The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-03
The Prom. "A Masque.
PROLOGUE.

Even Nature herself fell into line and
finished the thing up with additional
electric lights and spirited cannonading.
A few hours Of Inconsistencies and the
relentless sun Of January 25th glares
down on the pale cheeks Of the men of
1900, and brings them face to face with
stern reality. THE curtains of yester-
day have dropped down-the curtains of
tomorrow are rolled up" and Shylock
is on hand bright and early. The pound
of flesh is demanded!
SCENE 1.-THE PROM.
Mr.. Benjamin Naramore Apollo (most
beautiful of all the gods of 19oO) Miss
Terpsichore with a wealth of golden
hair and eyes like Yale violets looking
into his.)
She-What does the word Prom. stand
for, Mr.. Apollo?
He-(Slightly bewildered by the vlo-
let's and looking unutterable things at
herr Why, really, Miss Terpsichore,
it means-that is-it stands for-why-
let me see-promise You promised me
this dance, you know; come!
Still Small Voice. promise to pay on
demand!
She-Why! Mr.. Apollo, are you cold?
He--O, no! Its nothing-only a 81 ght
ague that's very prevalent in our class
ing! (Waltzing) How divine this is!
ing! (Waltzing) How divine this is!
Is it two step or waltz?
| SCENE 2-FARMER NARAMORE'S
KITCHEN.
Father Naramore-Well, Mother Mar
amore, there's the paper that tells all
about the great ball down at Yale, and
you needn't think you are going to have
a new dress and go to Commencement
next year on that milk money you've
been saving up, for it will take the
whole of that, and more, too, to pay for
all this tom-foolery that they call Prom.
What does that word Prom. stand for
any way? 1t must be a kind of short
cut for promissory note. That's what it
will mean in the end, / know.
Mother No, l guess it won't be
quite as bad as that, Father, and-never
mind about the dress
Father N.-You are trying to act up
~ soul ioiliC SiolilSt gnu lpofN VII liiC
bright SIDE as you always do, but wait
till you read the whole account, and I
guess you'll change your mind bit.
Well have to shave pretty close I reck-
on before Ben. gets through, and all for
what, l should like to know.
Mother N.-You don't consider how
much experience he's getting-how
much he is seeing of the world. and
rntl, IL -
the worst of it. / didn't approve of his
joining that singing school down there;
spending his time a-racing all over the
country singing and whistling, and fool
ing, when he ought to have been learn
ing his books, and tell you what, Char
ity Naramore, singing and whisting is
pretty thirsty sort of sport. too, when
boys go off together.
Mother N.-You forget that there are
plenty of nice girls at all of these en-
tertainments-the very best girls in the |,
country, you know, and certainly such |
nice company ought to be improving to |
young man.
Father NJ don't know what you call !
nice. 1t seems to me the manners and |
customs down there amt so very nice '
after all. You see. Charity, the great
Ball, Prom, or whatever they call it,
wasn't enough; so they had to have two
or three others, smaller ones, the day
before-for the Germans, they say. I
don't see what that was for, unless it
was to keep foreigners away from the
real ball. 1t seems kind of strange
though, that they should set upon the
Germans in particular / should think
the Irish would be just as Objectionable
Well, to kind of concilate the Germans,
I suppose, they gave 'em presents, and
shall pretty soon find out that they cost
money too They call 'em favors, in the
papers, but l don't think they were very
nice sort of things to be handed around
to ladies and gentlemen at a party. I
should call 'em anything but favors,
and / should think them German girls
would be mad. What should you think,
Of our Ben's giving a girl box
Of face-powder to tone herself up or
down with? Shouldn't you think that
would be kind Of insulting like? Or,
would it be just the thing for a fellow
TO bow and scrape and offer a girl set ,
IF tools to keep her finger in Or !
Ter? And what should you say if any
)ne at q party should present our Ben. :
With a shaving brush, even if it did have
4 silver handle? 1t would be about as i.
'idiculous as giving one to you, Charity!
wonder If all these tools and utensils ,
we're set in operation then and there, ;
ike the machinery at the Worlds Fair! 4
Perhaps the president of the college :
PRESSED button and set 'em all agoing, r
is Grover Cleveland did at that time ;
Mother N.-Father, Father, there {
must be some mistake. l - r
Father N.-It's all there! You can ;,
cad for yourself; and Ned Jones, down .
t the store, said that at the next Prom.
'all for the Germans his cousins class
S going to have silver toothpicks for
he men, and for the girls pearl tooth
brushes and electric needles with silver r
handles for removing superfuous hairs!
hats when the beard gets on to the
wrong face, Charity; on to the girl in
tead of the boy! It's no laughing mat n
er either, for it's all got to be paid for {
Ben. is going to get his certificate, no
natter if it does, take all the tobacco
rop, and we have to mortgage the farm C
nto the bargain. a
Finale.-Naramore Kitchen, June %,
800.
Father NJ know it's Comm en- cement
lay, Charity, and I'm awful sorry YOU
an / 90 down and see Rap taLe biS aar |