[Screens announce the scene as Chorus begins the Entracte: "Indian Christmas Carol".]

[Spotlight on suffragette in center stage. She bows slightly from the waist, unrolls a paper, starts reading in a prim, disdainful voice.]

WOMAN: The red man of the forest was formerly a very respectful person. Justice to the noble aborigine warrants me in saying that, originally, he was a majestic fellow.

At the time Columbus arrived on these shores, the savages were virtuous and happy. They were innocent of secession, rum, draw poker, and sinfulness generally.

They had no Congress, faro banks, delerium tremens, or Associated Press. Their habits were, consequently, good. Late suppers, dyspepsia, gas companies, thieves, ward politicians, flirtatious waitresses, and other metropolitan refinements were unknown among them. No savage in good standing would take postage-stamps -- or counterfeit money. You couldn't have bought a coonskin with a barrel of stamps!

The female aborigine never died of consumption from tying her waist up in whalebone. But, in loose and flowing garments, she bounded, with naked feet, over hills and plains like the wild and frisky antelope.

It was an unlucky moment for us when Columbus set his feet upon these shores. It would have been better for us of the present day if the Indian had given him a warm meal and sent him home over the raging billows.

For the savage owned this country, and Columbus was an interloper. Cortez, Pizarro, and LaSalle were only one-horse interlopers. But Columbus was a four-horse interloper, and a large yellow dog under the wagon!

I say, in view of the mess we are making of things, it would have been better for us if Columbus had stayed home. And, especially, I say, it would have been better for Women's Rights!

[DARKNESS]