Chapter XXX: Act III: Carpet

_Dramatis Personæ_,
IRISHMAN.
COLORED MAN.
SERVANT GIRL.

SCENE--_Street-door of fashionable house--door-plate of white paper
on door bearing the name of Swab._

Enter colored man,[9] with his face well spotted with whitewash, who rings at door of fashionable house.

[9] The usual way of making a colored man is by blacking the face
with burnt cork; but as gentlemen at evening parties sometimes
object to undergoing this ordeal, a good nigger may be
manufactured by stretching a piece of dark silk across the
face and cutting out holes for the eyes and mouth. Hair can
be made of cotton wadding.

Irish servant appears with her sleeves rolled up and her dress pinned in the form of a dress-coat behind. She turns up her nose at darkey, who humbly intimates that he has called for the _carpet_. Girl slams the door in his face. Colored man considers this outrageous conduct, as he has been specially requested to call for orders, and produces the following note from Mr. Swab:

"MR. CUFFY:
"Please call at No. 13 Fifth Avenue, for carpet.
"JOHN SWAB."

He points to note and name on door to show he has come to the right house.

Enter Irishman, who approaches Mr. Swab's door and rings bell; reappear girl, who smiles as she produces a roll of carpet. Cuffy steps forward and expostulates, showing Mr. Swab's letter. Irishman pitches into Cuffy, and a furious fight ensues, in which the girl joins with a broom.

THE END OF CARPET.

CATASTROPHE.

A CHARADE IN FOUR ACTS.