The San Francisco call., 1896-03-28
Schoolboys Will Produce the
Work at Armory Hall for
Charity.
FARMER PUMPKINHEAD's WOES
The Ingenious Way That Mortgage
Was Paid Is the Soul of
the Plot.


stage at Armory Hail. Alameda, for the
benefit af several poor families in the city
beyond the bay. The boy has produced
little plays before, and he and three of his
schoolmates have had dramatic associa-
tion of their own for two or three years,
but to-day's performance is by far their
most mbitious undertaking.
The boys associated in the work with
the young author are Herbert Clark, a
14-year-old boy of 1908 Morton street;
Clarence Henry Oliver of S12 West street,
Oakland, who IS Is years of age, and
George Macauley, aged IA, of 1421 Santa
Clara avenue, Alameda.
The play that these boys are to present
this afternoon is comedy entitled:
Fifteen Thousand Dollars, or a Lottery
Ticket" Young Ramsdell has, in this
production, told an entertaining story of
the trials and tripulations of good old
Farmer Pumpk!nhead and his wife with
their ultimate triumph over misfortune,
and their unique reception, at last in the
home of the Vanderbilts.
For a boy of just Is years, the comedy is
regarded as highly meritorious, and the
rehearsals during the week have shown
that the four young actors can present it
TO the public in truly attractive manner.
There is first the home scene OF the
Pumpkinheads with Mr.. Pumpkinhead so
abstracted on account of threatened fore
closure that he asks such questions as why
lis wife is making bread.
Hardhearted Deacon Brown declines to
lend money, and while the farmer is away
trying to argue the case with him lot
along to the mortgaged homestead and
imposes on honest Mrs. Pumpkinhead by
taking her last two bits.
The farmer, returning IN despair, de-
tects the two chairs close together and
knows that his wife has been gossiping
with somebody. He begins an investiga-
ton, but Mrs. Pumpkinhead retains her
presence OF mind and convinces him that
she has used the two chairs TO hold the
bread-pan, though she skilfully avoids
telling an untruth. Finally, in fit of
pathetic desperation and possibly antici-
pating request for the two bits, she con-
fesses that she has bought the lottery
ticket.
CONSERVATION sweeps over the weath
beaten face of Mr.. Pumpkinhead, but the
shrewd farmer finally comes out a winner
of SIS, coo by mesmerizing the lottery man
and rich bit of humor is produced by the
youthful playwright in making his agri-
cultural hero ask of Mrs. Pumpkinhead:
"Can you keep a secret?"
With the $1,000 in his shoe Mr.. Pump
kinhead takes his wife to New York. He
is encountered by a bunco-steerer who
tries to get at the $4,000 by appealing to
the old gentleman's fondness for Irritation.
Pumpkinhead is saved from the bunco-
steerer by policeman ana from the
policeman by Mrs. Pun pkinhead.
The last scene is in the mansion OF the
Vanderbilts once an asylum for the in
sane. Young Sam Vanderbilt does some
practical joking and is sent to bed by his
father and then a cordial welcome from
the head of the house is extended to the
.PumpkInheads.
In the performance to-day Lelan d
RamsdelI will take the part OF Mr.. Pump
ki1head. Mrs. Pun pkinhead will be rep
resented by Herbert Clark. Mr.. Vanderbilt
and the bunco .steerer.by Clarence Oliver,
and Dick Smart and Sam Vanderbilt by
George Macauley. Following is the full
text of the comedy:
SYNOPSIS.
Scene "a street in New York Farmer Pump
kinhead in trouble.
Scene 3-Mr. Vanderbilt's residence
SCENE I.
Mrs. Pumpkinhead making bread.
Enter Mr.. Pumpkinhead - What are you
doing?
Mrs. P-Makfng bread.
Mr. P.-What are you making bread for7
Mrs. P.-If you want anything to eat must
make bread.
Mr.. P.-The mortgage is due to-day and we
haven't got cent to pay it with. What shall
we do?
Mrs. P.-Why don't you try ana find some
one who will lend you the money? Here's
Deacon Brown. He's got plenty OF money; why
don't you ask him?
Mr. Pho. Deacon Brown is too stingy; ne
wouldn't lend you cent.
Mrs. P.-Well, that's the last thing left to do,
and If you don't ask him will.
(Rising and going toward the door,
Mr. Pho, don't you go. will, and II he
doesn't let US have the money we must give up
the farm.
Leaves the room.)
Mrs. Pumpkinhead returns her attention to
the bread. A knock at the door.
Enter Dick Smart-Well, madam, came to
see If you would like gas put in the house.
Mrs. Pho, thank you; candles are good
enough for us.
Dick Smart-Is your husband at home?
Mrs. P.-No; he's gone to Deacon Browns to
ask him to lend him some money, for the mort
gage is due to-day and we haven't one cent to
pay it with.
d. s.-I will tell you how to make some
money You buy lottery ticket from me and
Won will have chance 10 win SIS, 900.
Mrs. P.-I never heard of any such thing
What do they cost?
D. s-some cost ST. and others cost 25 cents |
Mrs. P.-Well, have but 25 cents in the
whole world and I guess l will buy one this |
time if YOU will give me my money back II l |
don't win $4,000.
D. Sd can't do that, but am quite sure you |
will win something.
Mrs. P.-Well, will take it this time.
Just then Mr.. p is heard coming, and Mrs.
P. puts the lottery-dealer out
ENTER Mr. P, and, seeing two chairs near
each other, says:)
.'Mrs. Pumpkinhead, what are these two
Shairs doing so near together?"