Not until after death will that oath be fulfilled. Not until the members of the Poets’ Union have borne the remains of their chief to Calvary with a following as numerous as that which accompanies the deceased aunt of a Broadway janitor to her last resting-place--not until then will the surviving members of the firm carry out the sacred trust imposed upon them.
They will collect the poems of the master poet and publish them in a mouse-colored volume--_edited by Arthur Stedman_.
(_From the Hypnotic Gazette, January 1, A. D. 2203._)
Workmen employed on the mesmeric dredge near what was in old times the bed of the Harlem River discovered yesterday a leaden box in which was the following manuscript, which gives us a vivid idea of the crude condition of the drama toward the close of the nineteenth century:
SCENE. _A garden with practicable gate R. U. E._
SPARKLE MCINTYRE (_entering through gate_). Well, this is a pretty state of affairs! Rosanna Harefoot lived only for me until that theatrical troupe came to town; but now she’s so stuck on singing and dancing and letting those actor men make love to her that I can’t get a moment with her. Hello! here comes the whole company. I guess they’re going to rehearse here. I’ll hide behind this tree and watch them do their acts.
FIRST PLAYER. Well, this is a hot day; but while we’re trying to keep cool Miss Kitty Socks will sing “Under the Daisies.”
FIRST PLAYER. Well, we’d better hurry away down the street, or else we’ll be late.
SPARKLE MCINTYRE (_emerging from behind tree_). That looks easy enough. I guess I’ll see what I can do myself.
FIRST PLAYER (_entering with company_). Now that rehearsal is over, we’ll have a little fun for a few moments.
SPARKLE (_aside_). Rosanna will be mine yet.
SCENE. _Parlor of_ SPARKLE MCINTYRE’S _house_; SPARKLE _discovered seated at table with brilliant dressing-gown on_.
SPARKLE. I invited all that theatrical company to spend the evening with me; but I’m afraid they won’t come. I just wanted to surprise them with that new song and dance of mine. Ah! here they come now.
FIRST PLAYER. We are a little late, Mr. McIntyre, but the fact is I had to go to the steamer to meet some friends of mine who were coming over to try their luck in glorious America; and as they’re all perfect ladies and gentlemen, I took the liberty of bringing them along. Allow me to introduce them to you: Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Sirocco and the Miss Siroccos from the Royal Alhambra in Rooshy.