A Real Human Play

NCE upon a time there was a king who was very much interested in human nature. So intense was his curiosity upon the subject that every means was employed by his subjects to gratify it.

Any kind of an entertainment that threw any light upon the subject of human nature was sure to excite the king's interest.

One day a theatrical manager, who was an original genius, presented himself at court.

"Your majesty," he said, "with your permission I will entertain you with my latest production, which aims to portray all the various types of man."

"Delighted," said the king.

The curtain rose promptly, and the first actor came forward.

"I am a real, genuine, selfish man," said he. "I care for nobody but myself. My own interest is the main thing with me."

He retired, and another man came forward.

"I am wicked," said the second man. "I glory in crime. I like to kill. I am naturally cruel."

He was in turn succeeded by a third man.

"I am," said the third man, "honest, or at least I try to be. I love my neighbor and treat him as well as I know how."

He gave place to a fourth actor, who, without hesitation, said:

"I am a natural-born liar. I deceive when I can and never tell the truth when I can avoid it."

Said the fifth actor: "I am just plain mean. I am naturally so and I can't help it."

Said the sixth actor: "I am generous. I just love to do good to others."

By this time the king was beginning to yawn. He raised his hand to stop the performance and summoned the theatrical manager before him.

"Look here," he exclaimed, "this is the most tiresome thing I have ever seen. The idea of your getting together so many actors just to have them come out and tell what they are. What's the point of this play, anyway?"

"Why, that's the point," said the manager. "The entire company consists of only one man, with changes of costume." .