Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20
WHO WAS THE CAPTAIN?
A VE-MINUTE PLAY FOR SIX BOYS.

A FIVE-MINUTE PLAY FOR SIX BOYS.
Characters: Jack, a big boy. rather
bully; Tom. Dick. Harry, little boys very
loyal to Arthur; Larry. good-natured
peacemaker; Arthur. a quiet. new boy.
SETTING.
AS the curtain rises a playground Is
seen, with a pile of stones. Five boys
are sitting or standing about.
Jack-It may seem a little thing to
you, but 1 say if am going to be leader
you must do what I say whether you like
it or not. That's what being leader
means.
Larry-Oh. come now. Jack. a leader
ought to be something better than slave
driver. l do think you have given the lit
tie fellows too much to do. It's a. long
way to carry those stones from here to
where the fort is to be.
Tom, Dick, Harry-He always gives US
he hard things to do.
Jack-Now, you see, that comes of
your interference, Larry.
Tom. Dick Harry-He makes us work
like fury, and when he Is leader he never
works at all.
Jack-It would be a pretty sight for
the leader to work like his soldiers.
Larry Qaughing)-It would be a fine
sight. l tell you, fellows, if the men who
led the people to wage war had to lead the
soldiers to fight it my mother says there
would be few wars. (Small boys clap
hands delightfully."-
Jack-Well. are you going to do Just
what / say, or are you not?
Harry (excitedly)-1 am not.
Tom and Dick (strutting with hands in
pockets)-Nor we.
Larry-I say. let's submit the question to
arbitration. Wen leave it to Arthur to set
tie. think 1 hear his whistle In the dis
lance. "a whistle from behind screen door,
JaeknWhat! Leave it TO- that silly to de-
eide? What does he know?
Harry gaining cOuraRe)-He knows
enough to make you stand around. Jack
You tried to bully him the other day. and
he Just stared at you until you couldn't do
anything but walk away. Universal
laugh.)
Arthur Coming quietly on the stagee
Hello. fellows! What's up? Something be-
sides the fort. bet You don't seem to have
gone far with that.
Larry-No, we haven't. You see. we've
run against rock. 80 to speak. We're not
certain how to act. VIII you be umpire?
Arthur|'m afraid Jack don't want me.
Jack-You're right there. I don't want
any new-boy to mix up in the affairs Of the
old fellows.
Tom. Dick. Harry-But we want you to
decide. Arthur. You're jolly good to us.
Larry-Majonty rules. Now the trouble
is just here. Arthur. Jack was going to be
master builder, and sort Of leader. you
know. The little fellows think he had pro-
porttoned too heavy a load of stones for
them to carry. He says he must be obeyed
at all odds Now what do you think Of
that?
Arthur think If you have chosen him
leader you ought to obey him.
Jack--There! He knows more than 1
thought he did.
Arthuf-But' Of course, a good ID. leader de-
After all. II Is easy to decide.
Larry-Go on, Arthur; tell us how.
Arthur-Why, Jack is a good deal bigger
than Tom. Dick and Harry. Let him pick
out the portion Of the stones he means to
carlyle. Larry and l. If you will let me
help-and the little fellows will be half
our load.
Toni say; Arthur. you're all right.
Dick and Harry-Arthurs all right.
Jack-A nice Thing for me to do Do
too?
Arthur-But wait a minute: there is an
other way. Pick out the portion you think
the little fellows ought to carry, and you
and we will take just double.
Dick-Now it's up to you. captain.
Larry-Well. Jack. which shall 1t be?
Jack-Neither. No new boy Is going to
rule me. Either you all do as l say or
you can have him for your leader
Tom. Dick. Harry-We'n have him! Hur-
rah! Hurrahi
Arthur-Don't desert your captain, boys.
He'll be fair
Jack (angrily)-No. I won't!
Larry-Very well, then. II you own up
that you won't be fair we don't want you
for captain.
Tom. Dick, Harry-No! And we won't
have you. So there
Larry-Lets get to work You must be
captain. Arthur
Arthur-No. thank you. but I'll help
Dick-And Jack can sit on the ground
and sulk. That's what he calls being
leader.
Arthur-shall we do as proposed about
the stones?
Larry-Yes. old fellow
Arthur Blending and putting aside little
pile of stones)-Thats about the size for
you little fellows. Now us big chaps will
carry double.
Jack-Speak for yourself (All bend to
take their burdens except Jack, who looks
gloomily down: then all run merrily off,
leaving Jack alone)
Jack (after pause)-WeII that's n new
KIND OF leader! 1 never saw anything like
1t. The fellows are crazy to follow him
l reckon 1t Is because he does lead. He
has taught me Iesson. I'm not going to
lose all the fun. I'm e.sng to be a leader
too-but-Ive got nobody but myself to
lead Kind of a small army Never mind
Up. right about, face. forward, march.
tPlcks up his share of stonesD It's no
fun being an army all alone shouting:
IN coming, fellows.
distant voices)-Three cheers for Jack.
He's coming to play!
(Curtain)