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THE characters in this little sketch should be played by prominent
citizens of your town, if such can be prevailed upon to appear--the
more elderly, staid, and incongruous in years and bearing, the better.
Dignified professors, judges, doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc.,
should be prevailed upon to forget their present greatness, don the
costumes and revive the scenes of their youth.
The dress may be left largely to individual taste. Short pantaloons,
jumpers, long-sleeved tires, caps, broad-brimmed straw hats, heavy
cowhide boots, are suggested for the gentlemen; while short dresses,
the historic pantalette, sun-bonnets, tires, aprons, etc., are
proposed for the ladies. The latter should have their hair braided
or hanging in long curls. All should be neatly dressed in "ye
olden time" costumes, except one or two, who may represent the
tatterdemalion fraternity. One of these may be the bright boy of the
class, the other the dullard, who stumbles through his lessons,
loses his place, has a passion for catching flies, throwing spit-balls,
etc. One boy may have a penchant for drawing pictures on his
slate or the blackboard, in which his teacher and mates play a
prominent part as models. One girl a proneness for chewing gum,
another for large pickles; another thinks herself smart, but
generally manages to give wrong answers. A few names have been
suggested in the dialogue, but they may be easily varied. Where a
name is not necessary, the author has used the word "Pupil,"
so that the parts may be distributed according to the number
of performers.
The by-play that goes on among the scholars who are not reciting
must be of such a nature that it will not attract the attention of
the teacher unless it is a part of the programme.
The motion song can be introduced elsewhere in the dialogue if advisable.
As a rule, pupils should raise hands (at the same time saying
"Huh! huh!" or snapping thumb and finger), and obtain permission
before speaking; but where the dialogue becomes spirited, this
rule may be broken.
An indefinite number can take part in this entertainment.