The Vegetable; or, From President to Postman — John Shaqi
The Vegetable; or, From President to PostmanFitzgerald, F. Scott (Francis Scott)
General
The Vegetable; or, From President to Postman
Fitzgerald, F. Scott (Francis Scott)
American drama -- 20th century
CHARLOTTE. Oh, you do, do you? [_She nudges Jerry._] Speak right up to
them like that.
JERRY. Oh, you do, do you?
JUDGE FOSSILE. Remove that woman!
_No one pays any attention to his request._
JUDGE FOSSILE. Now, Mr. President, do you absolutely refuse to resign on
the request of the Senator from Idaho?
JERRY. You’re darn right I refuse!
JUDGE FOSSILE. Well, then, I----
_At this point Mr. Stutz-Mozart’s Orang-Outang Band outside of the
wall launches into a jovial jazz rendition of “Way Down upon the
Suwanee River.” Suspecting it to be the national anthem, the
Senators glance at each other uneasily, and then, removing their
silk hats, get to their feet, one by one. Even Judge Fossile stands
at respectful attention until the number dies away._
JERRY. Ha-ha! That wasn’t “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
_The Senators look confused._
DORIS [_tragically_]. This was to have been my wedding reception day.
_Senator Fish begins to weep softly to himself._
JUDGE FOSSILE [_angrily to Jerry_]. This is preposterous, sir! You’re a
dangerous man! You’re a menace to the nation! We will proceed no
further. Have you anything to say before we vote on the motion made by
the State of Idaho?
CHARLOTTE. Yes, he has. He’s got a whole mouthful!
DORIS. This is the feature moment of my life. Cecil B. Demille would
shoot it with ten cameras.
JUDGE FOSSILE. Remove these women.
_The women are not removed._
JERRY [_nervously_]. Gentlemen, before you take this step into your
hands I want to put my best foot forward. Let us consider a few aspects.
For instance, for the first aspect let us take, for example, the War of
the Revolution. There was ancient Rome, for example. Let us not only
live so that our children who live after us, but also that our ancestors
who preceded us and fought to make this country what it is!
_General applause._
And now, gentlemen, a boy to-day is a man to-morrow--or, rather, in a
few years. Consider the winning of the West--Daniel Boone and Kit
Carson, and in our own time Buffalo Bill and--and Jesse James!
_Prolonged applause._
Finally, in closing, I want to tell you about a vision of mine
that I seem to see. I seem to see Columbia--Columbia--ah--blindfolded--ah--covered
with scales--driving the ship of state over the battle-fields
of the republic into the heart of the golden West and the cotton-fields
of the sunny South.
_Great applause. Mr. Jones, with his customary thoughtfulness,
serves a round of cocktails._
JUDGE FOSSILE [_sternly_]. Gentlemen, you must not let yourselves be
moved by this man’s impassioned rhetoric. The State of Idaho has moved
his impeachment. We shall put it to a vote----
JERRY [_interrupting_]. Listen here, Judge Fossile, a state has got to
be part of a country in order to impeach anybody, don’t they?
JUDGE FOSSILE. Yes.
JERRY. Well, the State of Idaho doesn’t belong to the United States any
more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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