NO PLAYS EXCHANGED. rBnKCR'5 Edition' >S 635 Z9 1224 'opy 1 5r PLAY3 m A LION AMONG UDIES rr O i^^ mm "Salter iTdhker &cq. B03T0N ^. A NEW PLAY FOR FEMALE CHARACTERS. A Compamoti to "REBECCA'S TRIUMPH." ANITA'S TRIAL; Or, Our Girls in Camp. By Esther B. Tiffany, author of "A Rice Pudding," "That Patrick," " Young Mr. Pritchard," etc. Price, ----.__ 35 cents. This is a bright and sparkling comedy in three acts, for eleven female characters. Its story is entertaining, and its dialogue dis- tinguished by this author's delicate humorous touch. One scene only is necessary for the three acts — a camp in tl)e woods, easily arranged. The dresses are simple and picturesque camping costumes. ' The enor- mous success of " Rebecca's Triumph " has created a demand for this sort of piece, to meet which we confidently present "Anita's Trial," in which is solved, with no less success than in its predecessor, the difficult problem of constructing a play of strong human interest with- out the assistance of male characters. The n HRONOTHANATQLETRQN: OR, OLD TIMES MADE NEW. An entertainment in one act for sixteen girls, written for the Class Day Exercises at Dana Hall School, Wellesley, Mass., by two members of the Class of '87 and first performed before members of the school and their friends, June 18, 1887, and later at Ellsworth, Maine, April 6, 1888. Price, --_->_- 35 cents. THE PEAK SISTERS. A humorous entertainment for young ladies. Arranged by Mary B. HoRNE. Any number of ladies may take part, but seven only are necessary. No scenery; costumes very simple. This laughable trifle meets with invariable success wherever performed. Price, ---___- 15 cents. THE BOOK OF DRILLS. A group of entertainments for female characters for s+age or floor per- formance, by Mary B. Horne, the author of " The Peak Sisters," etc. Price, ---_-_. 30 cents. WALTER E BAKER & CO,, PnUlisliers, 23 Winter St, Boston. A LION AMONG LADIES ^ Cirxrmjeilaj XXX ^miy ^cts BY WILLIAM F. MACY X^VOFCOA/g:;, ^^ COPYRIGHT- '"■ %o ul T ^ BOSTON ^^^zAir-'A^.^<:^b.,^^^^ j^ 1890 T^^ CHARACTERS. Squire Morton Jack Morton . Ned Winslow Johnnie . Belle Morton Marion Kimball Miss Sarah Morton % 3^ ^7. iJK A country gentleman, old school His son, a Harvard setitor Of Boston, jfack's chum A boy Jack^s sister . Belle'' s friefid The squire's maiden sister Martha Maid of all -work LIST OF PROPERTIES. First Act. Second Act. Fancy Work. Book. Telegram. Carpet Sweeper. Bundles. Newspaper. Cigars. Trunk. Matches. Book. COSTUMES.— Modern and appropriate. SCENE. — Room in Squire Morton's House, Greenfield. Time, present day. Time in presentation, one hour. Copyright, 1890, By WALTER H. BAKER & CO, ^ -3^9 A LION AMONG LADIES. ACT I. Scene. — Sitting-room in Squire Morton's house. Well furnished i7i the style of an old couutfy mansion. Piatio or bookcase, chairs, table with lam.p, etc. Room i7t some confusion, books, papers, ladies' fa>icy work, etc., lying about. Fire i?i grate or fireplace. Large easy-chair on casters u. L. c, before hearth-rug. Room may be decorated with Christinas evergreen if desired. (Belle <^;^(^Marion discovered at rise of curtain. Belle at 7'ight of table busy with Christmas fancy work. Mar- ion reading in large chair before fire. As curtai^t rises she throws down book, yawns, and pidls chair round, facing audience?) Marion. Oh, dear ! I do wish Mr. Howells would put a little more life into his heroes. His men are such perfect sticks ; and yet one can't help being fascinated with them merely as abstract studies of character, they are ?,q> perfectly true to life. Bother the men, anyway, I say. Belle {quietly'). Yes, dear. They say that you do. Marion. Do what ? Belle. Bother the men. Marion. Belle Morton, what do you mean? Belle. Oh, nothing. Marion. Who ever said that of me? Belle. Why, all the fellows in Wellesley have been bothered more or less ever since the day you arrived — a year ago last September — not to mention the hosts of " deah boys '' who came all the wiy from Boston every Saturday afternoon on purpose to see you off on the three o'clock train to Hartford. Why, every one knows how they used to. 4 A LION AMONG LADIES. draw lots to see which one should ride as far as Springfield with you, and then the lucky one had to wait four hours in Springfield for the Albany Express back to Boston, arriving shortly before midnight. If that isn't bother enough, I should like to know what is ! Marion. Belle Morton, do you believe in a future state ? Belle. Nothing beyond the state of matrimony. But {laughing^, confess now, Marion, that masculine society is absolutely indispensable to your existence. Marion. Til not confess anything of the kind. Haven't I been here nearly a week and been perfectly contented 1 Belle, To the first, yes — a week to-morrow. To the second — no! most decidedly. Haven't you wandered aim- lessly about the house ever since this horrid storm set in 7 Haven't you sighed and yawned, and yawned and sighed, alternately, for the past three days, your face wearing all the time a sort of a "' what's-this-dull-town-to-me " expression ? Don't deny it, I am not so blind as not to see that. But for- tunately you won't have to wait but two days longer. Marion" {carelessly). Oh, is it Monday the boys are com- ing .? Belle. Just as if you didn't know and hadn't been count- ing the hours for three days past ! But it was aggravating, wasn't it, that they could not come through to-night. That's the worst of Hving in such a dull, poky town. The idea of not having any train from Saturday morning till Monday morning ! And Jack never will cut recitations if the heavens fall. He must stay till the last gun is fired Saturday after- noon, and then have to wait a day and a half in Cambridge before starting for Greenfield. Oh, it's too mean ! Just think of all day to-morrow ! Marion. Well, I guess the boys will be quite contented in Boston. But it would be a little pleasanter for us if they were to be here to-morrow. Belle. Oh, you really think so, then 1 But you do the boys an injustice. I'm sure Jack is anxious to be home over Sunday, especially as I've written him that you are here. But don't please bring him to terms too quickly, Marion. He's awfully susceptible. Marion. Well, isn't that rather a doubtful compliment ? But you needn't fear. I'm awfully out of practice. I think I shall retire to a convent in the spring. I'm weary of the frivoHties of this world. A LION AMONG LADIES. 5 Belle. O Marion, what a perfectly fascinating little sis- ter of mercy you would make ! Just imagine ! {Enthusiasti- cally^. With a robe and hood of crepe noire, just a suspi- cion of v/hite within the hood and at the throat and wrists. Why, you'd be perfectly irresistible ! Marion. O Belle, don't gush ! {Rises and crosses to table.) But about the other fellow that Jack is going to bring with him — what sort is he ? Belle {crestfallen for a moment^ but recovering qtiickly). Oh, Mr. Winslow ? Well, really, I know no more than you do about him. Only Jack writes that he's a great swell — a regular Boston blue-blood, you know — one of the Mayflower Winslows. The family have lived on Beacon Street for four generations. The original Winslow — not the Mayflower one, but the first wealthy member of the family — made his money in the West India trade, whatever that maybe. Marion. Oh, yes; molasses, and spices, and rum • Principally the latter, I should say, from what I have heard of the old Boston merchants. Belle. Why, Marion, how uncharitable ! But then, even if it is true, you must remember that such a business was perfectly proper and legitimate in those days, when every one used liquors. In fact it's all right now, if the busi- ness is wholesale. Marion {sarcastically). Oh, really. Belle {warmly). Yes, really! But I know you don't think so, so we won't discuss the matter. We can make our plans for Christmas to-morrow, and fix up a few surprises for the boys. We'll manage to pass the time somehow, though I do wish they could have come through to-night. {Door-bell rings. ^EiuhK goes ont and returns i?t a inoynent followed by Johnnie, who is covered with snow., blowing his fingers and stamping his feet.) Belle {o7itside). Come in, Johnnie, and get warm. {En- ters follotued by Johnnie.) What a terrible storm ! Any news down town, Johnnie ? Johnnie {slowly pulling off 7/iittens, unbuttoning his coat, and warnnng himself at fire). No, Miss Belle ; I don't hear nothin' particular. The mill's shet down till after Christmas, an' the minister's wife's sick, an' Mr. Smitli's gone to Pittsfield on a lawsuit, an' the Boston drummer's here, an' 6 A LION AMONG LADIES. Dr. Perkins's horse's kicked the bucket, an' — I guess that's all. (^Breathless. ~) Marion ( i!^^'^^ have been listening 7'aptly). Oh ! Johnnie {slowly going throrigh his pockets'). I got a tele- graph for you somewheres, Miss Belle. Find it'n a minute. It come this mornin', but Joe Carter, the telegraph operator, he was off up river, gunnin', an' his wife, she took the mes- sage off the ticker, but she didn't like to send it up till Joe come back and read it, an' he didn't get back till most dark, so I jest come up with it. Hope 'taint nothin' important. Now where'n thunder'd I put that? (^All this ti7ne goiiig through pockets. At last takes off hat for first time a?id finds 7nessage inside^ Oh, here it is. {Hands message to Belle, who has been zuaiting impatiently and helping him go through his pockets. ~) Belle. A telegram ! Why. it must be from Jack ! What can have happened.'' {Opejts hurriedly and reads.') "To Henry Morton, Esq., Greenfield, Mass. Special train on for the hohday travel. Leave Boston at two o'clock. Arrive in Greenfield at 7.30. (Signed) Jack." {Looks at watch.) Why it's quarter past seven now! They'll be here in fifteen minutes ! And father and aunt both over at the church dec- orating. Oh dear, Marion, what j-//^?// we do? {Distracted.') Marion {perfectly cool., to fohnnie, who has been preparing to go). Young man, skip as fast as your legs can carry you over to the Unitarian Church and tell Squire Morton and his sister to come home quick — Jack is coming at half-past seven ! Do you hear ? Johnnie. Yes, marm. {Aside, going.) Jerusalem crick- ets, ain't she a jim-dandy ! {Exit.) Marion. Now, Belle, what do you want done ? Of course they'll be starved. You run down and get something ready for the inner man, and I'll slick up here a little.* Hurry now ! Belle. O Marion, you are an angel ! You always know just what to do. {Exit.) Marion {hastily picki^tg up papers, etc., and putting room to rights). Well, it's fortunate somebody knows just what to do where she is. Won't her poor husband have to wait on her? Well, there's no man living good enough for her! That is, since she can't marry her own brother. He's good enous»h for any woman on earth. I wasn't altogether joking whei< { spoke about retiring to a convent. I shall certainly A LION AMONG LADIES. / do something desperate if Jack doesn't declare himself some- time within the next week. Susceptible, is he? Oh, yes, very ; but awfully slow about coming to the point. {Ring.) Now, who can that be ? {Goes toward door, then stops and thinks a moment.) Suppose it should be the boys. It must be about time for them. {Enter Martha.) Martha. O Miss Marion, a great tall gent, with a fur coat on, as wants to see Squire Morton. I told him Squire Morton was out, and then he wanted to see Miss Morton, an' when he found she was out, he wanted to. see Miss Belle Morton, an' he's wailin' out in the hall. Marion {aside). Who can it be.? Show the gentleman in, Martha, and go tell Miss Belle. Martha. Yes, ma'am. {Exit.) Marion {down l. c). A strange gentleman ! It can't be that anything has happened to Jack. {Enter Ned,/^/- lowed by Martha. He is clad in heavy ulster, sealskin cap and gloves.) Ned. a thousand pardons ! Miss Morton, of course. I shall be under the painful necessity of introducing myself. I am Mr. Winslow, your brother's chum. Jack is delayed, un- fortunately. {Commences to remove gloves^ Marion. Oh, yes ! You are indeed welcome, Mr. Wins- low. {Gives hand; aside, crossing to R.) So that's a Bos- ton blue-blood. Save the mark ! Ned. By Jove! she's a. stunner, but she doesn't look a bit like Jack. {Crosses to l.) Marion. Take Mr. Winslow's coat and hat, Martha. Ah, do be seated, Mr. Winslow. {Aside.) Suppose I don't tell him who I am for a few minutes. It will be a great lark, and I am just dying for excitement of some kind. {Aloud.) Jack is delayed, you say ? How, pray ? Ned {taking easy-chair). Yes ; it was too bad, poor fel- low, though I could not help laughing. You see we played whist all the way out with two Boston drummers. They got off at Miller's Falls, two stations below, you know; and, as we were out of cigars, Jack stopped off to get some at the news stand in the station. Well, he got off on the left-hand side and had to cross the track. And what do you think, just as he, came out the door, contrary to all the established 8 A LION AMONG LADIES. laws of railroads all over the world, a freight train of about a hundred cars, more or less, came puffing into the station. Marion {alarvied). Oh, he wasn't hurt? Ned. Oh, no. Set your mind at rest on that point ; but while he stood there waiting for the freight to pass through, our train started up, and the last I saw of poor Jack he was running up the platform, waving his hands, and gesticulating wildly to the conductor of our train to stop. I could just see his head over the dump cars. Poor fellow, I pitied him ; but it was funny, ha, ha, ha! Marion. And Miller's Falls is ten miles from here, and no train till Monday. But of course he will find some one to drive him over. {Aside?) I'll never forgive him if he doesn't. Ned. Oh, yes, he'll be here to-night sure, if he moves heaven and earth to do it. He's been wild for the last three days, since you wrote that your friend Miss Kimball was to be here. Why, he was so impatient and distracted coming up that he trumped my ace no less than four times, and he made 2^ point oi returning his opponents' lead. Those drum- mers must have thought he was boozy ! Marion. Was what.'' Ned. Boozy — intoxicated, you know. But of course he wasn't. Jack's a perfect model. He never drinks — {aside) behind the bar. Marion. I'm very glad to hear it. I don't approve of young men drinking. {Aside.) He's a sensible fellow — he likes Jack. Ned. But I say, Miss Morton, I'm awfully anxious to see this Miss Kimball who has made such an impression on your brother. She must be a stunner, for the Cambridge girls consider him a perfect Gibraltar. Marion {aside). What fun! {Aloud.) Oh, she is, I assure you, a perfect stunner, as you call it, and as good as she is beautiful ! {Aside.) What will he think of me when he finds it out ? Ned. I know it. Why, it was a standing joke among the fellows the way he was attached to his sister at Wellesley. Used to go up there and see you pretty often last fall, didn't he ? ha, ha ! Every fellow in our set has wondered what she looked like for the past year. Marion. Oh, have they.? (Aside.) Delightful news for a modest retiring young woman — " that's me." / A LION AMONG LADIES. 9 Ned. Yes, and from all we can learn she seems, as the fellows say, to be leading him a devil of a dance ! Marion {rising indignantly). Sir! Ned. Oh, I beg pardon — a common expression, you know. Ouotatibn marl Enter Jack, r.) ]K