The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-05-22

Is lalu Ia JuPhu uHu al tuo Wcaith VI WV
picturesque effects attainahle which oil can
imagine to be great, are lavished upon the
stage settings and the costumes. The stage
is bright with color and sunshine, and the
costumes elegant and charming throughout,
from the gorgeous Mikado. with his great
feather and his sombre komoAa, with its
gold birds, dragons, &c., to the Japanese
hobs. standing. as in "native drawings" and
singing:
We are gentlemen of Japan;
On many u vase and jar,
On many a screen and fan.
We figure in lively paint;
Our attitudes queer and quaint
You're wrong if you think it amt.
The story opens in the court yard Of Ko-
Kos palace, giving feeling Of tropical heat
and vertical sunlight. Nanki-Poo enters.
Some years ago he had captivated Katsha,
an elderly lady of his fathers court. Ac-
cording to the laws Of the country, his
father ordered him to marry the lady within
a week or perish on the scatfold. He fled
the court, assumed the disguise of second
trombone saw and loved YUM Yum, who re-
turned his affection. Unfortunately for him
Yum-Yum was betrothed to her guardian,
Ko-Ko, cheap tailor. The dispairing
Nanki.Poo, seeing that his suit was hopeless,
fed the town. Judge of my delight he
says to the questioning nobs, "when
heard that Ko-Ko had been condemned to
death for flirting" and hurried back TO
Titipu to lay his heart at the lady's feet.
But Ko-Ko was reprieved at the last mo-
ment, and raised to the rank Of lord high
execu,ioner, under these remarkable circum-
stances: The Mikado, wishing to steady the
young men in his kingdom, decreed that a.
who hirted, leered or winked should be be
headed. This decree, very naturally,
Caused great dismay throughout the land;
Fer young and old
And shy and bold
We're equally affected.
AS the logical Mikado had rolled the two
offices of governor and headsman into one,
Ko-Ko, the ex cheap tailor, was now great
magnate, governor of Titipu and lord high
executionor. The lord high executioner is
assisted in his Office by Pooh Bah, tremen.
dous swell, who describes himself as ga par
ticularly naughty and exclusive person.
who traces his ancestry back to "proto-
plasmsl primordial atomic globule." Nanki-
Poo's hopes are shattered when he hears of
Ko-Ko's release and his intention to marry
his ward. Yum-Yum, with Pitti.Sing and
Peep-Bo, now arrive from school, and the
lovers indulge in some delightful love pas
sages. Eut even the powerful Ko.Kos love
does not run smooth, for as he is preparing
for his nuptials letter arrives from the
Mikado, who is struck by the fact that no
executions have taken place in Titipu for
year, and DEGREES that unless somebody is
beheaded within one month, the post ofhigh
executioner shall be abolished, and the city
reduced to the rank of village. AS Pooh
Bah remarks, this is uncomfortable news.
So the two argue it out to its logical conclu.
sion. Ko-Ko himself is the obvious victim,
but he can't execute himself because self
decapitation is difficult, and, moreover, sui.
eide is a capital offense, and KsKo is left to
soliloqule. In the nick of time Nanki. Poo
turns up with rope and prepares to com
nit suicide. ko-Ko sees his chance. Here
is the victim that will save him. He puts
the case to Nanki-Poo: "Observe: You'll
have month to live, and you'll live like
fighting cock at my expense. When the day
comes there'll be grand public ceremonial
you'll be the central fgure-no one will
attempt to deprive you of that distinction.
There II be bands-dead march
bells tolling-all the girls in tears-Yum-
Yum distracted-then, when it's all over,
general rejoicings, and display of fire
works in the evening. You won't see them,
but they'll be there all the same" And
Nanki- Poo consents on the condition that he
be allowed to marry Yum-Yum for the
month, and koKo consents In the midst
of the revels consequent on this amicable ar
rangemcnt, Katisha, the elderly lady, ap.
pears, recognizes Nanki-Pso, and tries in
vain T. ~"veal his identity to the assembly,
who bid her Co. Katisha is no Venus, and
even gees go far as to admit that she is can
acquired TASTE The second act takes place
in Ko-ko's garden. Alas! even the brei
month of happiness is denied to these i'll
used lovers, for Ko-Ko had discovered that
by the Mikados law when a married man is
beheaded his wife is buried alive. Tableau.
Despair, heightened by the news of the
Mikados arrival at Tittipu. A victim must
be found at once. Ko-Ko is struck by
happy thought. Why won't an affidavit that