"KONGO KING."

-1-

Dese are de days when it's no use to play de
social game,

'Less you kin butt into de crowd wid a handle to
yo' name.

'Taint only true of de cream dee cream of white
society,

But it's also true of de high toned colored
aristocracy.

I found out dat in Africa, across de briny seas,
Dere's growin in de jungle der a lot of fam'ly
trees;

I think from off dose royal trees in de jungle goin
to waste

I'll go and pick an ancestor dat exactly suits my
taste.

## CHORUS.

I'll be a Dahomeyan duke
Or a Kongo king,
Or some such sort of a Royal thing
When I come back I'll be known to return
social fame.
And then I'll walk right into society
Of the licorice chocolate variety
With my jungle titles hung on to
my name.

-2-

I done looked in de Jungle Book to find out who
is who,

I found a Prince of Senegal and a Duke of
Timbuctoo.

There's a lot of Knights, some very dark, and a
Count of Monkey Land

Besides a lot of other folks wid a lot of titles
grand.

I've done arranged wid a Zulu man what knows 'bout
Heraldry,

He guarantees to prove dat I belong to de royalty

I'll have designed a Coat of Arms with a big ham bone
device,

When I get back from Africa, I will surely cut some
ice.

(MONOLOG AFTER FIRST CHORUS.)

(Striking pose.) Announce de Duke of Pungo Bungo,
if you please. (Enters bowing and smiling, as
though acknowledging introductions.) Ah, and dis
is Miss Snow, so delighted to meet you. (Takes
seat in chair beside the imaginary Miss Snow.) I
heah, Miss Snow, dat you are one of de F.F.V's, yas
one of de fust families of Virginia, dat yo' ances-
tors landed at Jamestown in 1620. One of my ances-
tors came over in a Dutch vessel in 1620. (Listens
to Miss Snow for a second or two.)

No, no, sassiety ain't what it used to be.
Why de progeny of ordinary whitewashers are busting
in now. Ordinary whitewashers--- Just think of it!
(With look of disgust) Just think of it!

(Pointing across) Who is dat large brunette
lady over der smilin so sweetly over dat ham and
witch? (Listens to whisper from Miss Snow) You
don't say so! (Very much shocked) You really
don't say so! Seems to me I met de gentman wid her
a short time ago in jail---um-er---excuse me---I'm
always making those "slipsus lingues."

Yes, yes, why my ancestors was giving monkey

-2-

dinners befo' dey was ever thought of on Fifth Avenue;
Yas, real monkey dinners; dey ate de monkeys.

Why wid pleasure. (Showing decorations)

Dis one is for being feeder of de royal white faced
rhinoceros, and dis is de order of de knights of de
royal blacking box (changing the conversation) Ah,
Miss Snow, about how much are you wuth? Seben hundred
dollars? All in yo' own name? Gash? (smiles) (Strike
up music of chorus played piano) Shall we indulge in
dis dance? (Rises, dances with the imaginary Miss Snow
burlesque swell society two step)

Dawning is so fatiguing You do trip de
light phantasma so divinely. (Stumbles
Excuse me! Did I step on yo' foot or stumble over a
log? Thank you so much, Thank you so
much. (Seats Miss Snow with profuse bowing and takes
up second verse.)