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  Treasurer Mr. W.W.  Gray
  Box Bookkeeper Mr. F.N.Cartland

  LOVE IN ’76

  AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION

  A COMEDIETTA IN TWO ACTS

  By OLIVER BUNCE

  AS PERFORMED AT LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE
  NEW YORK, FEB. 28, 1857

  [The acting edition of this play, with the
  relative positions of the performers on the
  stage, is published by Samuel French.]

COSTUMES.

MR. ELSWORTH.—­Shad-cut brown coat, brown or black breeches, shoe-buckles.

LIEUTENANT HARRY ELSWORTH.—­Red, turned up with blue, buff breeches, high boots.

CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.—­Blue, turned up with buff, white top boots.

MAJOR CLEVELAND.—­Red, turned up with white, breeches, high boots.

CAPTAIN ARBALD.—­The Same.

LIEUTENANT MARVIN.—­The Same.

APOLLO METCALF.—­Gray shad, square-cut suit.

THE LADIES.—­The costumes of the period of ’76.

LOVE IN ’76.

ACT I.

SCENE. The drawing-room in the residence of MR. EDWARD ELSWORTH. Garden seen through doors. ROSE ELSWORTH occupied at a small table, stitching. KATE ELSWORTH stretched languidly upon a sofa, with a book in hand. MR. EDWARD ELSWORTH in an easy chair, with newspaper in his lap.  Writing materials on table.

KATE.  Oh, dullness! dullness!  I do wish Harry was at home, or Sir William would march some of his troops this way!  What’s the use of an army in the country, if one can’t have a dance once in a while?

ROSE.  What, indeed!  All I desire is, sister, that they should be [Enter SERVANT with letters for MR. ELSWORTH.] left to the dance!  That much they do very well.

KATE.  I’m sure, Rose, I can’t see what you find in these rebels to admire.  As far as my observation has gone, they are only so many boors.  There was Captain Arthur.  Was there ever such a dunce?  He had no manner whatever.  He attempted once to walk a minuet with me, and I really thought he was a bear accidentally stumbled into coat and slippers.

ROSE.  You’re quite right! he never should have got his appointment until he had served a campaign in the drawing-room.  If I were the Congress, I’d appoint none who could not bring diplomas from their dancing-masters.

ELSWORTH.  Ha? ’pon my word!  Very extraordinary news.

[All coming forward.

ROSE.  What is it, papa?

ELSWORTH.  There has been a battle.

ROSE.  Is it possible?  Oh, where, sir?

ELSWORTH.  On Long Island. [Reading.] Washington has been defeated—­has evacuated the city—­is retiring northward. [Speaking.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.  We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.  It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.