New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12

having brought him ;here as a proof | was IL
norant Of having given him cause for com
plant. Much pleased with my new pan sus
ccstod when we had looked in at another place
where RaVenSWorth would not touch n drop
that we should go and see how little thlng Oh
mine was getting along at one Of the theatres
Ravcnsworth instantly agreed.
| had not entered the New Departure Tor
Fortnight, having been out Of town, and as
plotted Nat up The stairs. | noticed the decora-
tons were quito recent The house, too, was, II
appeared. crowded, and We experienced some
difficulty in getting box, circumstance | de-
tcrmined on mentioning to the manager; Du'
when we settled down to watch the perform
ancc, my temporary annoyance was swallowed
up i'm a sensation of blank, overwhelming hope
less astonishmcnt. Tor I saw that in my absence
the most astounding liberties had been taken
not only with tho costumes and business. but
also with the text Of "A Moral Dilemma the
very cast was unfamiliar to me. Worse still, a
few minutes observation sufiiced to show that
tho drama itself had deterioratcd wofully, ana
instead Of the noble play representing my latest
message to the world, ! witnessed what was
little better than screaming absurdlty.
Those cXaSpcratiIg alterations Obliged me u
explain matters to Nat every now and again
these explanations becoming more frequent on
each fresh development of buffOonery, | thought
| heard litter, and, looking up. | caught some
ladies i'm an opposite box training their IorS-
ncttcs upon me. | felt as if | had received a
cold douche. Il terrible conjecture shaping Itself
instantly in my mind. what if. after all
was not without the bounds Of possibility that
he had succcc led on the strength Of malicious
representations in getting the Moral Dilemma
thus numerically manglcd until its own author
almost failed to recognize it, What If this were
the reason he refused to eat or drink with me
but was quite ready 10 come here, where ne
knew he should enjoy the spectacle Of my
anguish and the qualification Of my master
piece
But even while the suspicion matured into GER
tainty, according to the nature OF suspicious
hit upon a fresh cXpcdient which would turn
the tables completely upon my Willy Zoe an0
rescue myself from the charges Of plagiarism
as well as from the disgrace Of fathering any
longer so glaring an imbecty. | glanced al
RaVcnsWorth. and thought ! could detect a
cynical smile lowering about the corners Of his
mouth. / controlled my impulse to knock aim
down. So ne VAS here gloatng over my dis
ccmiiture; very well. We should soon see HOY
the f"ors cap would tit his own head
The calm way the people i'm front took the
medley astonshed me. until / reflected that
probably half the house was paper and tn,
other half CONFUSED Of persons who came 81
enjoy this buresquc upon a serious drama. the
enjoyment being 20 DOUBT heightened ~ many
an i'll naturcd rumOr at my expense. Possibly
too some hint If my presence there had reached
the audience, and this would account for M
interest Of the box occupants over the way
All il was prettily planned
Ravcnsworth. who sat rather in the shadow
was apparently completely absorbed in the per-
formance: but still could detect the incpieni
grin on his ugly face. Little did he dream how
near he was to being hoist on his own pct1rd
Mastering my Indignation. / bdcd my time
until. propitious moment arriving, arose and
lounging to the box front. sud- My drew aside
the curtain, lifting my hand for silence, the
orchestra having at that especial instant most
uraccOuntably commenced playing.
Ladies' and gentlemen" | said, in a clear
ringing voice. ALLOW me to make a short state
mt mt. | am as you all are doubtless well aware
Mr.. Pt nnyfcather-Mr. Cuthbert Pennyfeather-
the reputed author of the piece now being per
formed before you and it may perhaps interest
you also to learn that the plot of A Moral Di-
lcmma is not altogether originate is. in point
Of fact. the property Of a friend of mine. who.
having abandoned literature had no further use
for II. though trust that, on viewing this large
cultured and influential audience assembled
here tonight, he will reconsider his decision
| refer to my esteemed friend Mr.. Nathaniel
RaVensWOrth, just returned from Australia the
diggns. you know"
\ roar Of applause greeted my perOration. the
house writing in a long parOXysm of laughter.
which. springing upward from the misty vast
ness of the pit scared alOft To the very roof and
was hurled down again stOrming across the
footlights to thc stage. where much to my
surprise curvinS line Of shimmering damses
was gracefully curVctting forward | was my
self family amuscd-flattered. if you will | re-
joiced in the quick intelligence of my country
men, for evidently the house had grasped the
situation. every neck was craned toward me
every available opera glass focused upon me.
and have no doubt but every pickpocket within
the building was blessing me ferVently. | could
however, see nothing very plainly beyond the
front row Of the stalls. where fat woman.
who had been deprived of a subordinate part in
my play, was laughing ndcccntly. a gentleman
beside her clappng his hands with wild aban-
don. recognized him too 1t was Larripur my
pet aversion.
Concentrating my gaze sternly on the man.
ana leaning forward 50 that might pitch my
voice distinctly. ! waited for the applause to
subside, wondering meanwhile where | had left
my pince-ncZ.
Il must. however" continued plead gno-
rance to the beWildcrng changes made i'm the
performance during my llscnCc-changes | can
not describe as improvements though YOU seem
l, ma them all right; for personally | am at
The present moment as totally unable to com
Irchcnd this extraordinary jumblc-Chinese
puzzle, | might SaV-AyEtch ha b,..