Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08
THE DOLLS REVOLT.
A PLAY IN TWO ACTS.

Or. John.
ACTI
Scene: The nursery: in the distance the children's
the dolls house. from behind which emerge three
little girls dressed dolls-one a French. bsque
rag doll is noticeaby larger than the others
They walk stif3y to the front of the stage and
sing In very 5erky manner:
Three miserable dolls are we
Held captive In this place.
No hope Of rescue. though our chains
De. Each wears with smiling face,
And all the worlds asleep,
We sometimes leave dungeon dread,
And In the darkness creep. Sh!
CThey look fearfully toward the crbs)
Belinda: My dear sisters, we are meeting,
as you know, to discuss our grievances,
but we must be very quiet because our
watchful mothers sleep in the cribs be-
yond, and DR.. John is in the little hall
room close by.
Dorinda with shudder) DIR. John! how
my nose the other night that he raised a
blister. It's there still. (She rubs the at
flicted nose.)
Lucinda: He pulled my joints dreadfully
SO that I've had growing pains ever since.
Dorinda: That proves that we could
grow If we were not cramped up in that
dreadful place. pointing to the dolls
house,
Belinda Once we declare our independ-
Dorinda and Lucinda: But how? You
know, Belinda, that when it is time for our
mothers to make up. we will have to
scamper back to prison, and Shrivel up to
the size of those foolish toys. It's perfect
ly awful.
Belinda: 1t certainly is. I suppose 1
ought to be thankful that I'm too big to
live in that stufry place, but my lot Is a
very hard one. I've had dreadful expert
ences, and l wouldn't tell everybody, but
you will not betray me?
Dorinda and Lucinda: Oh no. neyerI
Belnda-Well Ohey draw close together),
I'm an heirloom.
Dorinda: What's that?
Belinda: Something very. very, very old,
that's been in the family for years. I was
once tiny little DOLL can remember 1t
quite well. But every time new baby
girl came in the family 1 was covered over
to look like new, and I've had to go over
the same miserable life with every genera
ton.
Lucinda: But you grew-you're ever so
much bigger than we are.
Belinda: Yes, I grew; but I've never
grown up like all my mothers. I've had
about twenty, you know. Now, with you
two, It's different: you don't have to live
as long as do: some day your heads will
be smashed and you'll be thrown out with
the trash.
Dorinda and Lucinda: Oh! oh. oh! (they
shudder and hide their faces in their
hands,
Belinda (grimly): It's fact I've seen
dozens of just such frail creatures swept
away.
LUCINDA: IL we could only grow up to be
ladies and wear the pretty clothes I've
seen In Paris.
Belinda Shaking her head: That's the
trouble French and wax dolls never live
long enough to grow up; for myself, l
don't care for clothes.
Dorinda (aside): should say not.
Belinda: Now I have plan. You know
the fairies allow us to talk and act and
goes off, and before our mothers are well
awake we must turn back into stupid
dolls: but one fairy told me In secret that
II we said in chorus:
wily-nly-no.
Back will not CO.
and kept on saying it till the alarm stop
ped ringing, we could meet our mothers
face to face, and insist upon better treat
ment. Shall we try it? 1t wants but two
minutes to the fatal hour. Unless we say
the words together on the first stroke,
they won't work. There! heard the clock
whirring. Now then-all:
Willy-nlly-no.
Back we will not CO.
(Repeat until alarm clock runs DOWN.
Belinda docking toward the cribs where
the sleepers are stirring: Softly now, let
us hide until our mothers dressed.
(They vanish behind the dolls house.)
Curtain.
ACT II.
Scene: Same in broad daylight. Lucy,
Hilda and Evelyn. busy busting the nur-
sery.
Hiida: We'd better hurry to attend the
children before breakfast.
Lucy: Dear me! I nearly forgot them.
You know Lucinda had a dreadful attack
Of rheumatism the other day; John has told
me to run butter into her joints.
Evelyn (scornfully): I don't think John
knows about doctoring-my Belinda don't
need any. thank heavens!
Hilda: I'm afraid he's ruined Dorinda' 8
nose.
Evelyn Qaughing): Aren't we silly? As
| If dolls had any feelings! I'm going to wake
them up right away. (She runs behind the
dolls house,. OH OH Oh!
Lucy and Hilda: Dear! Dear! What can