[_Fires. The procession of rabbits goes on undisturbed._
SECOND 'ARRY (_jocosely_). Never mind. You _peppered_ 'im. I sor the
feathers floy!
THIRD 'ARRY. You'd ha' copped 'im if yer'd bin a bit quicker.
JIM (_annoyed_). They keep on movin' so, they don't give a bloke no
chornce!
SECOND 'ARRY. 'Ave a go at that old owl.
[_Alluding to a tin representation of that fowl which remains
stationary among the painted rushes._
THIRD 'ARRY. No--see if you can't git that stuffed bear. He's on'y a
yard or two away!
AN IMPATIENT 'ARRY (_at doorway_). 'Ere, _come on_! Ain't you shot
enough? Shake a leg, can't yer, Jim?
SECOND 'ARRY. He's got to kill one o' them rabbits fust. Or pot a tin
lion, Jim? _You_ ain't afraid?
JIM. No; I'm goin' to git that owl. He's _quiet_ any way.
[_Fires. The owl falls prostrate._
SECOND 'ARRY. Got 'im! Owl's _orf_! Jim, old man, you must stand drinks
round after this!
[_Exeunt_ 'ARRIES, _to celebrate their victory in a befitting fashion,
as Scene closes in_.
At the French Exhibition.
CHORUS OF ARAB STALL-KEEPERS. Come an look! Alaha-ba-li-boo! Eet is
verri cold to-day! I-ah-rish Brandi! 'Ere _Miss_! you com' 'ere! No pay
for lookin'. Alf a price! Verri pritti, verri nah-ice, verri cheap verri
moch! [_And so on._]
CHORUS OF BRITISH SALESWOMEN. _Will_ you allow me to show you this
little novelty, Sir? _'Ave_ you seen the noo perfume sprinkler? Do come
and try this noo puzzle--no 'arm in _lookin'_, Sir. Very nice little
novelties 'ere, Sir! 'Eard the noo French Worltz, Sir? every article is
very much reduced, &c., &c.
AT THE FOLIES-BERGÈRE.
SCENE--_A hall in the grounds. Several turnstiles leading to curtained
entrances._
SHOWMAN (_shouting_). Amphitrite, the Marvellous Floatin' Goddess Just
about to commence! This way for the Mystic Gallery--three illusions for
threepence! Atalanta, the Silver Queen of the Moon; the Oriental Beauty
in the Table of the Sphinx, and the Wonderful Galatea, or Pygmalion's
Dream. Only threepence! This way for the Mystic Marvel o' She! Now
commencing!
A FEMALE SIGHTSEER (_with the air of a person making an original
suggestion_) Shall we go in, just to see what it's like?
MALE DITTO. May as well, now we _are_ 'ere. (_To preserve
himself from any suspicion of credulity_). Sure to be a take-in o' some
sort.
[Illustration: "COME AN LOOK! ALAHA-BA-LI-BOO!"]
[_They enter a dim apartment, in which two or three people are
leaning over a barrier in front of a small Stage; the Curtain
is lowered, and a Pianist is industriously pounding away at a
Waltz._
THE F. S. (_with an uncomfortable giggle_). Not much to see _so_ far, is
there?
HER COMPANION. Well, they ain't begun yet.
[_The Waltz ends, and the Curtain rises, disclosing a_ CAVERN
SCENE. AMPHITRE, _in blue tights, rises through the floor_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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