Mr. Bunt/Act III
ACT III
SCENE 1
THE MAPLE TREE AGAIN
It is afternoon. Jim is sitting on the ground, making some alterations in the bearskin. Mr. Bunt is standing with his back turned, look ing off at the distant hills beyond.
JIM
What you looking at, Mr. Bunt?
MR. BUNT
Jest the clouds, Mr. Clown.
JIM
Dreaming, hey?
MR. BUNT
Kinder, Mr. Clown. I like to watch the pictures in 'em.
JIM
Pretty, ain't they?
MR. BUNT
Sometimes it seems like I could see beyond, and all sorts of things.
JIM
Well, don't let that bother you. There's lots of things in this world that people don't see- jest because they keep looking inter the next. MR . BUNT
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MR. BUNT
Are we going to see the world, Mr. Clown ? JIM
That we are, Bunty. And you'll find that it's an awful wide world when you travel on foot. MR. BUNT
Sitting by Jim.
And where are we going, Mr. Clown ? JIM
Straight over them hills, Bunty, and strange sights we'll see. And new roads we'll foller, and
I'll show you the high mountains and the crooked rivers that run to the sea, and the little towns that we go through and the cities with their tall buildings, and we'll keep on going, Bunty, over the hills and all, till we come to the big ocean what you ride on in boats. And then you will see how big the world is, and you can set there and dream, Bunty, and listen to the sea — for it sings to you, Bunty. And once you've heard the song and understand what it -
means you can't ne
go’way butwhat it follers
you and brings you back. MR . BUNT
And what does it sing about, Mr. Clown ? JIM
Always it sings of a peaceful world , Bunty, and you'll like it, son, fer you can fish and play in the big waves that come galloping in like the MR . BUNT
108
white horses-the kind that Lu used to ride around the circus. MR. BUNT
And she's gone away now. Don't you miss her, Mr. Clown ? JIM
Miss her, son ? Why He is speechless. Then, returning to his work, he goes on : But I understood what she meant when she said she was tired and wanted to rest.
I know what
it means, Bunty. You only got to say that to me once. And if she's got a home I guess she didn't want me around. So we goes back to the sea, sonny. Back to the sea , fer I heard the song once and I'm going back to it now and listen till I gets it again, and then we can go on, Bunty, and take it with us. MR. BUNT
Where, Mr. Clown ? JIM
Why - jest on , Bunty. That's all I know. All I wants is to keep the song with me, and when I get lonesome , I goes back to listen. Jim gets up and shakes out the bearskin .
Now, Bunty, let's try him on. Now that I got poor Big Bear's arms took up a bit, I reckon he'll fit me better.
Jim proceeds to get into the suit with the help of Mr. Bunt. MR . BUNT
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MR . BUNT
The folks was asking today when we was going to start, fer they wants to see us before we go. JIM
Stopping.
They was, was they ? And did they think I was going without seeing 'em ? MR. BUNT
No - but I think they wanted you to stay. JIM
I wisht I could, Bunty. Think of the folks fetch
ing us food to eat and Ellery a-bringing up that little hand organ fer you, and everybody so kind to us. You won't find 'em so everywhere, Bunty. Not by a long shot. Jim is now dressed as a bear, except that the bear's head is hanging like aa cowl on his back . How do I look ? MR. BUNT
Fine, Mr. Clown. JIM
Now, Mr. Bunt, get your little organ and swing it over my shoulder;; and you remember that new açt I taught you ? MR. BUNT
The one with the strings ? JIM
Tell me what you're going to do so I kin be sure. MR . BUNT
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MR. BUNT
When you give the signal by putting your paws
in front of your face He makes the movement.
I come and make out as to tie strings to your
hands and feet, and when that's done I goes
over and plays the organ and pulls the string and that makes you dance. JIM
Right as a trivet. You're doing fine. And remember, when you do it, be awful important about it and feel, for the feeling gits over more than the words. Well, I guess we're ready now. Mr. Bunt is looking at the Maple Tree. Hate to leave the tree, do you ? MR. BUNT
Yes, Mr. Clown. JIM
Well, I tell you, Mr. Bunt, if we'd stayed here much longer, the way you was digging inter them
roots, that tree would have fell down. Jim slips the bear's head down over his own and straps it on. He continues from inside the head. Greatest little feller I ever did see fer digging.
Wait till we git to the sand. You'll like it there. Come on, Bunty, it's going to be a long journey -a bit too long fer your little legs. MR. BUNT
111
Picking him up. Come on, son, l’ll tote you. Holding him tight.
Don't cry, sonny. I'll let you dig at every maple tree we come to, and maybe you'll find them fairies some day—the ones you was talking about. He starts off, carrying Mr. Bunt and the organ.
SCENE 2 Again the cottage in the woods. Rose, the mother, and Annie are sitting on the low stoop. Annie is talking to her mother, evidently about Dabs, who lies peacefully asleep on the balcony above.
ANNIE And, Mummy, he was awful bad all day. First thing he did after you left this morning was to bust that pane of glass right out with his sling shot, and it fell all over the flower bed. And then when I took him down in the village he got in a fight with another boy and bloodied his nose all over everything; and then he hollered at the man with the peanut stand, who chased him and-
ROSE Worried. Annie, it's so bad I don't know whether to laugh or cry. 112
MR . BUNT ANNIE
Continuing
And the man told him to “ get the hell out of here ! ") ROSE
Annie, you mustn't say that word. ANNIE
Innocently.
I didn't, Mummy. The man said it right out.
You know the corner by the merry -go -round. ROSE
But don't you know you mustn't repeat that word ? ANNIE
But I ain't, Mummy, I was just saying what the horrid man said . He said ROSE
Annie, think. Now do as Mummy says. ANNIE
Meekly. I am --but Dabs he tells everybody to "get the hell out of here ! ” ROSE
Annie, darling, listen to me.
Don't you remem
ber the story I told you about the little girl who said naughty words, and her mother didn't know what to do with her and ANNIE
Without seeing in the least how it applies to her.
Yes, she was a horrid little girl and her mother MR . BUNT
113
had to take her to an old magician who lived in a tower, and every time she said a horrid word a toad hopped right out of her mouth. ROSE
Encouragingly. Yes, and what then , Annie ? ANNIE
Oh , Mummy. You don't mean that I'm that little girl - am I ? Looking up at her mother. Do you , Mummy ? ROSE
Annie, I am afraid we are all little girls like that,
and it takes us a long while to grow up and learn not to say things that hurt people. ANNIE
Oh, Mummy. I try so hard, 'deed I do, because I want to grow up and be just like you, and I
don't want the horrid toads following me round like they did that little girl, everywhere she went, and sitting and looking at her ROSE
I'm afraid , Annie, that all of us make mistakes
sometimes. We can't help it. ANNIE
Oh, Mummy- you never said anything horrid, did you ? You couldn't. ROSE
Gently. Annie, I'm only really aa little girl like you, and I 114
MR . BUNT
need help just the way you do ; and once upon a time, long, long ago ANNIE
Oh, Mummy, it's a story. ROSE
Yes, Annie, it's a story. ANNIE
And are there fairies in it and everything ? ROSE
There were a great many fairies in it at first, and the most beautiful fairy in the world. ANNIE
And was there a fairy prince all in gold ? ROSE
Yes, and the fairy prince all in gold. A fairy prince who said he was looking for something that was lost. And the girl thought it was won
derful; but she didn't know why, after the fairy prince had found her, he should go on look
ing for something that was lost. For the little girl thought she was everything, and she didn't understand then how things are always getting
lost, how we must always be hunting for them and bringing them back, so the fairy prince would go away hunting and leave the little girl alone. And when he came back he would be
very tired
and discouraged , because he could never find the way that led to things that were lost. MR . BUNT
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And the little girl didn't understand, and the prince became more and more discouraged, so that there came a time when he would not go hunting any more, but just sat all day and did nothing, and the little girl, who wanted all the beautiful things in the world, couldn't under stand why the prince didn't go and get them for her. So it got worse and worse, and all the
fairies began to leave slowly, one by one, and the little girl grew more and more bitter, because all her dreams of what the prince might have been
were slipping away from her. And one day, when they hadn't any money or anything, the little girl told the prince that she hoped she would never see him again -- and the prince, who was
really only a little boy, got up very slowly and looked at the little girl, and he didn't say any
thing, but there were tears in his eyes, and he went away and was never seen again. ANNIE
Did you see the tears in his eyes, Mummy ? ROSE
Yes, Annie, but it was only a long while after wards that I remembered them , and it was too late then . ANNIE
And did the prince ever find what he was look ing for ? 116
MR . BUNT ROSE
I don't know, Annie, except we all find it-- only to some of us it comes very late. ANNIE
It would be funny if he didn't find it and you,
who stayed at home, did - wouldn't it, Mummy? ROSE
Yes, Annie. It comes like the forgotten fairies
they understand the things we are hunting for. ANNIE
You know, Mr. Bunt never came back. I didn't forget him, either, and I have called so many
times, but he never came. Why is it, Mummy ? The strains of a hand-organ are heard coming slowly through the woods. Annie listens and runs down the path, leaving her mother, who sits staring before her. Annie calls excitedly :
Oh, Mummy, come and see. It's aa little boy and a bear, and they're coming down our path. Turning to Rose, who has risen and walked towards her.
Why, Mummy, it's Mr. Bunt ! ROSE
Now, Annie, it couldn't be, you know . just your invisible playmate. ANNIE
But, Mummy, it looks just like him.
He was MR . BUNT
117
ROSE
It's just a funny little boy, and you mustn't call him Mr. Bunt, because he wouldn't understand. ANNIE
Oh, he would ! he would ! ROSE
He'll only laugh at you, Annie. You had better mind what I say. ANNIE
Repeating to herself : Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt.
Dabs, asleep on the balcony, wakes slowly and, sitting up , rubs his eyes. >
Annie calls to him :
Dabs, Dabs ! Quick ! There's a bear coming down our path ! DABS
Yawning.
Tell it to get the hell out of here ! Rose turns and looks up at him in despair. ANNIE
Oh , come quick ! They are coming right by, Dabs !
Dabs, now fully awakened to the excitement
of the situation, attempts to get in the window, which he finds locked. In writhing impatience he turns and hangs over the rail, begging his mother to come up and let him out. Rose enters the house, but the excitement is too 118
MR . BUNT
much for Dabs and, climbing over the railing, he drops to the ground below , just as the bear and Mr. Bunt enter, followed by a crowd of delighted children .
SCENE 3
The crowd makes a semi-circle about the bear, who is nodding and waving his great shaggy
paws at the people, when the window opens and Rose looks out. The bear, who is doing some very funny steps, happens to look up and catches sight of her. He ends quite suddenly, so suddenly that Mr. Bunt is very much fright ened and stops the organ and goes timidly over and looks up at the face of the great bear that stands above him so rigidly, staring at
Rose on the balcony. And then the bear moves his great paws
slowly towards his face as though to shield it, to cut out something from his view , and he is trembling. And then , oh then, Mr. Bunt
understands, of course , that it is the signal to do the magic string dance. So Mr. Bunt, with
all the air of a great showman , reaches up and draws down the great paws, pretending to attach strings to them and his feet, and in a pretty pantomime shows that he is going to MR . BUNT
119
make the bear dance. He then withdraws, holding the imaginary strings in his hands.
He pulls one boldly, the arms go up a little slowly perhaps, and then hang as though sus pended. He pulls another; a foot comes up .
The people are beginning to see the joke. Annie and Dabs are clapping their hands, and now Mr. Bunt begins a jingling little tune on the organ and with the other hand pretends to pull the strings that make the bear dance.
No more ridiculous, absurd dance could be conceived and the bear is doing it wonderfully, with oh, so many little steps. How the chil dren are laughing and the pennies are raining down in the ring !
Finally the bear stops dancing, and Mr. Bunt
is collecting the money and Dabs is trying to imitate the bear, and the bear, who is watch ing him, suddenly tugs on his chain and starts, dragging Mr. Bunt with him. And then the crowd becomes frightened, and Rose leaves the window to open the door for the children . Mr. Bunt has fallen , and everyone is rushing to safety, while the bear becomes confused and finally drops on the bench , dazed. Mr. Bunt runs over to him and in a frightened manner is unstrapping the bear's head. As he draws it off, the door opens and Rose comes 120
MR . BUNT out.
The children enter and the door shuts
behind them. Rose turns toward Mr. Bunt
and the bear just as Jim's great shaggy paws drop from his face. With a gasp, Rose is at his side . ROSE
Jim ! It was you JIM Rose - 1ROSE
You saw - you were going by - you weren't going to speak to me ? JIM
But you said ROSE
Oh, Jim boy - can't you forgive me ? I didn't understand — I didn't. JIM
But it's me you got to forgive, Rose - me. ROSE
Oh, Jim. I forgave you years ago. self I couldn't forgive.
It was my
JIM
Don't, Rose ! ROSE
. And you've come back to me now, Jim -- back
.
out of the dark forest ? JIM
Do you want me, Rose ? ROSE
Want you , Jim ?
Can you ask ? 121
MR . BUNT JIM
I never found anything, Rose.
I lost myself.
ROSE
Smiling So did I, Jim ; but I've found you now. Jim, both of us were lost, indeed we were ; and don't you see we can't get lost now—there are two of us .
And the children - oh, Jim, how could you
pass them ?
1
JIM
Would they know me now, Rose ? ROSE
Jim, they need you. JIM
And you really want me to come back, Buddy ? ROSE
Oh, Jim, can't you feel ? Jim, call me that again what you used to call me when the fairies were here.
They are in each other's arms, and only after he has kissed her do we hear the word
“ Buddy.” Then the door opens and Mr. Bunt in a hur ried manner comes running out of the house with a pail, slopping the water as he comes. He stops as he sees Rose and Jim .
He is
waiting timidly to be recognized. Jim doesn't see him . He comes over on tiptoe, looking in a wondering way at them. In the silence he tries a little to attract their attention .
His MR . BUNT
122
efforts are without result.
He steps back by
the rain pipe.
Rose looks up at Jim, and speaks softly : Jim, dear heart - the children ,
They have started towards the door when Rose sees the pail. Why, Jim, that's our pail. Where did it come from ?
She looks around, wondering. Annie and Dabs are seen looking out of the window . JIM
Smiling.
I guess those little rascals put it there. They enter the house.
But Mr. Bunt is left behind. He goes over to pick up the pail and is stooping over it when suddenly his face lights up . MR. BUNT
Aghast. Why, I'm a forgotten fairy ! With a leap he starts off the stage on a run for the Maple Tree. Annie comes out and gets the pail and is look ing anxiously in the direction where Mr. Bunt
has disappeared. For a moment she hesitates and then calls pathetically, “ Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt ! ” The lights go out. The voice is still
heard calling softly in the distance, “ Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt ! ” MR . BUNT
123
SCENE 4
The lights come on slowly, and we are in the
land of the forgotten fairies. On the gate is a sign, reading : FORGOTTEN FAIRIES WITHOUT KEYS WILL PLEASE KEEP
AWAY FROM THIS GATE. By Order of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
In
spite of this warning, two little fairies are doing their best to look through the keyhole.
Annie's voice is still heard calling " Mr. Bunt ! ” But the voice seems changed and is drawing closer, when a very little fairy, dressed with a great many brass buttons, rapidly crosses the stage, calling “ Mr. Bunt ! Mr. Bunt ! Mr.
Bunt !" - and off.
The fairies at the keyhole of the gate have paused for a moment to watch Buttons come and go . FIRST FAIRY
There he goes again, calling Mr. Bunt. SECOND FAIRY
My ! he thinks he's important. FIRST FAIRY
There's no Mr. Bunt here. SECOND FAIRY
Of course not, he's outside. MR . BUNT
124
FIRST FAIRY
What else is outside ? SECOND FAIRY
I don't know.
Nobody knows. FIRST FAIRY
Who's nobody ? SECOND FAIRY
We all are.
Forgotten . FIRST FAIRY
And that is all we know ? SECOND FAIRY
Yes, except that this is where they all come in. FIRST FAIRY
And they're so sort of asleep when they come in ? SECOND FAIRY
Yes, and they act funny and say funny things until the gate closes behind them . FIRST FAIRY
When do they come ? SECOND FAIRY
Oh, any time.
You can never tell . FIRST FAIRY
Let's stay and ask the next one that comes in. SECOND FAIRY
It's no use. They never remember, after their eyes open, what they said or anything about it. FIRST FAIRY
Can you remember anything ? MR . BUNT
125
SECOND FAIRY
No, nobody can . FIRST FAIRY
Let's play here today and watch . SECOND FAIRY
Looking up suddenly. Look out !
Here comes the Gateman.
An enormous and fierce Gateman enters, with a big club in his hand, with which he chases
the fairies, who run with shouts of laughter about the stage and scatter in flight until he is left alone, when he walks over and takes
his place directly in front of the gate, and then the fierce look on his face gradually fades away into a big contented smile.
SCENE 5 BUTTONS
Again enters and rapidly crosses the stage, calling in a very mechanical and important manner :
Mr. Gateman, Mr. Gateman , Mr. Gateman. GATEMAN
That's for me, son. BUTTONS
Sign here, please.
He takes one of the two little messages off his little silver platter and presents it to the Gate 126
MR . BUNT
In the meantime the little fairies have been creeping back on the stage to see what is going on. man .
A FAIRY
A message for Mr. Gateman. A LITTLE FAIRY
Excited
Something doing all the time, here. ANOTHER FAIRY
Ain't it fine ?
The Gateman has solemnly taken the telegram and is looking at it thoughtfully. Getting on his spectacles with great difficulty and a great many “ Dear me, dear me's”, he finally gets
the slip signed, whereupon Buttons who, with his feet apart, has been surveying him from head to foot, demands in an important voice: BUTTONS
Do you have much trouble with the children ? GATEMAN
Hey, what ? BUTTONS
Do you find your work easy here ? GATEMAN
What work ? BUTTONS
Why, you guard the Gate, don't you ? GATEMAN
Oh, dear me, no.
I'm just the Gateman. MR . BUNT
127
BUTTONS
What are you here for ? GATEMAN
To chase the children . They like to be chased. It's a game . We don't have any rules here. BUTTONS
Oh, I see. That's like me. I like to be important
and busy so they made me the Bell Hop, so I can go around anywhere and shout out names. GATEMAN
You like it ? BUTTONS
Seriously. It's a very important position, With which he looks down at the other
telegram on the silver platter and walks off, shouting :
Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt
In a very mechanical and impressive way.
SCENE 6 GATEMAN
Coming forward with telegram . The message says: “ PREPARE TO RECEIVE FORGOTTEN FAIRY.
HAVE KEY READY.
Signed, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.” MR . BUNT
128
FAIRIES
The key, the key, the key ! Someone has found the key. Think of that ! GATEMAN
Goes over and takes down key from wall.
It is very rusty. No one has had it for so long. A FAIRY
Let me clean it. ANOTHER FAIRY
Please let me help. GATEMAN
All right. Come ! Everyone to work. The Gateman is now busy dusting off the gate and taking down the sign , and the little fairies are all at work shining the big key, and
surprisingly enough its green mottled surface begins to change to gold. A FAIRY
Singing. Gold is yellow, I can see ; Gold is yellow, I can see. ALL
In chorus.
Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub. A FAIRY
Someone's coming for the key; Someone's coming for the key. MR . BUNT
129 .
ALL
In chorus.
Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub,
Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub, Rub . A FAIRY
We forgotten fairies - we, Polishing the hidden key. ALL
In chorus, sustained.
Key - e- e- e -eeeeee! The Gateman enters and, taking the huge key from the fairies, as drum major leads them off the stage, all singing, to the tune of " London Bridge ":
Make them welcome everyone, Everyone, everyone, Make them welcome everyone,
When your work is done.
In triumphal procession they bear away the shining key. SCENE 7
A loud knocking is heard on the gate. It is repeated and continues, but no one appears. Finally it stops, and the stage remains silent and empty.
Suddenly the figure of Mr. Bunt is seen climb. ing over the gate. Reaching the top he sits there and looks around . 130
MR . BUNT
The huge Gateman enters. GATEMAN
Hey, what are you doing there ? MR. BUNT
Getting my breath. GATEMAN
Well, you can get it just as well down here. I've had no complaints about the air, so far. Mr. Bunt climbs down and dusts himself off.
The Gateman eyes him suspiciously. Bless my heart, I never saw you before. MR. BUNT
Casually. I'm the forgotten fairy. GATEMAN
What ? MR. BUNT
Serenely repeating. I'm the forgotten fairy. GATEMAN
Do you mean to say you climbed over the wall ? MR. BUNT
I did. GATEMAN
Not only is that a very undignified way to come in but it is against all the regulations. I shall go at once to the Owl about it. MR. BUNT
Please don't. feathers.
He'll make an awful fuss and MR . BUNT
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GATEMAN
In aa terrible voice. He will, will he ? MR. BUNT
Yes, he'll say that I've thrown the whole works out of order.
He said that the last time. GATEMAN
In a VERY TERRIBLE voice .
Did he, indeed ? Well, now , wait till he gets you this time !
The Gateman goes out with a blood -curdling Ha, ha, ha ! ” leaving Mr. Bunt alone and very much frightened.
SCENE 8 MR. BUNT
In despair. Am I still aa lost fairy ? At this moment the important Buttons enters. BUTTONS
Crosses the stage, calling : Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt. MR. BUNT
I'm Mr. Bunt. BUTTONS
Sign here. MR. BUNT
What is it ? MR . BUNT
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BUTTONS
Message from a little girl in the woods. Wants you. MR. BUNT
But I'm aa forgotten fairy. BUTTONS
You go right back, you do.
Oh no, you're not.
MR. BUNT
Why - I just got here. BUTTONS
Never mind, back you go. And what's more, if I ever told the Board of Directors what I know
about you , you'd be doing an awful lot of explaining. He stalks off and begins calling again : Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt, Mr. Bunt.
He turns around and stops, in a disgusted manner.
There, you see, it's just a habit now. I've paged you so much I just go right on paging you . He struts out in disgust. Mr. Bunt goes over and stands by the gate .
SCENE 9 GATEMAN
Entering. Ha, ha, he says he's coming to get you and take you to the Board of Directors. MR . BUNT
133
MR. BUNT
Isn't there any way for me to get away ? There's a little girl waiting for me in the woods. GATEMAN
What ? MR. BUNT
I just got the message . GATEMAN
Whispering. Oh !
If the gate opens before they get here,
slip out. SCENE 10
He goes off on tiptoe, leaving Mr. Bunt at the gate. The fairies are returning with garlands of roses, and Mr. Bunt, hidden by the huge gate posts, watches them . They arrange them selves in two lines, leading to the gate, when the voice of the Sandman is heard approach ing outside, singing. SANDMAN
Dream, baby, dream FAIRIES
The Sandman ! SANDMAN
Continuing
Sleep - sleep DEEP VOICE
Outside gate .
The Forgotten Fairy. 134
MR . BUNT
The gates move apart as if by magic, and
from the silent night Lu enters, carrying her little tinsel crown .
She steps slowly into the
light. VOICE OF DANNY
From outside the gate.
And dae ye nae ken me, Lu ? It's Danny. LU
Whose eyes are closed, lifts her head and speaks softly. Yes, Danny, I can hear your voice. DANNY
And if ever I see Jim, and he mat be askin' aboot ye, lassie, will ye nae leave me a word for him ? LU
Yes, Danny-tell him I went home, Danny-to the
Her eyes open, and in delighted surprise she calls :
Danny, there be fairies all around - and She stands with her arms outstretched in
silence, and as the fairies gather around her the Sandman is heard singing softly, on his way back to earth. Mr. Bunt is far ahead of him, on his way to Annie .
THE END AFTERWORD BY
MAURICE BROWNE 1 AFTERWORD
Mr. Remsen has honored me by an invita tion to write a footnote to MR. BUNT. I have heard the play read and seen it acted; but there has been, of course in the midst of its simultaneous production and publication - no copy available for bystanders to read; nor indeed, had there been, would there have been due time to read it—at least to read it aright, for the play demands and deserves a quiet and unhurried mind. So all that I can say is said from those two memories, of hearing it read and seeing it played.
When, a week or two before its production, the author read it to his producing staff and let me listen, no one who was present - even if, like myself, he had before known at first hand none of Mr. Remsen's plays, nor indeed any of his writings - could but recognize that here was some thing with a real reason for existence: the things said were things that mattered; they were mellow, they were radiant and wise, they were infinitely tender, and they were said with rapture.
Its dramatic qualities were harder to judge; but there seemed, perhaps, faults in the architecture, a lack of structural unity, almost, it might be,