THE MAN WITH A GRIEVANCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2187, 27 June 1914, Page 7

THE MAN WITH A GRIEVANCE

MODERN PLAY OF MANY ACTS AND INNUMERABLE SCENES. ' \ [By Sunnv Sam.] ACT 11. Tin the first- act Joseph tho Man with a Grievance calls on' Gabriel iu search of a Halo with results already stated. In the 6ccond act .the scene remains the same— a Room iu the Firmament—but uow as. well us old characters ore introduced.] DRAMATIS PERSONAE. Gabriel .....;........, Prince of Mars. Vrimo Minister and Ministers, -Well-known x'oliticans. .■'... 'Attendants., ■ (i(ib. (soliloquisinrr): 'Tia good to resi Tedious repetition cansethmuch weariless. (Enter Primo Minister and Ministors and attendants.) P.M. (chaorfully): Greetings, good sire. I trust wo are not disturbing you. . Gab.: Hail to xliee and tnino. Thy sniilo is broad and good. Hus't seen anyone on thy way hither? I'M. : No, siro. ■No ono.Attendant: Siro, 1 dids't come by a etfango path, and I saw a smooth round bodjV barrel-like, searching -diligently, os for tho treasure in tlio vineyard. Gab'.:Thero conieth here, but a few days since, ono Joseph the Grievance by name, iyho . wasefli wrath .against cer-' tain scribes of tho Press. Ho seemeth not to bestow upon them the brotherly love; but did utter loud maledictions, alboit with' sour melancholy/ ore he sped from thoir presence. Attendant (looking "out of window): Sire, I see'st him now, snd while he bi'tisliotli tlio tear from his eyelid—sorrowing, maybe, for that which was, and is no more—ho beckoneth sundry people .to his side. . . ■ • Ministers (alertly): Ah! Ah! • Gab. (to attendant): Didst thou' note his peculiar mein and spirits drooping? His ,grief, he saith, hath sprung from neglected lovq and sacrifice. Hast thou seen, his sacrifico? Ministers (laughing): Siro, is that a little joke? ' . Gab.: He sorroweth much for ono David the .Nathan. Didst thou know, this David? . ' ' " . P.M. (highly amused): Aye, sire, he is tho "Lily of tho Field." But we haven't hoard of him latelv." • Gab.: 'Tis strange, nncl ho seemeth not shy, , nor lotteth discretion be his owii tutor, Methinke that is as Joseph hath it' Ho would'st seem to possess a noble bearing, despisoth gold and favours, taketh the needy to his bosom, and-strives only that ho nrnv tho more firmly .on ti'puch liimEclf within the hearts of all men. P.M.; Joseph must have been piling on the butter. Gab.: |Tis strange' thou mentionest that word. There ilashest to my mind a memory of greed-scarred hands grasping at tho too-scant .pence of many fanu'lics lacking that wherewith to make more palatable their daily bread. 'Two'uld surely be this David that did'st do battle 'gainst tho Giant Monopoly who did'st' so dominate the market places and occasion so groat lamentation 'mongst the common people. ■'. Minister (uproariously): Ho! ho! Excellent, siro. A pretty wit. Gab.: But this Joseph unburdeneth his soul of ono Wilford—tho Tom—who playoth sundry kittenish pranks with fortune's facts, who talkoth much words without ■ thoughts, and briiigeth forth his ambitions in dovibus mangled forms. But :t did wring his heart -for tho modest'bhish'ih«jt'',Shis'iiqi; , . !I, ' ,"■'■ Min. (gaily)";'"\Vo'navd■'a<MJh |iim,''but not :ho blush. , Gab.: And Joseph despaireth for one Jo-Han, from farthest south, whose expectant oye doth rest most eagerly upon that which ho once hath. Hβ lispeth soft prattle to a fierce Federation, and hciiig ■ spurned," subsideth.' Art interested P.'.'.''' :' Min. (gleefully): Most interested. Gab.: Br.t of Josoph the Grievance. Attendant (looking out window): Sire he is there (pointing), and hath around him a curious crowd. An omblem of rainbow hues he hath in his hand. (Gab. and P.M. and M., looking out window, see J. tho G., a mixed crowd of peoplo. of various political colours hearing banners,.etc.) •. v Gab. (surprised: I seeth -not' tho fatted calf. But.ho talkoth words, and more words, of swift blessings .which ho bringoth, even as the tales to the fairies who skippeth in tho moonlight. (Sees Payne, bearing banner): The bannerbearer standeth. forth pushfully, ho seemeth afraid ho will not bp seen. 'He prideth himself upon the blood-red shade of his Standard; Dost liotice the crowd mixofcl; ill? ; \ Ministers (laughing): Indeed vro do. P.M.: There is Webb! >". . Gab.: Aye; ho who doth vr-hisper to sundry people, with subtle notation, tho wliile he castetb.'sidelong,glances, 'with, black eyes restless and bead-like. But of Joseph! Hijth . noticed his title linngcth loos? nnon him ? P.M. and M.": Aye, sire. It hardly suits his company, ' ■ ' Gab.; Twill need much strong stimulen't to warm his heart to' yon mixed crew. But (peering.down), LoI they departeth, and one dotli cry, "Come, let us reason 'together.with our Itonournble foes and forget tho past." And -Joseph shoutoth at him in a-loud voice ■ea.ving, "Thou stupid toiisletl head, knowpst tboii not that we liveth in tho past?" .- . . . • And now they do shout and gesticulate, and Joseph calleth that he hath been stabbed, and someone makes strong bellowing noises , , and crietli, "Scab, scab,' , "and there is much dis-"; order. ■ Ministers (enjoying' the disturbance outside): Joseph-can't hold that team together. ■ ■ ~ ' ■ _ Gab.: 'Tis true; hearcst thou his wailing note rising; above the din of conflict? 'Midst elements ,«a rude of mind and coarse of manners his fino sensitiveness mlist be shredded "even as *.he iuitme.'r iwsacd too closely "upon tile rough unyielding surface of the scraper.. (Exeunt Omnes.) »