New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-10


scep;re with the decisive gesture Of d s2maphore
and snake:
Zach It;u. singh: and lady born
Has noble deeds 10 perform
In hcc chld-world Of shivu.ree.
No matter how small bis share may be.
Let each advance and tell u turn
What claim has each 10 knighthood Carn.'
II was Penrod's turn lie stepped back from
his chair. the table between MIN and the audience
and began in a high, breathess monotone;
81 hight Sir Lanceiot du Lake, the Child,
Gentul-hcarted. meek an mild.
What though I'm but a littul child
Gentul-heartud, meek and mild,
do my share though but though but
Penrose paused and gulpcd The voice Of Mrs.
Lora Rewbush was heard from the wings, prompt
ing irritably and the Child Sir Lancelot repeated:
u do my share though butt though but tot.
pray you knight Sir Lancelot!'
This also met the royal favor, and Penrod was
hidden TO Join Sir Galahad at the throne. As he
crossed the stage Mrs Schofeld whispered 20
Margaret:
THAT boy! He's unpinred his mantle and Fixed
IL 70 cover his whole costume After We worked so
hard to make it becoming"
Never mind; he'll have 20 take the cape of in
minute" returned Margaret. She leaned for
ward suddenly. narrowing her eyes 20 see better
What is that thing hanging about his left
ankle ," She whispered uneasily. "How queer! He
must have got tangled in something
Where asked Mrs. Schofeld, in alarm.
His left foot It makes him stumble. Don't
YOU see? It looks-it looks like an elephants
foot"
The Child Sir Lancelot and the Child Sir Gala
had claspeG hands before their Child King. Pen
rod was conscious Of great uplift; in a moment
he would have 70 throw aside his mantle. but even
so he was protected and sheltered in the human
garment of man. His stagerright had passed.
for the audience was but indistingushsble
blur of darkness beyond the dazzling lights His
most repusive speech that in which he pro-
claimed himself "totO was over and done with.
and now at last the small moist hand Of the Child
Sir Galahad lay within his own. Crafty his
brown fingers stole from Maurice's palm 70 tho
wrist. The two boys detained in concert:
1--WE are two chuldrun Of the Tabu Round
Strewing kindness all around,
With love and good deeds striving ever for tho
best.
May our littul efforts e'er be blest-
Two littul hearts we offer. See
United in love, faith. hope, and CHAR oS'"
The conclusion Of the duet was marred. The
Child Sir Galahad suddenly stiffened, and, utter
ing an irrepressible shrek Of anguish gave
brief exhibition Of the contortionist's art Giles
twistin' my wrist! Dern you leggo!D
The voice of Mrs. Lora Rewbush again
heard from the wings; it sounded bloodthirsty
Penrod released his victim, and the Child King
Arthur somewhat disconnected, extended his seep-
tire and. with the assistance Of the enraged
prompter, said:
"Sweet child-friends of the Tabul Round,
In brothery love and kindness abound,
Sir Lancelot, you have spoken well,
Sir Galahad, too, clear as bell.
SO now pray doff your nantes gay.
You shall be knighted this very day"
And Penrod DOTTED his mantle.
simultaneously a thick and vastly gasp came
from the audience, as from five hundred bathers
in wholly unexpected surf. This gasp was
punctuated irregularly over the auditorium By
imperfectly subdued screams both Of dismay and
increduous Joy and by two dismal shrieks. Alto
cether il vas an extraordinary sound, sound
never to be forgotten by any one who heard II.
II was almost as unforgettable az the sight which
caused II; the word sight" being here used In ts
vernacular sense, for Penrod. standing unmantled
and revealed in all the medieval and artistic
glory OF the jantor's blue overalls, falls within
its meaning.
Inc 1AnltOr was a NeaNJ man. anu MS oftiaii't
upon Penrod were merely oceanic. The boy was
at once swsddled and lost within their blue CULTS
and vast saggings and the left leg, too hastily
rolled Up, had descended with distinctively ele-
phantine effect. as Margaret had observed Ger
tainly the Child Sir Lancelot was at least sight.
II is probable that a great many in that hall
must have had even then, consciousness that
they were looking at History in the Making. A
supreme act is recognizable at sights Il bears the
birthmark of immortality. But enrod that mar
yellous boy, had begun 10 declaim, even With tho
gesture Of Ainging off his mantle for the seeo-
lade
q first, the Child Sir Lancelot du Lake,
viii volunteer to knighthood take,
And kneeling here before your throne
I vow to-
He Anished his speech unheard. The audience
had recovered breath, but had lost sef-control,
and there ensued something. later described by
participant as sort Of cultured riot.
The actors in the pageant" were not so dunn
founded By Penrods costume might have been
expected. few precocious Eeniuses perceived
that the overalls were the Child Lancelots own
comment on maternal intentions; and these we're
profoundly impressed: they regarded him with the
grisly admiration Of young and ambitious Grim
inas for jailmate about 20 be distinguished By
hanging But most Of the children simply took il
TO be the case ia little strange but not startlingl
that Penrod's mother had dressed him like that
which is pathetic. They tried 20 go on with the
pageant
They made brief, manfui effort But the ire
pressble outbursts from the audience bewildered
them; every time Sir Lancelot du Lake the Child
opened his mouth the great, shadowy house fell
into an uproar and the children into confusion.
Strong women and brave girls in the audience
49,. an, ;,.o ,b. lobb,, aLrietirc and clinOin0 q