ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PRODUCTION NOTE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Brittle Books Project, 2018.COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION In Public Domain. Published prior to 1923. This digital copy was made from the printed version held by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was made in compliance with copyright law. Prepared for the Brittle Books Project, Main Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by Northern Micrographics Brookhaven Bindery La Crosse, Wisconsin 2018 3STO PLAYS EXCHANGED. ^Bakers s Novelties THEN AND NOW. a WALTER M.B7WEK &CQ. BOSTON ;Z_if>cn y ?y •■*••■» y,•> " , . ■- - *• ■ ,, •THE-KT AND NOW I--• -* . An Evening's Entertainment Introducing Tableaux, Music, Monologues, Etc L By KATE F. ELLIS Author of the " The Family Album," " A Woman's Intuition," etc Copyright, 1901, by Walter H. Baker & Co BOSTON WALTER H. BAKER & CO 1902I Then And Now PRELUDE We hear so much of the "good old days/' The upright men with their godly ways; Of neighborly housewives with spinning-wheel, And mannerly sons who were made to feel That the austere love of parents kind Lay in the rod that made them mind; _ Of dutiful daughters working samplers neat, While adoring lovers knelt at their feet; Of the old red schoolhouse and young schoolma'rm,, Who boarded 'round at each one's farm; | Of the solemn parson^with sermons long U Which savored oft of brimstone strong; Of the minuet with its stately grace Danced by the maidens of beautiful face; Of the village choir on the Sabbath-day Which sang for love and not for pay,— And so much do we hear of those wonderful days, It's time right here these curtains to raise, And give you a glimpse of those pictures old, While the story of each i& quickly told. TABLEAUX I,—The Godly Man (JDressed in old-time black suit, with high collar and stock. Select person with smooth face and severe countenance.) This is the upright man with godly ways, Who lived long agd in those "good old days " ; 3THEN AND NOW. / ! He loved his neighbor as himself, Cared for honor more than pelf; • Was never known to swear or scold, 1 Or talk in slang with gestures bold; He never told where he was at, ; Or said a person on him sat. This godly man lived long ago, Beloved by all, without a foe,— He was born and died in good old Zoar, And such as he we'll ne'er see more. II.—Neighborly Housewife (Select middle-aged woman with sweet and placid face. Dressed in old-time costume of plain dress and kerchief , sitting at spinning-wheel.') In pictured papers and storied rhyme, We've read of the housewife of olden time; With her spinning-wheel, and graceful mien, In every household was she seen. Placid and sweet, though cumbered with care, To toil and to spin was always her share. Oh, mothers, who think in these days 'tis enough i To make up the garments from boughten stuff, j If the cloth you were forced to spin and weave, From sewing most likely you'd want a reprieve. III.—Mannerly Children {Man in dress of old farmer, with overalls and straw hat, holding the rod over small boy. Other children in old- fashioned clothes standing near ?nake this tableau more effective.) Mannerly children lived in those days, With manners so gentle and obedient ways; If we ask what always made them mind,THEN AND NOW. 5 We find 'twas the rod used by parents kind. The child was the same then as now, But that parents were different we're forced to allow. The rod was not spared nor spoiled was. the child, But quiet, respectful .and apparently mild. He knew what awaited him in the old wood-shed For every bad act, or evil word said. IV.—Dutiful Daughter (A pretty young girl, dressed in simple old-fashioned cos- tume^ working a sampler, while at her feet kneels a young man dressed in style of same age, intently watchi?ig her.) A dutiful daughter working sampler neat, While an adoring lover kneels at her feet, I now am able to bring to view, Thus showing what daughters used to do. He watches intently the first line spelled out That he may know what the work is about, And when he reads " Seize, mortals, seize," He falls at once upon his knees, Ready to seize this maiden fair, And obey the order, if only he dare. But he waits awhile till the work's complete, And reads these words on the sampler neat: — " Seize, mortals, seize each transient hour, Improve each moment as it flies, Life's a short summer; man a flower, Who dies, alas, how soon he dies." V.—Young Schoolmarm (Young girl dressed in simple gingham dress, with sun- bonnet on, and books in her hand.) A winsome maid was the young schoolmarm, Who boarded round at each one's farm,6 THEN AND NOW. And besides her board gained in this way What she received in the form of pay Was often no more than a dollar a week, But no knowledge had she of Latin or Greek, And when by the " deestrict" she was hired, No college diploma was then required;— She knew the "three R's" and that was enough; They said they'd no use for " 'tother stuff.'' VI.—Village Choir (Four persons, two young men and two young ladies, dressed in any old-time costumes, the girls with poke bonnets on. Two singing-books used by the four. The heads to be up and mouths open as if singing.) The village choir on the Sabbath-day Which sang for love and not for pay, Felt honored then to do its best, And sang with hearty will and zest. No organ then to set the key ! As they started out to sing Dundee, ) Or when Coronation-loudly rolled From off the lips of this chosen fold. The tuning-fork was all they knew, And from that alone they took their cue. They opened wide their mouths to sing, And made that meetin'-house just ring. VII.—-Solemn Parson (Man of middle-age, dressed in tight fitting black clothe.I and black stock, with white wig having a cue tied wiM black ribbon. Manuscript in hand as if about to preachT The solemn parson, with sermons long Which savored oft of brimstone strong, Was seldom known to smile or jest,then and now. 7 His business 'twas to preach with zest. Kept busy was he living up to his creed, Of frivolous things he had no need. If the parsons of old could see those of to-day, What think you that they'd be likely to say ? They'd look in vain, for the ribboned cue, Sanctimonious face and solemn hue; Would ask for their views on foreordination, Admonishing them of the way to salvation. VIII.—Minuet (Two young ladies and two young gentlemen dressed in courtly style, with powdered hair or white wigs, posed for the minuet.*) Who has riot heard and often read Of the minuet with its measured tread, As danced by the maidens of beautiful face, With the old-time youth of courtly grace. We see them now as their places they took, With graceful posture and dignified look. To two-step and waltz they gave not a thought, This mazy dance was all that was sought By the lady grand and courtly beau In circles select of the long ago. POSTLUDE In reviewing these/scenes of the " good old days," Pray tell me as on each picture you gaze, Have you thought that as sure as boys grow to men The " now " of the present will soon be the " then " ? That the cut of your clothes and the things that you do, Or anything else which now you call new, Will some day, by some one, be called out of date, So make up your mind for that sort of fate, For old-fashioned you'll be, both women and men, When the days of the " now " are pictured as "then."PART II —The Wheel of The Past and the Wheel of The Present ( Wheel of the Past, a young lady at spinning-wheel\ singing suitable song. Wheel of the Present, a young lady in wheel dress, with bicycle on stage, who recites following poem.) How I pity those girls of the olden days, Who never a wheel did own, But rode on pillion or in chaise, With a pokey old red roan. How much they missed they never knew, For satisfied they seemed, But without a wheel what I could do I never yet have dreamed. * That they used to spin I know full well, ^ For often did I hear My dear old grandma proudly tell i How much she spun each year. I, too, do spin in & different way, \ And a happy girl ami \ That the spinning I do in the present day Is off on this wheel to fly. V ' No "meets" had they their speed tojrecord In the days of long ago, The "meet-ins'.' they knew told of future reward * Which only the good should know. They coasted, 'tis true, but needed the snow . To carry them on their way, While in June I can coast and often do go On the hottest summer's day. 8THEN AND NOW. 9 The old-fashioned girl, I pity her so, Who never a-wheeling went:— Glad am I not to live in the days long ago Before wheels to this earth were seat. It makes the old young ; it makes the grave gay, This wheel that I love so well; It's tonic and health, and the nerves will allay, And every cross feeling will quell. S So I stand by the wheel, the wheel of to-day, And loudly its praises sing, For I hope and believe it has come here to stay, And with it prosperity bring. II.—Proposal of The Past and Proposal of The Present ,/ (Proposal of the Past,—adapted from " The Cour tin' " by James Russell Lowell?) Reader. t God makes sech nights, all white an' still Fur 'z you can look or listen, Moonshine an' snow on field an' hill, ^ All silence an' all glisten. ; The very room, coz she was in, / Seemed warm from floor to ceiling \ . An' she looked full ez rosy agin « Ez the apples she was peelin'. < 'Twas kin* o' kingdom-come to look On sech a blessed cretur, A dogrose blushin' to a brook Ain't modester nor sweeter. He'd sparked it with full twenty gals, He'd squired 'em, danced 'em, druv 'em, Fust this one, an' then that, by spells — All is, he couldn't luv 'em,io THEN AND NOW, She thought no v'ice hed sech a swing Ez hisn in the choir; My ! when he made Old Hundred ring She*knowed the Lord was nigher. That night, I tell ye, she looked some I She seemed to 've gut a new sou}-, For she felt sartin sure he'd come, Down to her very shoe-sole. ^ Zeke crep' up quite unbeknown An' peeked in thru' the winder,. An' there set Huldy all alone, 'ith no one nigh tp hender. She heered a foot, an' knowed it tu, A-raspin' on the scraper,-— All ways to once her feelin's flew Like sparks in burnt-up paper. He kin' o' l'itered on the mat, Some doubtfle o' the sekle, His heart kep' goin' pittypat, But hern went pity Zekle. An1 yit she gin her cheer a jerk Ez though she wished him furder, An' on her apples kep' to work, Parin' away like murder. "You want to see my pa, I s'pose ? " "Wall . . . no . . . I come designin* "To see my ma? She's sprinklin' clo'es Agin to-morrer's i'nin." To say why gals act so or so, Or don't, 'ould be presumin*; . Mebby to mean yes an' say no Comes nateral to women./ then and now. y ! { Says he " I'd better call agin; " ■{' Says she " Think likely, mister,'' Thet last word pricked him like a pin, ' An' . . . Wal, he up and kist her. When ma bimeby upon 'em slips, Huldy sot pale es ashes, All kin' o' smily roun' the lips - An* teary roun' the lashes. For she was jes' the quiet kind Whose natur's never vary, Like streams that keep a summer mind Snow hid in Jenopary. The blood clost roun' her heart felt glued Too tight for all expressin' Tell mother see how metters stood, An' gin 'em both her blessin'. Then her red come back like the tide Down to the Bay o' Fundy, An' all I know is they was cried In meetin' come nex' Sunday. (Proposal of the Present.) Reader. A bachelor maid, wise Dr. Jane Gray, Sat thinking, alone, in her sanctum one day; A council there was 'twixt doctor and maid A crisis had come which she could not evade. The thing which so troubled this wise Dr. Jane Was an offer from a brother practitioner—Lane— Who said as her answer he'd like very soon, He'd call on her that very day about noon. U, OF (LL UB«THEN AND NOW. The note she read over and sat t.here to think,— Am I willing my future good prospects to sink, N And for love of this man myself to so lower; As to be just his wife and aspire to no more? This practice so good shall I cease to hold, And by this lordly man forever be told, That I am dependent alone on his grace, And in this world hold but a second place ? ' No, no," she said softly, " it never can be, I still must earn daily a doctor's good fee, So nothing of hope will I give brother Lane, ' That he in the future may wed Dr. Jane." With air quite determined she goes to the door, Resolved she will think of that prospect no more, For a knock she has heard and well knows it is he Who already has come to ask her to agree To give up her name of 'Dr. Jane Gray, And take him to honor, as well as obey. She opens the door with a haughty air, And he walks in as with business care. He takes her hand in the calmest way, Beginning at once, " I've come here to say ' I very much wish-you'd become my wife, And cease this toiling, struggling life." Dr. Jane^ turned away, as with great disdain, Saying, " Indeed, I thank you, Dr. Lane, But yciy right to toil I can never forego, And this one thing I want you to know;— ' If you really desire I should be your wife, You still must allow me my part in life, And if by your sign mine also may tarry In that case alone I am willing to marry."\J^lXO\p THEN AND NOW. *3 H^ropped her hand and stroked his chin, Remembering how often he was lacking in tin, Then thinking how pleasant it surely would be yTo live on another physician's fee, \ Said ".Of course, I'm willing, my dearest Jane, ) When you become Mrs. Dr. Lafie, ? Of my practice large you should have your share And relieve me thus of half my care." "Agreed," said Jane, "I now feel at ease, If I am allowed my share of fees." And grasping his arm in the greatest of haste, Away to the parson's they quickly paced. III.—Choir of the Past and Choir of the Present. (Choir of the Past,—any number of young ladies and gentle- men dressed in old-fashioned costumes, to sing Northfield, or any other ancient tune. Choirmaster to set the key with tuning fork and beat time for them. Choir of the Pres- ent,—regular church quartette,—in selection.) IV.—Tea of the Past and Tea of the Present. -y ' tea of the past. iThe following monologue read or recited by person repre- 1 senting " Aunt Ann," dressed not in old-fashioned clothes ( but as an old country lady would dress who has come to I live with her niece in the city. As she recites, the acting [ is done in pantomime on the stage.) \ I happened to hear that if I'd call in here to-night, J'd see something to remind me of the good old times when I wuz a gfil, and I declare I've seen so much that warms my heart and nkakes me feel young again that I've riz right up here to tell14 THEN AND NOW, ^ you how things strike me in these days when everythrag is done up in sech a different fashion from what it was fifty pr sixty years ago. I've been thinkin' how different the teas are now v from the ones we used' to have. Perhaps you don't believe that we ever used to give any teas and you may tiling that you've got the mon-o-poly of sech things, but though we'used to have 'em, I'm thankful to say we never did have sec/ji slim affairs as you have to-day. We used to have a good afternoon's visitin' with a few friends—instead of having four hundred crowded into one room—and then we had a real supper to end off with,—had tea, of course, but something else to go with it besides crackers and sandwiches tied up with ribbons. I never could see the sense in tying up bread and butter with hair rib- bons ;—it seems sorter in-con-^r^ous to me and we didn't put our ribbons to any such use in'my day. I'm living in the city now with my niece Jane and that's how I happened to know all about these new-fangled things, but I've kept away from all teas until one cum right into the house where I'm livin'. My niece Jane—she was called Jennie up to a few years ago, but now it's Jane or nothin'—well, Jane told me she wuz goin' to give a tea and she said I must be present, and I blush to say I wuz. I blush that any near kin of mine should invite sech a lot of folks to her house and not ask 'em to take off their things and stay to supper. But I'm not goin' to tell you about Jane's tea until I've told you about mine, and then I'll leave it to any woman of sense here to-night if the old-fashioned tea wasn't better than the little fluttery-budgety affairs that you have to-day. Now I gave a tea when I hadn't been married very long and wuz livin' in my little home where everything wuz spick-span new, and I wuz awful proud of my old chiny, my linen and my silver teaspoons, and perhaps my head had been turned a leetle by the praise Eli (that's my husband) had given me over my cooking. But at any rate I wanted to ask company to sup- per so as to let other folks see what I could do in the line olf cooking, and as 'twas the fashion in our town for all brides tfa invite the minister's wife and deacon's wife to supper just as soon as the new home was runnin' real smooth, I said I'll have my company the very fust time Eli is called away from home;, coz you know women can be so much freer-like about talking when there ain't no man around to con-struct the conversation,) and if they wanted to praise up my cookin' there shouldn't beTHEN AND NOW. *5 no man there to hinder 'em. I didn't send out any little pasteboard cards, but just gave 'em a hearty word of mouth invitation. I asked the parson's wife, Mrs. Hobbs, to come real early and bring her sister Phyllis with her, for 'twas said that Phyllis had some idee of settin' up- housekeepin' on her own account an' if I could be a bright«and shinin' light to her as an example of a good housekeeper, I was willin' to shine in that capacity. Then I invited Deacon Larkin's wife, as four make a better number than three at a table, for when I invited people to my house to tea I gave 'em all chairs to sit down in, and didn't make 'em balance a plate and cup and saucer in one hand while they helped themselves with t'other,—but I'm not tellin' you about Jane's tea now, that'll come later. Well, the par- son's wife said she and Phyllis would be pleased to cum and would bring their work—knittin' or sewin' or whatever they happened to have handy—and Mrs. Larkin, the deacon's wife wasn't any more backward either about saying she'd be pleased to ac- cept, but that woman never wuz backward about anything,—> she wuz a woman who was alius on the front row. (Curtain Rises.) When the day cum for my tea I was dressed and ready by noon, and was so anxious to have everything look clean that if I dusted that furniture once I did a dozen times, runnin' to the door every few minutes to see if the company wuz a comin'. At last I saw the parson's wife and her sister Phyllis a comin' v down the road and I jest thru that duster out of sight and run to the door to receive 'em. I gave 'em both a hearty greeting, sayin' " I'm happy to see you, Sister Hobbs, and you too, Phyllis; take off your bunnets, do, and let me take them and then you can settle down to work and jest feel at home.'' Sis- ter Hobbs handed me her bunnet, sayin', "You neeedn't be keerful where you put that as 'tain't my Sunday bunnet but my left over one from last year." I took it from her, all the time a wonderin' how a poor minister's wife could have a new bij^met every year, but I wouldn't be so imperlite as to men- tion sech a thought, so said nothin' and turned to Phyllis to take her bunnet along too. I told 'em to sit down and make 3mselves comfortable while I put away their bunnets, and ile I wuz gone I happened to think it would be a good time16 THEN AND NOW. to show 'em my patch-work quilt into which I had jest set the last square, so I took that back into the room with me and held > it up so they could both see it. I knew by Phyllis's looks that she. wanted the pattern but was too bashful to ask for it, so I offered to give it to her and she thanked me real purty, gettin' up to whisper somethin' in my ear. Of course, I pretended to be most awful surprised as if I had never mistrusted the thing before, but I knew from what she said it wuz necessary I should act as the bright and shinin' example in the way of house- keeping quilts and everything. Phyllis was knittin' a stockin'; —it looked pretty large to be hers—and she didn't seem to know much about that kind of knittin' as her sister had to help her every few mihutes. Mrs. Hobbs brought some children's clothes to work on, for when folks went a-visitin' in those days, they didn't fritter away their time but took their family sewin' \ with them. I got out my work and then we tried to settle down to visitin' but all the time kept a wonderin' why the deacon's wife didn't get there and we didn't feel really com- plete without her. Pretty soon in she walked without so much as a knock, dusting herself off with a big checked linen hand- kerchief, for 'twas in July and the roads wuz powerful dusty and she had walked a long way. The deacon's wife wuz never known to wait for ceremony on any occasion, or to ask anybody to wait on her, so she jest made herself at home by hanging up her own bunnet and hurrying to join us at our sew- ing as if to make up for lost time. But before she could settle down in her chair she had to look at the work which Mrs. Hobbs was doin', and she was alius so energetic and breezy that whenever I saw her. go towards the parson's wife, I felt afraid she would sweep her off her feet, for poor little Mrs. Hobbs seemed to shrivel up and grow smaller when the deacon's wife bpre down upon her. At last Mrs. Larkin took out her work but she might jest as well let it stayed in her bag, as she talked so much she forgot that she had anything else to do. She told us all the news about everybody, taking in the circumference and diameter of the township, and if any- body could make even a case of measels interestin', 'twas the Deacon's wife who could do it. I wanted her to see my quilt, but 'twas a long time afore I could see the proper time to inter- rupt the flow of conversation. At last she turned round and looked at it, and when once her attention was put upon it s was not a bit bashful about looking at the stitches, and s 1THEN AND NOW. 17 turned it every way, inside and out, to see if it was made well, and I heard her say as she settled back in her chair, " Humph, she sews better'n I thought she could.'' As I turned to take the quilt out of the room she hurried after me, sayin' she'd like to see the quilt that my mother made for me, when I wuz married, coz she'd heard a good deal about it and wanted to see it though she hadn't an idee it wuz half as han'some as it had been made out to be. I wuz very glad to have a chance to show that quilt, as I had cum a stranger to their town and wanted them to see by the provision that was made for me that I cum of good stock, though of course I never should a-thought of bringing forward anything to show that I was proud of my connexion, but seein' as the quilt was asked tor, it was only nateral that I should gratify 'em. So I brought the quilt out and must say I was gratified and pleased at their delight. Mrs. Larkin exclaimed, "It beats anything I ever see; what did your mother call this pattern? " I told her it was called the Kentucky star, and then she said could she examine it while I was gettin' supper. I took that as a perlite hint that 'twas time for me to set my table, so I left the quilt right in the laps of them three women and drew out my table. I put up the two leaves and then went for the table-cloth that I wove myself, for, thank the Lord, we had table-cloths for all our meals in those days, and never wuz so poor as to have to eat off the bare table with a patch of linen under each plate. I put on the table-cloth and it wuz so han'some I wanted to say somethin' to draw their attention to it, and finally I spoke out as if real surprised, " My goodness, I; believe this linen is growin' yalki* from layin' so long." Then the parson's wife looked up and said " Was it your mother's, dear?" and I said "No, marm, I wove it myself," and then they all cum over to the table to look at it and said they did not believe a girl in that town could show a table-cloth as han'some as that. I im- agined that Phyllis looked a little hurt, for with a toss of h^r ' head she went off by herself and began her knittin'. I kep' on settin' the table while Mrs. Hobbs and Mrs. Larkin set close by and watched everything that I put on. First I brought out my blue chiny plates and cups and saucers to match, and x let me tell you that those cups of mine didn't hold no samples of t6a such as Jane had,—and then I brought out a big plate frdf raised biscuit made from my own emptins', and as I set tfthem in the centre of the table, Mrs. Larkin said, " There^l8 THEN AND NOW. Phyllis, there's something for you to copy/' Phyllis laughed and said, "Something for me to eat, you mean," and then I knew she was good-natured again. Then I brought out my little cup cakes and as I set them on the table Mrs. Larkin said, " Ann, what recipe did you make them by? " and I told her by the good old rule of one of butter, two of sugar, three of flour and four eggs, and she had sense enough to under- stand it, but how many times have I tried to tell that rule to the young housekeepers of the present day, and every time they would begin, "One of flour/' and end with " four of butter," and I would have to stop 'em and say the rul^ all over again and even then- they'd have no luck with it and of course - blame me that I'd give 'em sech a rule that hadn't in it a bit of Cleveland's Baking Powder, sayin' 'twan't to be expected it could rise. Then I went for the pumpkin pie and cheese and while I wuz out of the room I knew the deacon's wife got up and looked at the table, for as I cum in I found her a-hurryin' back to her seat. Well, I didn't appear to notice it, and as my supper was ready I said, "Now, ladies, put aside your work, draw up your chairs, and we 11 have a cup of tea together." Then they all drew up to the table, without any airs or ex- cuses, or a sayin' that they couldn't eat new bread coz it giv' 'em dyspepsy, or that they couldn't drink tea coz it kep' 'em- awake nights, but they jest tackled that supper as if they en- joyed it, and they didn't have to eat soda mints or Stuart's dyspepsy tablets to aid their digestion either. I helped each of 'em a second time and they praised up everything so much that I felt satisfied I wuz desarvin' of all Eli's praise, and wuz a good cook. Perhaps we didn't have the same table manners v that I've seen at Jane's house, but my company was all honest, and when they wanted some more they said so and didn't pre- tend they'd had enough. (Curtain down.) That wuz a tea for anybody to be proud of and I'd like to tell you more about it if 'twan't for telling about Jane's tea, but I've told you enough about mine to show that there wan't nothin' disgraceful about my tea, while Jane's,—but I'm veryy fond of Jane, but she don't know much about gettin' up a tea afe I shall tell you later.then and now* 19 c tea of the present. {Jane's Tea.) Well, the time has come for me to tell you about Jane's tea, though it seems to me you can't be so interested in Jane's as you w.uz in mine, as I s'pose you know jest the way she went to work to have one, and all about it, because you probably go to as many as three a week, and I have heard of folks going to three in an afternoon, right from one house to another, you w know, and the Lord knows I never blame 'em, for if they went to ten in an afternoon they couldn't get a square meal out of the hull of 'em. But even if you do know all about teas, you may be glad to know about Jane's tea from my pint of view, as compared with the other one I've been tellin' you about. Now, I think 'a heap of Jane and alius try to please her in every way I can, sech as dressin' up after dinner, and never askin' su-per-^-ous questions when she has company, but when sjie told me she was goin' to give a tea I s'pose I wasn't very agree'ble, for I told her that when that tea came in at the front door I should go right out at the back, for I never could stay in the same room with people who had a hungry look 6f dis- appointment written in every line-aments of their faces. Jennie only laughed and said, " Aunt Ann, I'd gladly give 'em more to eat if 'twas only the proper thing, but if you'll put yourself where you can see all that is goin' on, I'll give another tea if this one don't suit you." I told her I never knew until I came to the city to live that fashion had to set the limit as to what a person should eat, but though it might limit their eatin' it never could limit their appetites. I finally told her I would hide myself in a bay-window be- hind 3. lot of palms, ferns and rubber plants hired for the oc- casion, and when the day cum I took my place there, feeling for all the world like Moses in the bulrushes, and tho' nobody could see me, I could see all that went on, and so I jest set there, keeping, still outwardly, but communin' within myself vigorously.- I learned another thing that day, too, that no Woman could receive her own company alone, but must ask some friend to come in and receive with her,—to act as a sort of prop, I s'pose, but .'t any rate, Jane invited Mrs. Swelldom to stand alongside of her, and then she asked a Mrs. Hyson to sit at a little table and give 'em samples of tea in.the cunhingest ►little cups. When I fust see her a .handin- out those cups, I sup|x>sed -it was rta .give- iolks. 3-chance - to sample.whatishe'd20 .THEN AND NOW. give-'em so that they'd know what to take when they got out into the big dining-room, but I was ashamed enuff to learn afterwards that they were serving samples out there, too, and. not a soul in that house had that day what I call a real cup of tea. But I must begin at the beginning or I shall get you all mixed up. {Curtain Rises.} Jane told me when 'twas time to put myself behind the palms and there I sot a whole half hour before there, was anything to look at. At last, after I had had a nap or two, Jane came in and she was fixed up real purty—the nicest I had ever seen her, and then Mrs. Swelldom came, and they shook hands in a real nateral way; acted as if they liked each other and were glad to be there. They talked a long time as to where was the best place to stand, going from one corner of the room to the other, and finally decided to stand on a rug just where I could see them and see everybody who came in. They took their positions there for all the world as if they were going to .have their pictures took, and put on a very peculiar expression, —I thought 'twas a sort of gettin' ready expression but I found it was put on to stay, and poor Jane didn't look a bit happy to me. Well, while they waited there they looked over each other's gowns; Jane said she had wanted a circulation flounce on her dress but it eat into the cloth so she give it up and had her skirt cut flaring. Mrs. Swelldom said she had had her dress made as long as she could, and Jane told her it wasn't a bit too long as she wanted the woman who received with her to jest tumble over her gown and if it had been an inch shorter it wouldn't have been the proper length, and as Mrs. Swelldom was to stand still people wouldn't tread on her dress tho' they would on their own. Then they practiced shaking hands so as to get it jest right, and Mrs. Swelldom said " How high shall I raise *ny arm be- fore extending the hand?" and Jane told her, "Just make three motions, Mrs. Swelldom, —crook your elbow, raise your arm as high as. your chin, then extend your hand," and they practiced that a good many times so as to be sure they got it jest right. Pretty soon.Mrs. Hyson came, and I noticed they didn't give her. any such shake.but acted glad to see her ald .seemed perfectly nateraU ,She toother. ptece,atTHEN AND NOW. 21 arranging her cups and saucers, putting into each saucer a lump of sugar, as much as to say, " So much and no more," tho' I knew for a fact that Jane had plenty of sugar and didn't mean to be stingy with it either. And then she had some lemons cut up into slices so as to make what they called " rushin' tea," if they wanted that kind, but I said to myself right there behind the bulrushes that I would have to be pretty sick and feverish to take that hot lemonade—for that was all 'twas—and the scarcity of the article was all the virtue it had. Then Mrs. Hyson looked at the little crackers and said to Jane, " These are something new, ain't they ? " and Jane walked over to the table and told Mrs, Hyson how slie had tried to get something that no one else had ever had at teas before; they called 'em angels' breath, and as they were very delicate and no one was expected to take more than two, a pound would go a long . ways: Now, Jane didn't say that to be mean and stingy, but jest to keep within the limits of fashion and to show that she was as proper as she could be. By the time she had got into position again on the rug, and had put on her "all ready expression," the people begun to cum. The fust, to cum were Mrs. Driver and her sister; they .said they had come real early so as to avoid the crowd, and said some very pleasant things to Jane but nothing very edifyin' and I noticed that Mrs. Driver didn't niake any haste to get away from the crowd that was now expected to come. I wasn't \a bit surprised that Jane didn't ask them to lay off their things and stop to supper, knowin' as I did that she hadn't any great likin' for 'em. I remembered hearing Jane say she had no great love for Mrs. Driver and her sister, but as she was obli- gated to 'em they had to be invited, but when Mrs. Butterfield cum, who to my certain knowledge I knew that Jane thought a heap of, I must say I wuz surprised that Jane didn't show any more cordiality in her greeting. She didn't leave that rug for a minute or change her expression one iota, or in any way show she'd like to treat her better if it wuz only proper she should do so. There wuz. now a long procession of women a comin' in, and each one of 'em moved as fast as she could considerin' the skirts she had to tumble over. They stopped in. front of Jane and 'Mrs. Swelldom jest long enough to shake hands and say a ; word or two,—a pleasant afternoon,—beautiful tea,—how chajnaiiig you are looking, et cetera and et cetera,-—-and then - • • • • / . v22 THEN AND NOW. they would pass on with a very gratified air to the little table where Mrs. Hyson was a wait in' to demonstrate her tea. I ex- pected every minute she'd tell where that tea was sold and would hand out little cards, and I found out afterwards that tea wasn't demonstrated.that way in the parlors but only in the stores, and in the parlors you were only given the samples. I knew that the women didn't consider them nothin' more than samples either, 'cause I had my eye on that Mrs. Driver who had hung around all this time, and I saw her engage Mrs. Hy- son real cleverly in conversation and put down three cups of tea, one right after the other. I was glad when the company begun to move out towards the dinin'-room, but wuz surprised that Jane shouldn't be in the dinin'-room with her own com- pany that was eatin' there and pass 'em things in a hospitable sort of way, but she jest stood stock still on that rug, smilin' and shakin', lookin' unconscious of the fact that she had in- vited company to her house and left 'em in the hands of strangers in the dinin'-room, who, like as not wouldn't give'em enuff to eat, for I have heard it said that if you wuz starvin1 hungry, you mustn't help yourself but wait until you could be properly served by the waiter hired for the occasion, and I have heard some say also that you could get up a powerful ap- petite while doin' that waitin'. It was very confusin' to me to hear sech a buzz of conversa- tion and not be able to get the whole of any one sentence, and though they were talking in our own language, I s'pose, they might as well been talk'n' Greek or I-talian. I don't suppose there wuz a word of common sense uttered there that day, tho' Jane never would allow it to me, and she jest continued to smile and shake and shake and smile while I knew she was tired to death. Finally, the last woman got into the dinin'-room, and when Jane and Mrs. Swelldom saw that they were alone, they jest took off that expression and sank back into some chairs that were handy back of 'em. Mrs. Hyson seem' .them so beat out carried each of 'em a cup of tea and a cracker apiece, and I thought to myself right there behind the bulrushes that they couldn't brace up much on sech limited rations and would need a good meal to bring them back to their naterai condition, ^ - > '^Curtain 7 ^TrtEN AND NOW. 2$ Now that you have an idee of both Jane's tea and my tea, I want to ask if you don't think you'd rather come to mine? NOTE—-Both' of these " Teas " are carried out in the acting as denoted ^in the written piece. In the old-fashioned tea, the table should be set with its blue china and biscuit, cake, etc., and the quilts exhibited; in fact, exactly as written. In the modern tea a small table is on the stage,' furnished with small cups and saucers, brass tea-kettle, crackers, etc., and anything ornamental on stage to give the effect of a modern parlor, with rugs, palms, etc. After the old-fashioned tea it is well to have the old-fashioned choir sing f again, off the stage, so that the stage can be prepared for the modern tea, and after the modern tea the modern choir can sing, and thus conclude the performance." The man or woman who doesn't " The Black Cat is without deufet read The Black Cat misses the greatest the story-telling hit of the century."— stories in the world.—Boston Post. San IVancisco Chronicle. It Will Pay You to read The Black Cat, not only because it publishes the most unusual and fascinating stories that genius can devise and money can buy, but _ /. Because it presents to. young and unknown writers an opportunity offered by no other publication. It pays the highest price in the world for short stories. It pays not according, to the name or reputation of a wrker, but according to the merit of a story. It pays not according to length but according to strength. It pub- lishes no continued stories, no translations, no borrowings, no stealings. The great $5,000 prize stories of Mystery, Adventure, Love, .Detectives, Humor and Pathos will give added " interest to future issues. The Black Cat is published monthly. It costs 50 cents a year and each number contains 5 complete, origi- nal, copyrighted stories that are stories. By special arrangement with its publishers (The Shortstory Publishing Co.) we are able to make the following offer : ■ ■■ / Free of Us If you will send us 50 cents The Black Cat will be mailed you as issued for one year, postage paid, and you will also receive at once, free, postage paid, 15 of i the stories (including the $1,000 prize tales, "The Gaikwar's Sword," "The Suarantined Bridegroom." "The ancing Goddess," "The Train Hunt at Loldos," etc.) that have made The Black Cat famous as the story-telling hit of the age. Walter H. Baker & Co., Hamilton Place, Boston, Mass./|\ THE MAGISTRATE.1 tiXS'iSBT&iJS&SSiZ /!\ ^T:--acters. Costume?, modern; scenery, all ^!: [N\ interior. Tl»e merits of this excellent and amusing piece, one of the mostpopu- ill iAV ^ar ot *ts author's plays, are well attested by long and repeated runs in the 'Z: principal American theatres. It is of the highest class of dramatic writing, and /|\ ilk 's ujjV°:m°in>ly funny, and at the same time unexceptionable in tone. Its entire "AC suitability for amateur performance has been shown by hundreds of such pro- #1V dnotions from manuscript during the past three years. Plays two hours and ill UUllMMIb I Mllll I11U11 U&C1 IJIb Willing bUO ^<191 lUlt/C ^ Gill S. l \\ O UOU15 <11111 jW a half. (18U2.) /|\ W THE NOTORIOUS ® MRS. EBBSMITH. m w w V?/ THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY. A Play in Four Acts. By Aktiit'r W. Pineko. Eight male and five female char- acters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors. This well-known and powerful play is not well suited for amateur per- formance. It is offereil to Mr. Pinero's admirers among the reading public in answer to the demand which its wide discussion us an acted play has created. (1SU4.) Also in Cloth, $1.00. A Drama in Four Acts. By Arthur w. /i^ Pinisko. Eight male and five female charac- jki ters: scenery, all interiors. This is a 44 prob- #l\ \s !> jem piay continuingtneserieslownicn " uie - Profligate " and " The Second Mrs.Tanqueray" iiv belong, and while strongly dramatic, and intensely interesting is not suited for ji\ r|* amateur performance. It is recommended for Heading Clubs. (1895.) /| 1 111 > ' v c Iuv. 111, Illiu Iiiigi'. Ill i to c»tuin All 1'IUJ, uui iiui cunvu iui aiiio." ..v 91\ teur performance. (1892.) T1JT7 CfUOnT I A Farce in Three Acts. By Arthur /l\ Aki I nil 0^n.VJV^J^IV110 I w. Pim.ho. Nine male.* seven fe- rfl---1 male characters. Costumes, mod- iii ern ; scenery, three interiors, easily arranged. This ingenious and laughable juL farce was played by Miss Kosina Vokes during her last season in America with rf* great success. Its plot is amusing, its action rapid and full of incident, its dia- logue brilliant, and its scheme of character especially rich in quaint and humor- ^lj ous types. The Hon. VereQueckett and Peggy are especially strong. The piece iiw f§3 is in all respects suitable for amateurs. (1894.) \\) W M/ W Vt/ C"\Y7"]7T7T' T AVT7T\rnFP I A Comedy in Three Acts. By Arthur \l# O W ILEL 1 LilvmNL/ILIV. \V. Pineko. Seven male and four female -—--- 1 characters. Scene, a single interior, the .•i« same for all three acts: costumes, modern and fashionable. I'll is well known .i'. \l/ and popular piece is admirably suited to amateur players, by whom it has been %■# nftfii irivfMi finvinirlliA lust, ffilV Vhmix. 1 i « st.nrv s.f.roiiul v tlio.ti#* uiul ita I k'i'j often gi^en during the last few years. Its story is strongly sympathetic, and its %!/ comedy interest abundant and strong; (1893.) ml# W XHF TTMF four femaie char_ - acters, and three children. Price, 25 cents. ^ THE PILLARS OF SOCIETY. I a acts, fa ---1 Archer. Tell male, nine /iV female characters. Price, 25 cents. '*• flTJOCTC I A Drama in' Three Acts. Translated by William ^ ^ Archer. Three male, two female characters. —————J Price, 25 cents. RrtSMFRWDT M [ A Drama in- Four Acts. Translated l>y M. ruoivlelunuuvi. oar michael. Four male, two female cliarac- -1 ters. Price, 25 cents. THE LADY FROM THE SEA. I a drama in five acts. ^ ** Translated by Clara Bell. 1 Five male, three female characters. Price, 25 cents. AN ENEMY OF SOQETY. [ it f w SV by William Archer. Nine male, two female cliarac- Price, 25 cents. T"H~F "VX7TT Ti "nTTn^" I A Drama in Five Acts. Translated by E. A 1-LA-. W | Aveling. Twelve male, three female ■ - characters. Price, 25 cents. THE YOUNG MEN'S LEAGUE. I ^ acts. -■ Oarstari'hen. Twelve male, six female characters. Price, 25 cents. T-TR'n'nA riART "PP I A Drama in Four Acts. Translated by nrAJUI\ Edmund Gosse. Three male, four female W characters. Price, 50 cents. W the master builder i A Play in- Three Acts. Trans- »[( lnx. ivmoiov lated by Eiimund Gossk and wn, > vv W 31 lated by Edmund Gosse and \Vil- 1 liam Archer. Four male, three female characters. Price, 50 cents. M/ mThis book is a preservation facsimile produced for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It is made in compliance with copyright law and produced on acid-free archival 60# book weight paper which meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (permanence of paper). Preservation facsimile printing and binding by Northern Micrographics Brookhaven Bindery La Crosse, Wisconsin 2019