Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-06-18


would have avoided the general cur
rent; but no choice remained. At the
portals she was jostled sharply; no
reg2ecters Of persons. these men made
her once more feel what il was TO be
one OF the great commonalty; an atom
in the rank and hlei 1t length reach
ing the towers little square, many OF
them stopped. and she was suffered to
escape-to the stone steps swinging
sharply upward She had not gone
far, however, when looking down. she
was held by a spectacle not without
novelty TO her.
In the shadow Of the Tower Of the
King stood the mountebank she had
seen but a short time before on the
sands Now facing the people before
his little show-house. which he had
set up in a convenient corner, he was
calling attention to the entertainment
he proposed giving, by loud beating
on a drum.
Rub-a-dub-dubi Don't crowd too
close," Rnb-a-dub-dub! Keep order
and you will see"
Some trumpery miracle mystery."
called out a jeering voice.
'Or the martyrdom of some saint"
cried another.
Il don't know anything about any
saint" answered the man, unless. -
rub-a-dub -dub!-"you mean my lords
lady!"
And truly the piece. as they were to
discover, was quite barren of that
antique religious flavor to which they
objected and which still pervaded
many of the puppet plays of the day.
The Petit Masque of the Wicked Peas
and odd designation that at once inter-
ested the Lady Elise, bending over the
stone balustrade the better TO see. 1t
interested, also, those official guardi-
ans of the peace, number of soldiers
and few officers from the garrison
standing near, who upmindful 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
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 Discrimination 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
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
er appreciation either for the literary
merits of the little piece or the pre-
cepts it promulgated in fairly sound
ing verse.
THE mountebank!" From the crowd
a number of discontinued voices rose.
Come out, Monsieur Mountebank!"
yes. Monsieur Mountebank, come
out; come out!"
With fast-beating heart the Lady
Elise gazed; as in a dream had she
listened-not to the lines of the pup
pet play; but to voice-strangely ia
miliar, yet different-ironical; scott
ing; laughing! She drew her breath
quickly; once more studied the head,
in its white. close-fitting clowns COW
ering; the heavy, painted face, with
red, gaping mouth. Then, the next
moment, as he bowed himself back
apparently unmindful of missile
some one threw and which struck his
little theater-the half-closed. duh
eyes met hers; passed, without sign
or expression!-and she gave nerv-
Gus little laugh. What fancy.
ACT second" the tintling of bell
prefaced the announcement, and once
more was the curtain drawn. this
time revealing marsh and the bad
peasant at work. reluctantly beating
the water to the Song of the Stick
Beat, beat!
At his lordship's command
For IL there's a croak,
For youll be the stroke.
From no gentle hand"
A merry little tune. it threaded the
act; it was soon interrupted, however.
during a scene where comieal-look-
ing devil on broomstick, useful both
eor transportation and persuasion,
came for something which he called
the peasants soul. Again the bad
ne asant protested; would cheat oven
the devil of his due, but his satanic