Six short plays: Mr. Fraser's friends, In Toscana tavern, Onesimus, The bargain, Figs and thistles, The wise man of Nineveh

Front matter

PS

Class KS3&33-

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Foreword

I have read somewhere that there are but seven original stories in the world, and that all others are derived, directly or indirectly, from these seven. It has always been a matter of interest to me to know the origin of a drama, or how the idea prompting it arose. I am, therefore, addressing this foreword specially to such readers as share my interest in the matter of beginnings.

The germ of In Toscana Tavern is found in an Italian story of the eighteenth century, in which a typical Italian desperado and his son are involved. There are various versions of this old story in several tongues.

The ancient wisdom literature of the Hebrews tells of Ahikar, the Wise, cup-bearer and counselor to the King, and of his betrayal by his nephew. Variants of this simple story are found in Egyptian, Armenian, and other Oriental tongues. These manuscripts date anywhere from 500 to 1000 B. C, and may be much older. The references to Achiacharus, in the apocryphal book of Tobit (1-22; 14-10), undoubtedly refer to the Ahikar of our story. I have developed The Wise Man of Nineveh on the basis of these legends.

The Bargain recounts actual happenings. The events recorded in the play were personally known to the author. Some of the characters and many of the incidents have been transferred, without change, from life to paper. This is, therefore, a "realistic" play, in the true meaning of the word.

The theme of Onesimus should be known to all. As to the other plays in this volume, I know of nothing tending to connect them with the original seven stories of the world.