Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-06-26

I closet" Rub-a-dub-dub! Keep ordel
o and you viii see"
Some trumpery miracle mysteryl'
called out a ioering voice.
e Or the martyrd0m Of some saint"
cried another
+. i don't know anything about any
saint, answered the man. unless. -
rub-a-dub-dub.--you mean my lord
LADY,"
And truly the piece, as they were 10
discover. was quite barren OF that
antique religious flavor 70 which they
objected and which still pervaded
many Of the puppet plays Of the day
The Petit Masque OF the Wicked Peas
ant and the Good Noble. II was called;
and odd designation that at once inter
ested the Lady Elise, bending over the
stone balustrade the better to see. II
interested, also, those official guardi-
ans Of the peace, a number of soldiers
and few officers from the garrison
standing near. who unmindful Of the
girl, divided their attention between
the pasteboard center of interest and
the people gathered around it.
! Circumspectly the little play
opened; a scene in which my lord, in
a waistcoat somewhat frayed for one
of his station, commands the lazy peas
ant to beat the marsh with stick
that the croaking of the frogs may not
| disturb at night the rest Of his noble
| spouse, seemed designed principally
to show that obedience, submission
and unquestioning fealty were the
great lords due. On the one hand,
was the patrician born to rule; on the
other. the peasant, to serve; and no
task, however onerous, but should be
gladly welcomed in behalf of the mas
ter, or his equally illustrious lady. The |
dialogue, showing the dissemination of |
the bad peasant for this simple en-
ployment and the good lords noble So
licitude for the nerves of his high
born spouse, was both nimble and wit
ty; especially those bits punctuated
by cane, and the sentiment: Thus
all bad peasants deserve to fare!" and
eliminating in an excellent climax to
the lesson-a tattoo on the peasants
head that sent him simultaneously
and felicitously, down with the cur
tain.
What think you of it?" At my
lady's elbow one of the officers turned
to a companion.
Amusing, but" And his glance
turned obviously toward the people.
Certainly they did not now show prop
sr appreciation either for the literary
merits of the little piece or the pre- I
,epts it promulgated in fairly sound
ng verse.
THE mountebank!" From the crowd
number of discontented voices rose. {
Come out, Monsieur Mountebank!"
Yes, Monsieur Mountebank, come !
ut; come out!" {
With fast-beating heart the Lady
Else gazed; as in a dream had she /
stened-not to the lines of the pup t
ct play; but to voice-strangely IA {
liliar, yet different-ironical; scott /
lg: laughing! She drew her breath a
uickly; once more studied the head. f
| its white, close-fitting clowns Gov t
ring; the heavy, painted face, with
I'd, gaping mouth. Then, the next r
oment, as he bowed himself back /
)parently unmindful of a missile |
me one threw and which struck his
tile theater-the half-closed dull
res met hers; passed, without sign
expression!-and she gave a nerv-
is little laugh. What fancy!
Act second!" the tinkling of bell |!
efaced the announcement, and once |
ore was the curtain drawn, this +
ne revealing a marsh and the bad II
asant at work, reluctantly beating Il
e water to the Song of the Stick. II
BEAT! beat! IL
At his lordship's command:
For II there's a croak,
For you'll be the stroke.
From no gentle hand" -
A merry little tune, 1t threaded the A,
:; 1t was soon interrupted, however. c.
ring a scene where q comical-look. an
, devil on broomstick, useful both r,
transportation and persuasion, 70
ne for something which he called fol-
peasants soul. Again the bad
lsant protested; would cheat even of
devil of his due, but his satanic we
jesty would not be set aside. on
(To BE CONTINUED) wo