
A witty, one‑act moral interlude opens with the mischievous figure of Chance, who declares himself the invisible hand that nudges fate. He introduces a solitary monarch who, despite his regal trappings, laments the absence of a bride. The king’s frustration sets the stage for a playful clash between authority and destiny, hinting that even the mightiest can become the subject of ridicule.
Enter two starkly opposite women: Tidy, the immaculate caretaker who takes pride in order and cleanliness, and Slut, a carefree slattern who revels in disorder. Their contrasting philosophies about domestic life and personal conduct promise to test the king’s expectations and expose the folly of judging worth by outward appearances. As Chance watches from the shadows, the audience is invited to consider how chance, desire, and moral choices intertwine in a world where crowns can slip into farce.
Language
en
Duration
~11 minutes (11K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Stewart Kidd, 1921.
Credits
Tim Lindell, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2021-08-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1892–1950
Remembered for lyric poems that feel both intimate and fearless, this American writer helped bring poetry to a wide popular audience in the early 20th century. Her work blends musical grace with sharp feeling, whether she is writing about love, freedom, beauty, or loss.
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