MERMAN AND MERMAID.
(Grand Operatic Phantasmagoria)
Words and Music by
Erwin E. Harder.
Prologue
(THE ARGUMENT)
Two orphans, a young man and a young lady, not acquainted with each other, have left their home, and boarded the great liner, Gigantic, bound for the New World, each in search of a lover and a fortune.
The first scene, the prologue, is open sea. And then near the sunken ship, Gigantic. In the North Atlantic Ocean opposite New Foundland.
Curious fish and strange deep sea denizens of all kinds are swimming about. After a lapse of about seven minutes, during which time mysterious music plays on, a fish of golden color suddenly takes on convulsions and coughs out a living being (strange sea life) transformed, with double tail and water breathing gills, which had been previously swallowed by this deep sea fish.
King Neptune blesses this curious being of the sea, and names him Owondlo (Merman), and tells him to be brave and seek for a weapon to protect himself from dangerous enemies of the sea.
