The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-05-29
CHAPTER Ill. :s. <&s =
The Pageant Of the Table Round. IA
~ ENROL" Mrs. Lora Rewbush

"\ ENROL" Mrs. Lora sRewbush
stood in the doorway, indig-
nantly gazing upon Child Sir
= Lancelot mantled to the heels.
=: DO you know that: you have kept an
audience. of 500 people waiting for ten
minutes? r.. She also detained the 500
while she spake further. d:
WELL" said Penrod contentedly, as
he followed her toward the buzzing
stage, Isl was just sitting there think
Ing" ','1=
Two minutes later the curtain rose
on medieval castle hall richly done
j.; in the new stage craft made in Ger
many and consisting Of pink and blue
cheesecloth. The Child King Arthur
and the Child Queen Guinevere were
disclosed upon thrones, with the Child
Elaine and many other celebrities in
attendance, while about fifteen Child
knights were seated at a dining room
Table Round, which was covered with
a large oriental rug, and displayed 0or
the knights refreshment) a banquet
service of silver loving cups and tro-
phies, borrowed from the Country club
and some local automobile manufac-
turers.
In addition to this splendor, ported
plants and palms have seldom been
more lavishly used in any castle on the
stage or off. The yfootlights were aid
ed by spotlight" from the rear of
the hall, and the children were reveal
ed in blaze Of glory.
A hushed, multitudinous "O-oh" Of
admiration came from the decorous
and delighted audience Then the chill
dren sang feebly: -"-
''Chuldrun of the Tabul Round,
Lt-tul knights and ladies we,
Let our voy-siz all resound
Faith and hope and charitee!'
The Child King Arthur rose, extend
ed his scepter with the decisive gesture
OF semaphore and spake:
Each littul knight; and lady born
Has noble deeds to perform
In thee child-world Of shivullree,
No matter how small hts share may DO.
Let each advance and tell in turn
What claim has each to knighthood earn
The Child Sir Mordred, the villain Of
this piece, rose in his place at the Table
Round and piped the only lines ever
written by Mrs. Lora Rewbush which
Penrod Schof1eld could have pronounc-
Cd without loathfng. George Bassett,
really angelic boy, had been select
ed for the role Of Mordred. His per-
feet conduct had earned for him the
sardonic .obriquet "The Little Gentle
man" among his boy acquaintance.
NATURALLY he had no fr1ends.) Hence
the other boys supposed that he had
been selected for the wicked Mordred
as reward Of virtue. He detained
serenely:
Il hight Sir Mordred the Child, and teach
Lessons Of selfshest evil and reach
Out into darkness. Thoughtless unkind,
And ruthless is Mordred and unrefined''
The Child Mordred was properly re-
buked and denied the accolade, though,
like the others, he seemed to have as
sumed the title already. He made a
plotter''s exit, whereupon Maurice Levy
rose, bowed, announced that he hight
ed the Child Sir Galahad and contin-
ued with perfect sang froid:
II am the purest of the pure,
have but kindest thoughts each day.
/ give my riches to the poor
And follow in the Masters way
This elected tokens Of approval from
the Child King Arthur; and he babe
Maurice island FORTH and come near
the throne, command obeyed with
the easy grace of conscious merit.
It was Penrod's turn. He stepped
back from his chair, the table between
him and the audience, and began in a
high, breathless monotone:
II hight Sir }ancelot du Lake. the Child,
Gentul-hearted. meek and mild.
What though I'm but Nttul child,
Gentul-hearted, meek and mild,
I do my share. though, but-thoush
Penrod paused and gulped. The
voice Of Mrs. Lora Rewbush was heard
from the wings, prompting irr1tably,
and the Child Sir Lancelot repeated:
II do my share. though, but-though hit
I pray you knight Sir Lancelotl"
This also met the royal favor, md
Penrod was hidden to join Sir Gala
had at the throne. As he crossed the
stage Mrs. Schofield whispered to Mar
garet: -. 500 =.
''That boy! He's unpinned his man
tie and fixed it to cover his who'll cos
tune. After we worked SO hard to
make it becoming!' ::.. ! -:
'Never mind. He'll have to take the
cape off in minute" returned Marga-
ret She leaned forward uddenly,
narrowing her eyes to see the better.
"What is that thing hanging about his
left ankle?' she whispered vneasily.
"How queer! He must have got tan
g1ed in something"
"Where?' asked Mrs. Scfpfeld in
alarm.
"His left foot, It makes him STUN
BILE. Don't you see? 1t looiAs-it looks
like an elephants footv'
The Child Sir Lancelot. and the
Child Sir Galahad clasped, hands be-
fore their, child king Penaod was con-
scious Of a great uplift; ia a moment
4 L