Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15

Mrs. Bumper thoughtfully)-'T confess
ihomas, that what you say does give me
to Meta. think can make her duty plain
to her. will go and write the letter and
James shall take 1T with the picture to her.
at once"
Gxeunt.)
SCENE Nv.
Henrietta Rays studio, arranged for
expected company. LittleN tables hold tea
cups, &C In the foreground is an easel,
on which rests THE Mirror of Venus"
Miss Ray. in picturesque tea gown, stands
expectant. Knock at door. Servant an
nounces Mr.. Longworthy, who enters)
Miss Ray advancing, laughirg)-"Oh. Mr.
Longworthy so glad you came iirst. Now
we can have our little shrieks over my
Christmas present before the others ar
rive. Here is The Mirror of Venus? Ad-
vance and behold"
Mr.. Longworthy (slowly)-"well, 1 am
glad you can laugh about it, 1t makes
me feel more like weeping! We talk of
our age and the art idea, &C., and yet
look at this thing! Sent to you, an artist,
our cityv'
Miss Ray-"Yes and it is to meet this
representative old idiot that 1 have in
vited you. The note she sent me with the
picture Is perfectly killing. She evidently
thought 1t succinct screed on the art
question. The conceited old past parti-
cipie OF priggishness! She sent me this
picture, mind you, and urged me to study
from 1t instead OF from a model. and beg
ged me never to divuL;e that the picture
came from her! ] asked her here tonight
Just to give her the rapping over the
knuckles that she deserves. You must write
the Bumpers up! 1t is people like them
Bumper Company, Limited-that harden
and kill us with their false ideas of moral
ity and their Midas touch"
knock at door. Enter Mr.. and Mrs.
Bumper)
Miss Ray (advancing)-"Oh, here you are,
dear Mrs. Bumper! So good of you to
leave your beautiful house this cold night
to come to my poor little den! Here is
Mr.. Longworthy, the distinguished critic,
admiring your beautiful present to me-"
Qntroductions are exchanged. Miss Ray
rattles along about the picture to Mr..
Longworthy)
Thomas, i consider this an outrage!
You must explain our position to that man!
The whole thing will he out in the papers.
and I'll never hold up my head againi
This is what comes of being broad minded
and taking your advice!''
KNOCK. Enter Mr.. and Mrs. Jejune)
Miss Ray-"Now, dear Mrs. Bumper, here
are two most artistic friends of mine-Mr.
and Mrs. Jejune. / wanted them to enjoy
sight of this beautiful picture"
Mrs. Bumper tbristling with rage, but,
noting Mrs. Jejune's sudden pallor, goes
forward and speaks to her)-"Are you i'll?
Take my fan, and sit here. / want to
speak with you. mistake has occurred
most calling mistake"
about that picture?"
Mrs. Bumper-'Yes. I sent Miss Ray
that picture as moral protest. 1 only
wish now that had told her frankly that
IL had been given ME by my family physi-
cian-Dr. Pulp!"
Mrs. Jejune (gasping)-"Dr. Pulpw
(Knock. Enter DR.. Pulp)
DR.. Pulp-"Now. my dear Angelica Kauff-
mann-for that is my name for you!-how
are you? And where is that remarkable
picture which you wrote me such an anus
ing note about? All, why. there are the
Jejunes! and, 'pon my SOUL the Bumpers!
This is an unexpected pleasure; meeting
you all under such agreeable auspicesw
Mrs. Bumper and Mrs. Jejune aside and
together)-'Agr
Miss Ray approaching picture and turn
ing 1T in full view)-"Now my little coterie
is all assembled, except for one charming
woman. whom, l imagine, none of you
know. She has the delightful combination
of being both artistic and philanthropic.
Her name is Miss Calabash-Margaret Cal
abash"
Mrs. Jejune Clutches Mr.. Jejuns by the
arm and whispers excitedly)-"Jack, take
me home! This is too much, Say Pm dy-
ing, dead-anything! Only take mo away
Look at DR.. Pulp! He has just recognized
the picture. o, this is too awful: take rue
away"
Q-nock at door. Enter Miss Calabash).
Miss Calabash-"A thousand pardons for
being late, but" (sees picture). Where
did you get that picture?"
Miss Ray-"Dear Mrs. Bumper here, sent
1T to me as a Christmas gift"
Mrs. Bumper (boldly and defiantly)--"It
was presented to me by DR.. Pulp, and, as
/ considered 1t to be "a"
DIR. Pulp-'Take care, Mrs. Bumper: I
am bound to tell you that il was given me
by Mr.: and Mrs. Jejune. My excuse for
giving it away was"
Mrs. Jejune-"Stop, DIR. Pulp: I cannot
let you go on 1t was painted by a protege
OF Miss Calabash, ard given to me by her.
Indeed Margaret, / never thought-O, dear!
L beg your pardon on my knees"
Dr.. Pulp-"And l beg yours, Mrs. Je-
June"
Mrs. Bumper-"And o, doctor-I'm sure
1 beg yours. It's a dreadful thing to give
a present away, and have 1t found out"
All together-''Dreadfulr'
Miss Calabash frowning, and then break
ing into laugh)-'I might as well confess
sthe truth, Meta, and make all your friends
feel more comfortable. The fact is-rp
ashamed to say so. but it's true-the fac,
Is this picture was a Christmas present to
me! You see it was so large-and-and-
General laughter and relieO.
Miss Ray-"Its too bad Mr. Longworthy
that you should be left out in the cold
and in order that you may share in the
privileges of the occasion--allow me TO
present you with this picture The Mir
ror OF Venus is yours, with the compli-
ments Of the season."
(Curtain.)