JPsi Hi Hi /^> SCHOOL AND SOCIAL DRAMA, '-A-ct -^:^ell 37-c\xr part." HARD CIDER. 7. ^. pENISON, OPiaiGE: 15 CElsTTS. CHICAGO :> T. S. DENISON NO PLAYS EXCHANGED. FOR SCHOOLS AND AMATEURS. X 880 Price, 15 Cents Each, Postage Paid. Theee plays have been prepared expressly to meet the wants of teachers and amateur clubs by teachers of extended experience in the school room and in the presentation of amateur plays. They are simple in coustruction, and require no scenery, or only such as is usually at baud. They afiord ample opportunity for ^'acting.'' They are jmre in tone and language. The " School and Social Drama' series are no longer on trial. Their success is assured. The testimonials given with each play express the opinions of those who have used the play and know whereof they speak. "If the succeeding numbers are as good as the first, we predict for them a large demand. "—iVaVion-a/ Teachers' Monthly, N. Y. and Chicago. '"The farces are full of hxn'"— Daily Inter-Ocean, Chicago. "These plays are supplying the dearth of good literature in this depart- meut.'"— iV. Y. School Bulletin. "We do not know of twelve dramas in the language (twelve sent for re- view) better adapted to tcacii good lessons and at the same time furnish amusement to the young."'— 3^6?^; England Jour. Education. ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. A drama in five acts; 7 male and 4 female characters. Time, 1 hour, 45 m. Contains a good humorous negro character. " It took splendidly. 'Tabbs' made it spicy."— C E. Rogers, Dunlirl\ Jnd. SETH GREENBACK. A drama In four acts : 7 male and 3 female. Time, 1 hour 15 m. Contains ■ a good comic Irish character. "• Seth Greenback was a perfect success. It can't be beat as an amateur drnma.^'— Will If. Talbotl, Coats rille, I /id., Dramatic Clulj. WANTED, A CORBESrONDENT. A farce in two acts, 4 male and 4 female. Time, 45 m. VerjMntere.^ting and amusing. INITIATING A GRANGER, m A ludicrous farce; ^niale. ' Tftne, 25 m. -'■' We used Initiating a (iranger. . It was laughable beyond description."— J. W. Simmons, Lawrence, Mich. THE SPARKLING CUP. A temperance drama in five acts; Vi male and 4 female. Time, 1 hour, Ah m. A thrilling play, worthy the best eftorts of amateurs. Pathetic song and death scene. "The SparklingCup met with great success. It is the great rival of Ten Nights in a Bar Room. •^— IF. F. Kiihn, De Graff,' O. A FAMILY STRIKE. A spicy farce, illustrating " strikes, "" 3 male and 3 female. Time 20 ni. TWO GHOSTS IN WHITE. A humorous farce based on boarding-school life; 7 female characters. Time, 25m. Very funny throughout, and contains some excellent liits. HARD CIDER A TEMPERANCE SKETCK T. S. DENISON Author of ftdds idth the Enemy ; Inilintinq a Granger: Winded, a Gorretipondent; A Family Strike ; Sdh GreenboA'k; IlauH Von Snuish ; Borrowing Trouble; Two Ghostx in White; The Pull- Back; Country JuHtice; The Amnsor; TJie Sparkling Gup; Lituva the Pauper; Our Goindry;TJie School- M»€r. Mrb. Jackson. Fred Jackson. Nellie Jackson. Will Brown. w. L. KiXiN & Co., Pbinter*. HARD CIDER Scene. Squiee Jackson's sitting-room. Winter evening. Seat- ed^ Jacksox and Young in comersation. IMrs. JacKvSOn Hew- ing, Nellie reading. Curtain rises. Young. Jackson, old fellow, you have been deuced lucky in this world. You were always lucky. Don'l you remeuil)er I used to tell you at school that' you avouUI make voui- mai-k in the world r JaeMon. Mark! Ha! Ha! Younu-. where is the mark:- I haven't seen it. Young. All around you man. You have everything necessary to make a man happy. * A handsome wife — Jact^oii. Hold on there! Mrs. Jackson is blusliin.ir. Mrs. J. My husband thinks all compliments flattery except when applied' to himself. Jo'-hso,,. Pshaw, wife! Married women have no iiecd of con- linuous compliment. It turns their heads. Mrs. J. And so causes neglect of domestic duties as our woi-tiiy critic would have it. Young. I shall advocate your cause, 'M\%. Jackson. Xo lady shall appeal to me in vain. JSfelUe. Pa, you mig-ht as well surrender. Wq IjaAc the ma- jority. JaSwn. What: have you gone over to the enemy, too, Nellie? Aha, Young, you haven't forgot your old cunuing. ' You aiwavs knew how to get the girls on your side. Young. YeVs, and what is' better, I always keep them there. But as I was saying, really, Jackson, you liave been verv lucky. You have a fine family, a good farm, and al)ove all a good home. You will soon ;iv(m' gray with honors. I see you are a squire already. Mr.s. J. (Laughiii Fotmg. Wait a moment till 1 bring a i^ottle of wine from my valise. I tliink you will enjoy its flavor. (E.v/t for itin£:) Mn. J. So you have signed the pledge. Will V Will. Yes, aunt, and I tried hard to-dav coming down on the train to persuade Mr. Young to do so, and Ditch that wine out of the window, but he was intlexiljle. Jackson. It is all right, nephew, for you to think as you do. You are now playing the part of a reformer. But you are young, and you will find out after while that the world won't be refonned'. Young. (lie-eMers.) That is just what I told him to-day. Will. I shall try just the same. 3frs. J. And I sincerely resjiect your effoi-fs. Will. I have about persuaded Fred to quit drinking cider. JS^ellie. Oh, that is because the cider is getting hard. Fred will begin again when we make fresh cider. Fred. I'll not do anything of the kind. If I sign a pledge I'll keep it. Young. I agree that pledges are all right. If you sign, stick. Fred. I intend to sign and to stick. Hard cider never did me any good. Jackson. All right, Fred, do as you please. It does me good, and I will continue a while longer. Did you warm it ? Fred. Yes. Jackson. (Pours out a glass.) Try it, John. It is the best hard cider you ever tasted, I'll venture. (Tliei/ drink.) Young. That is capital ! Jackson. Just a trifle too warm, though, even for a cold eve- ning like this. Young. (Opens bottle of wine.) Now we will try this wine. (Fills glasses.) Jackson. That will smooth down the cider. (They drink.) Young. Now, Mrs. Jackson, what harm can there be in a social glass of cider or wine V AVill you take some ? Mrs. J. There may be no harm in one glass of either, but repetition brings habit, and habit is the master, man the slave. Cider leads to wine, wine to whiskey, and wiiiskey to ruin. Young. Oh, whiskey is dangerous, but cider is a difterent thing. Fred. It will make people drunk. Jake Beldon — Jackson. Pooh ! we've heard enough about Jake Beldon. He Tvas only sick at the stomach. Fred. I know a drunken man when I see one, and I know that hard cider made him sick at the stomach and stagger too. Will. As for wine, I've seen its efiects daily in the city. Young. Well, we are not in the city now. We are in the country having a good time. Try som^e more wine. (They drink.) Jackson. Try some more cider to wash down that wine. (They drink.) G IIAHD ciDFAi. Mrs. J. That is the dang.'r in driui^ing, soon you will want some more Avine to smooth down the cider, and then some more cider to wash down tlie wine. Jackson. But then, both are as harmless as water. Young. I can vouch for wine. I've tried it twenty years and never got drunk. Jacbion. And I have thoroughly tested cider. Why, wife, I could drink a whole pitcher full without feeling its eftects. Will Mixing wine and cider n\ay be dangerous. Jackson. Pooli, Will ! You're young. I know what I am do- ing. Young. So do I. Try some more wine. (They drink.) JarMon. Now just to' show the boys that this cider w^on't hurt anybody, I'll take'^ another glass or two. Mrs. J. James, beware of the example you are setting the chil- dren. Jackson. I guess I know what I'm doing. I'm going to drink this pitcher of cider. Young. Not all of it. I'm going to help you. Mrs. J. Then, gentlemen, I hope you will excuse me for the evening, as doubtless the cider will afitbrd you ample entertain- ment, and the society of the ladies will only mar your enjoyment. Nellie, we will retire. Good evening, gentlemen. Nellie. Good evening. Young. {Rises to how.) Good evening, ladies. {Attempts to bow, falls on Jackson.) Jackson. Hang it, Jack, what are you about ? What ails you ? Young. I feel a little dizzy. I think that cider was a little too warm. Jackson. Pooh 1 it w^asn't the cider at all. You have ridden too far in the cold, and the change has afi'ected you. Will. {Aside to Fred.) They are becoming intoxicated. We must get the Ijquor away from them. Fred. All right. You manage the wine and I'll see to the cider. {Will attempts to slip awaytlie wine, bottle unperceioed. Is de- tected by Young) Young. Hold on young man ! Not so fast ! If you want to try some of that wine, you are welcojue to it, but don't attempt unv sly game. That is the w ay witli you temperance people. You slip away the bottle to drink behind the door. Will. Mr. Young, you have had enough; too much, indeed, or you never would have used that speech. Young. {Stogqering toward Will.) Come, old boy, forgive me 1 meant no harm. Les' shake ban's. Shake all roun'. Jackson, old pard, why don't you got up and shake hands all round? Say? Jackson. Sit down. {Fred is carrying off the pitclier) Hello, boy! bring back that pitcher. What the deuce do you mean by HARD CIDER. 7 taking away the refreshments till we are donewith them? (Will replaces pitdier.) ^ Young, sit clown, I tell you. Young. Tha's so. Les' sit down all ro\md. {Sits down on the flooi\) Jackson. Will, give Mr. Young a chair. Zounds, boys, what are you about ? Put him in a chair. {2'hei/ place him in a chair.) Toung. {Staring at Jaclcson.) Say, Jim! Jim, old boy! Jackson. {Testily.) What do you want ? Young. 'Smy 'pinion you're drunk. , Jackson. Don't be a fool. You're drunk yourself. Young. Jim, old boy, I maintain, as I maintained before, and as 1 will maintain as long as I've a maiuj'cf^??ance, that you're drunk. Hard cider is what ails you, Jim. Jackson. {Testily.) I tell you I'm not drunk. {'Takes another glass of cider.) Young. Yes you are, Jim. When you are not drunk you are good humored; now you're cross as a hungr}^ bear. Gim'me nuther glass cider. " ^ Jackson. {Crossly.) Get it yourself. Young. There, I told you you was drunk. Hard cider got away with you. Jackson. It's no such thing. It's your vile wine. Young. I say it's cider, but w^hat's the difference ? Jim, give us a song. Jackson. I can't sing. Will. Father, shall I show Mr. Young to bed ? Jackson. Go aw^ay with your nonsense. We'll take care of ourselves. {Rises to ivalk and trips on a chair. Almod falls over it.) Young. (LaugJis.) There I told you you w'ere drunk. Will. {Aside.) What a linmiliatinir spectacle. What will we do with them? • FreAl. Get tiiem to bed. Will. Ho\^' ? Fred. I'll lind a, w^ay. Young. 8ay Jackson, if you won't siugiliat soug.L will. (Sings.) "Should auld acquaintance l)e forgot and never brought to mind ?'' Of course not. Must not forget auld acquaintance. How are you, Jim, old boy? (Shakes hmds with Jackxnn). Jackson. John, you're a fool; lean beat that. Let me sing '* A southerly wind and a cloudy s^ky." {Tries to sing hut can't.) Young. Hold on here, I'm doing the melody. (Sings first line as before.^ and .v^<>2;,« to shake hands all round.) Will. Really, Fred, we must separate rlicui. Fred. I'll manage it. PI! take Mr. Vi>nii;i ujmo my rooju lo see my new fowling pieee, and ])ut liini to tted. 'i'ou get father into thfc kilelien to talk about horses. Mr. Young. 1 t'r.trgot to show yon my gun. She is a beauty. LetV g > and examine it. ^ HARD CIDER Young. Le's have more cider first. Fred^ No wait till you come back.^ Young. All right! I'll be back in a minute, boys. Will. Uncle, I always feel more at home by the kitchen fire. Suppose we have a good chat all to ourselves. Jackson. Very well, come right along. (Exeunt.) Scene II. — Next morning. Alipresent except Young who enters a$ tlie curtain rises. Young. Mrs. Jackson, I sincerely beg your pardon for the unseemly events of last evening. Can you forgive so grave a breach of decorum ? Mrs. J. I freely forgive it, but hope the lesson may not pass unheeded. Young. You are right. Intemperance is a dreadful evil, and even wine and cider are dangerous. Will. I am glad you are at last thoroughly convinced. And since you are, why not sign the pledge at once and lend your in- fluence to the cause of temperance. Young. I am quite willing to do so. Jackson. I can't see why the deuce taking a little wine and hard cider should have such an effect. I really believe I was slightly affected last night. Mrs. J. And if cider will lead you into such a dangerous po- sition, do you not fear for the safety of our boy— nay, of our girl ? Let there be no more temptation in their way lest they may not stop at hard cider, but go on to something stronger and more dangerous. Jackson. I don't mind signing if the oj^hers all do. Will. I always carry a pledge with me. We will all sign to- gether. {Produces pledge, and all sign. Cliaracters stand in a semi-cirde. Curtain.) THE ASSESSOR. A humorous sketch illustratiuo; the difficulties of au assessor in listiiii,' the property of a shrewd old farmer. Full of unexpected developments; 3 male aud 2 female. Time, 15 m. BORROWING TROUBLE. A ludicrous farce ; 3 male and 4 female. Time, 30 m. Illustrates the very amusing trials of a borrowing family. ." Borrowing Trouble lully sustained the fexcellent reputation gained by its author. It brought down the house."— Madii'o??. (iris.) Democrat. COUNTRY JUSTICE. Avery amusing country law suit; 8 male characters. (May admit 14). Time, 15 minutes. Contains a very remarkable verdict. LOUVA, THE PAUPER. A drama in five acts ; 9 male and 4 female characters. Time, 1 hour 45 m. Contains a good Yankee character and a humorous darky character. This is au intensely interesting and pathetic play. It admits of striking scenic ef- fects, aud is astrovg and popular play for amateurs. Act I., Louva's tyrants. Act II., freedom promised aud denied. Act III., the trial. Act IV. , flight. Act V., pursuit; death in the mountains; retribu- tion. " Send sample K-opy of a play that is as good as Louva the Tauper. That took splendidly here."— Cr. J. R'ailshnch, Minier, Jll., Dramatic Club. " Teleg Pucker, the Yankee peddler, is inimitable. ""-P/ac^ico/ Teacher, Chicago, III. THE PULL-BACK. A laughable farce; 6 female. Time, 20 m. Contains au excellent old- fashioned " old lady" character. Pictures her adventures among the devotees of fashion. HANS VON SUASII. A roaring farce in a prologue and one act; 3 male aud 4 female. Time, 30 m. Contains an excellent humorous Dutcii character. This is a very pop- ular farce. Country life. " Hans brought down the house."— i)cFc?i Vleck, Beep River, Iowa. ON THE BRINK, Or, The- Roclainted Husband. A temperance drama in two acts, by H. Elliott McBride; 12 male and 3 female. Time, 1 hour, 45 m. Seven ot the characters have unimportant parts, and some of the parts are so arranged that the same person may play tsvo parts. Contains three humorous Yankee characters. "We rendered On the Brink a number of times very successfully to crowded houses."— i>/'awaiic (Huh, Cordova, Minn. A PARLOR ENTERTAINMENT. A sketch, by II. Elliott McBride; 2 male and 5 female. Time, 25 m. A first rate piece for boys and girls in school exhibitions. Very amusing. OUR COUNTRY. A patriotic drama in three parts. Requires 9 male, 3 female. (Admits 9 male, 15 female.) Four fine tableaux. Time, about 1 hour. Based on Colon- ial audKevolutionary history of U. S. The narration is lively enough to make it take well. It contains some striking situati(ms. A BAD JOB. A highly ludicrous farce, by H. Elliott McBride ; 3 male, 2 female. Time, 30 m. WJnit Have tee to do with Plymouth, Roeh? A colloriuy adapted to the use of Illinois schools, and of general interest toNevvEualandimmigrants in the central Western States. By J. H. Blod- gett. May1i)e used by from ten to twenty pupils. Time, 40 m. Interesting and instructive iu the history of Illinois. ^JV^ ONLY DAUGHTER. A drama in three acts; 4 male, ^:i female. Time, 1 hour, 15 ra. Au Intense- ly interesting story of petted iuduleeuce. error, suffering, wrong, retaliation aud repentance. Humor to make~^it take. No dialect. A society play to suit the most fastidious. . ur ouiN^jMcao THE SCHOOL MA'AM. A brilliant comedy in lour act^; 6 male, 5 female. Time, 1 hour, 45 m. This play is not a mere tiH^ue of imagiualive incidentp. There is scarcely an incident in it but has had its counterpart in the workings of our public Kcbools. It contains a good comic Iriph character, an American *' Mrn. Gamp," a " pelf-made man" (poor job), and the typical American "School Ma'am,'' anxioun to succeed, but beset with difficulties. Every teacher, every director, every citizen, should read it as a hooh, whether you wish it as a play or not. THE IRISH LINEN PEDDLER. A lively farce; 3 male, 3 female. Time, 45 m. The action is lively, the incidents unexi)ected and ludicrous. Pat O'Doyle, the peddler, is a combina- tion of wit, drollery, cunning and impudence. THE KANSAS IMMIGRANTS; or, The Great Exodus. A roaring farce; 5 male, 1 ferrale. Time. 80 m. Contains two darky characters. Excrutiatingly comieal. Cannot fail to be a popular farce. IS THE EDITOR IN? A farce; 4 male and 2 female. Time, 20 m. Scene, a country newspaper office. Very amusing. A REGULAR FIX. A farce, by J. Madison Morton ; (i male, 4 female. Time, 35 m. Very popular. MY TURN NEXT, A capital farce, by T. J. Williams; 4 male, "female. Time. 45 m. Illus- trates the difficulties an apothecary encountered through marrying in haste. A KISS IN THE DARK. A farce, by J. B. Buckstone; 3 male, 2 female. Time, 40 m. A highly successful farce. THE PERSECUTED DUTCHMAN. A farce, by S. Barry; 6 male, 3 fe i:ale. Time, 40 m. Good. LIMERICK BOY {Paddy Miles.) A farce, by James Pilgrim ; 5 male, 2 female. Time, 40 m. farce. A tip-top I'M NOT 31 ESI LP AT ALL. A farce, by C. A. Maltby; 3 male, 2 female. Time, 25 m. Very funny. A BOUND VOLUME Of plays, containing the first ten plays in this catalogue, substantially ana handsomely bound in muslin, gilt stamp. Will be sent, postpaid, for $1.25. FRIDAY AFTERNOOy SERIES. A collection of original, lively dialogues suitable for boys and girls in school entertaiuments. Some of the dialogues contain both male and female characters; some are for boys alone; some for girls alone. All are short. Price, 25 cents. SCHOOL AND PARLOR TABLEAUX, By Sara L Stocking. A choice collection of original tableaux for school, church, and parlor entertainments. They embrace a wide range of subjects, from the classical to the comic. The historical tableaux admit the use of beautiful costumes, and cannot fail to please. Full instructions given as to costume. The comic tableaux are simple and easily prepared. Price, 25cts. SCRAP-BOOK RECITATION SERIES, NO. 1, By H. M. Soper, Professor of E'ocution. A choice collection of fresh read- ings, pathetic, dramatic and humorous. The editor has taken especial pains to make a collection chietly of choice rifW pUces, which cannot easily be f\ hile special care has been taken to find vew and rare pieces, nothing has been aclmitted which does not contain real merit. Price, 25 cents. T. S. DENISON^ Chicago. MSi Hi LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS Ml 015 863 520 3 ^