First and Second Pitchers.—Baseball rig. Asses' ears of gray canton flannel, wired to keep them in shape.
Colored Laundress.—Dress of gaudy chintz, large check apron, and bandanna head handkerchief.
Other costumes to suit the fancy of wearers.
If the play is to take place in a parlor, be sure there is a doorway at one end connecting it with another room. A stage one foot from the floor is built right across the door, which should be right or left of the centre background. The framework for a book through which each individual or group must pass to front of stage is thus made—two uprights 5 ft. 6 in. high are placed 3 ft 4 in. apart, and fastened to the stage floor; 1 ft. 6 in. behind these uprights, and exactly opposite them, fix two others of the same height. Nail three cross-pieces at the top (leaving the side nearest the door open) to hold the frame together. This skeleton book must stand at such an angle that while one inner corner almost touches the stage entrance door, the other inner corner will be 2 ft. beyond the door. Tack a strip of asbestos down the side that represents the closed leaves of a book. A similar strip, only somewhat wider, is put on for the curved back. The side presented to the spectators is the cover of your book. It is to close and unclose like a door, so that the characters may appear to step out when the volume is opened. This cover may be of asbestos, but it should hang on hinges that move very freely. Draw across the book cover, so that each word will fill a line
"FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS."
Paint the letters in gold and some bright color. Attach a bit of twine inside the cover, midway, on the hinge side, to enable the person who engineers the book to close it without being seen.
A large table with lamp and books, and one or two chairs, will suffice for stage furniture.
The book slowly opens, revealing Preface. She steps forward, closely followed by Index, who remains right of and a little behind her.
Preface.