157 5 ^ AC Vnn I irP it comedy in Fire Acta. Thirteen malea, four mS lUU MAli II females. Ck>8tames, picturesque ; scenery, t»> fled. Plays a full erening. I*AMIITP Drama in Fire Acts. Nine males, fire females. Oos- \thBul4UU tumes, modern j scenery, varied. Plays a full erenlng. Play in Five Acts. Thirteen males, three females. Scenery varied ; costumes, Greek. Plays a full evening. MADV CTITADT Tragedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four fo- IilAI\l ^lUAni males, and supernunieraries. Costumes, of the period ; scenery, varied and elaborate. Plays a full evening. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE SS,t[^?e?f7ml?2; c'SlJ; picturesque ; scenery varied. Plays a full evening. IHCHPT IFn -^^^y ^^ "Fxy^ Acts. Fifteen males, two femjales. Sc«n- •renlng. ery elaborate \ costumes of the period. Plays a full THP DIVAI ^ Comedy in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. IIII4 nil AI4O Scenery varied; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER ^S&'SiSZl^^'%.^^ rled ; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. TWELFTH NIGBT; OR, WHAT YOD WILL i°r¥.n'"ml?i'. three females. Costumes, picturesque ; scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. Sent prepaid on receipt of price by letter i^, "Bafier & Compaiif Vo. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts a. J. PARKMILL a CO.. PRINTKR8. •OSTON. U.*.*.