
Transcribed from “The Sleeping Car and Other Farces” 1911 Houghton Mifflin Company edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
A lively farce opens in a cramped Boston boarding‑house, where two young women, Henrietta and Ethel, spar over the trivialities of décor, heartbreak, and the mysterious “god Pan” that haunts their conversation. Their rapid‑fire repartee mixes melodramatic sighs with absurd philosophical musings, turning a simple room‑making scene into a comedy of misunderstandings. The dialogue crackles with wit, as each character exaggerates her woes while subtly critiquing the social expectations of propriety and wealth.
The play’s brisk pace and sharp humor keep the listener engaged, offering a glimpse into early‑20th‑century domestic life filtered through satire. As the women argue about love, status, and the looming arrival of a gentleman caller, the humor builds without revealing the eventual resolution. Listeners will enjoy the clever wordplay and the charmingly chaotic energy that defines this spirited opening act.
Language
en
Duration
~56 minutes (54K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2002-09-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1837–1920
A leading voice of American literary realism, he helped shape late 19th-century fiction through his novels, criticism, and editorial work. His writing often brings ordinary social life into sharp, lively focus, with a calm wit that still feels fresh.
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