The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
SLAVES OF THE LAMP.

Copyright. 1897. bv Rudvard xtpring

~ - hAhh "
Copyright. 1897. bv Rudvard Kfpiing.
The music room on the top floor Of Number
Five was filled with the Aladdin" company
at rehearsal. Dickson Quarters, commonly
known rs Dick Four. was Aladdin. stage man.
ager. ballet master, half tho orchestra. and
largely librettist. for the book" had been re-
written. and filled with local illusions. The
pantomime was to be given next week in the
downstairs study occupied by Aladdin. Adam
azar. and the Emperor OF China The Slave of
the Lamp. with the Princess Badroulbadour
ard the Widow 1'wankay, owned the little study
across The Same landing. SO that the company
could be easily assembled. The floor shook TO
the stamp and go Of the balle.. while Aiad.
din. In pink cotton tights. a blue tinsel jacket.
and q plumed hat. banged alternately on the
niano and his banjo. He was the IN oving spirit
of the game. as beGtted a senior who had passed
his army preliminary. and boped to enter Sand
hurst next spring.
Aladdin came to his own at last. Abanazar
lay poisoned on the floor. and the Widow Twon-
kay danced her dance. and the company decided
1t would come all right on the night.
What about the last song. thought" said
the Emperor. a tallish. fair-headed boy with
the ghost of a mustache. at which he pulled
manfullv. I'VE need a rousing old tune"
job" PeelT Drink. Puppy. DRINK" suG.
Gested Abanazar. smoothing his baegy lilac
pajamas. Abanazar never looked more than
half awake. but he owned n soft. slow smile
which suited the part Of the Wicked Uncle.
STALE" said Aladdin. Might as well have
Grandfather Clock VIII ats that thing you
were humming at 'prer.' last night. Stalky:"
The Slave OF the Lamp. In black tights and
doublet, a black silk half mask on his fore
head. whistled lazily where he lay on The top
~ tho riopn II IN aa n rafrhy pnuaic hall tppa
Dick Four cooked his head critically. and
sauinted down a large red nose.
Once more. and ! ran pick IL up." he said.
strummIng. Sing tho words"
Arrah; Patsy; mind the baby Arrnh. Patsy. mind
wrap him in an orerco., he. surely ao,np wild,
Arrah; Iat.y. mind the baby! just you mind the
He'll kick and bite and cry all night. Arrah. Patsy.
mind the child.
"RIppin'! oh. ripo.n'." said Dick Four:
only we shan't have anv piano on the night.
We must work 1t with the banjoes. Play an
dance at the same time. You try. Tertius."
The Emperor pushed aside his pea-green
robes of state and followed Dick Four on a
heavy niskeliplstSd banjo;
oh. that's Beetles biznai.,' said Dick Four.
ing all night You've got to get PUSSY out of
the light IT'S somehow and bring us all in danc'n'
All right. You two play it again" said
nut sausage curls: set slantwise above a pair
presented tine Widow Twanksy. He waved
one leg in time TO the hammered refrain; and
lin! All! ErN'Aiaddin now has got his
briaes you ne Fang g.s ana Dick snn Foar repeated e. To =,
flung oat hia .hsst As he Delivered his line.
ter rS Come JUMP I" ii S":: P Tss, w sss Vi, I Ia ts,p hands aS s Sna
come forward. Wa hnnR ynl'Nn ALL hAan
pleased Tsssiooes.rovsi"' WI" 10
,h "!H SGusu. 'Ts d1 ,Ss ,. GoG% enough. What's
"oh Er!
John sror. will ring the curtain down.
And ring the prompter'a bell:
VI I,a hop 2. you " I t-ow ro Sers5s you 90
"Rippin'' Rippin'! Now for the Willows
scene with the Princess. Hurry up. McTurk."
"A dark. sallow. Iaw-boned Irish boy II a
s s'o II s,ik forward sxia1 ana a, one so shoronsb Hsus s ahnSSsa
OF himself. The Slave OF the Lamp climbed
f fGNa t from .. BE p anl rurp ena { 3 r. .s's' ,s,s
Is serious, Bnt there fell on the door the
knock 81 authority; 1t happened to be King. the
and mortar board enjoying n Saturday even
irg prowl before dinner.
with hG q seo% %p0F' "w !i"stsa the SoG %sani ne s on iSis:
AM An. % sl,.s,a may I ak is the intention of this
"Paptomime. sir: The. Head gave us leave
concerned. DICK -Four stood nrnt In the con-
strove to erace himself behind the piano. 4
fray princess skirt borrowed from a day board
er's mother, n spotted cotton bodice bought in
Bideford and nnsystematically padded with
writing paper; make a boy ridiculous. And
AS usual!' sneered King: futile foolery
Just when your careers. such as they may be:
are, hanging IN the balance, / sre!, All. I
s sse d,so Tas ol 9or sSnS q fEsiT sIMHs 1sli tss f %s%s
smiled OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES lrishman
RrnwIAn-fEn nd M rnnFQa tina unavoidable
Beetle. our friend Gigadibs." Abanazar. the
Emperor. and Aladdin had more or less of
forth my inky bufoon: from behind yonder in
trument of music! You supply. presume.
tho dogeerel for this entertainment. Esteem
yourself to be; as II were. a poe;
noting the nush on Kings sheek bone.
II have Just had the pleasure of reading an
enus,on Of yours. to my address,. / believe. an
enusion Intended to rhyme. SO, SO you do
not intended for my ediication. I read II WITH
laughter. yes, with laughter. These paper pol
lets OF inky boys-etnl = boy we are. Master
-"WoEder which it was" Thought beetle.
He had launched many lampoons on an ap-
preciative public ever since he discovered that
II was possible 10 convey reproof IN rhyme
ceeded TO tear Beetle, whom he called GiRa.
dibs. slowly asunder. From his united. shoe
strings to- his mended spectaclos (the life OF a
poet,at a big school IL hard) no held him up 10
result His Wild flowers OF speecb-KinR had
an unpleasant. to~nRue-restorod him TO good
humor at the last. He drew q lnrid picture
of Beetles. latter end as n snuIriloLs PAM
phlis,sS. dying IL an attic cn sessssssd . few com