The Banner

By George S Beeby

The Banner by George S. Beeby is a comedy about a local publishing company run by John Penny, his daughter, and other townsfolk. Excerpt: "The Publishing Office of the BOONDI BANNER. Boondi is a town of about 1500 inhabitants, situated at the edge of the Blacksoil Plains somewhere in Australia. The town is the center of an old pastoral district that is gradually coming into a closer settlement. Some large sheep stations remain in the district, but a good deal of the country is held in small settlement leases suitable for mixed farming."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 4066338051226

Book preview

George S Beeby

The Banner

Published by Good Press, 2022

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EAN 4066338051226

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

"

PERSONS OF THE PLAY.

MICHAEL RICE, Mayor of Boondi.

JOHN PENNY, Proprietor of the Boondi Banner.

MARGARET PENNY (known as PEG), his daughter.

JAMES PENNY (aged 16), his son.

ALFRED MARTIN (known as MARTY), a compositor.

PHINEAS BOOTY, M.P.

REV. A. CORNFORD, a Methodist clergyman.

ANDREW DUNCAN, president of the Boondi Shire Council.

KENNETH SMITH, a farmer and a Shire Councillor.

PERCIVAL WHITCOMB (known as GOLLY), a Jackeroo employed on Crossland's station.

GEORGE CROSSLAND, a sheep station owner.

Miss CROSSLAND, his daughter.

LADY BEAMISH, an aunt of Golly's.

DIANA WHITCOMB, her niece.

---

THE SCENE.

ACT 1. The Publishing Office of the Boondi Banner.

ACT II.

SCENE I. (A week later). The drawing-room of Crossland's Homestead.

SCENE II. (Two nights later). The same.

ACT III. (Five days later).

SCENE I. A parlor of the Commercial Hotel, Boondi.

SCENE II. The same as Act I.

---

ACT I.

The Publishing Office of the BOONDI BANNER.

The other member of the staff is GEORGE MARTIN (known as MARTY), an expert compositor when sober, given to the constant singing of mournful verses to improvised tunes. Most of the 'copy' is provided by PEG and a Jackaroo known as GOLLY, of the Reedy Creek Station, who delights in reporting local events and writing occasional leaders on district affairs. THE BANNER Office fronts the main street. A swing door opens from the street (left stage) towards a shop counter extending half-way across the office. There is also a back stage enttrance through the machinery room.

Immediately behind the counter is the Editor's cubicle. Its table is littered with old newspapers, paste pots and scissors. The Proprietor is at the table clipping extracts from other newspapers. Behind the Editor's cubicle are the usual fittings of a newspaper office before the day of the linotype in country offices—cases of type and stools, an old hand-press, an inking table with rollers, a making-up stone, and a small foot-treadle job-printing machine. The office is untidy and littered with paper. On the walls are specimens of Poster and card printing.

PEG, MARTY and JIMMY are sitting on stools setting type.

(As the Curtain rises MARTY is singing to himself in doleful tones).

JOHN PENNY. Don't sing that song, Marty! It makes me thirsty.

PEG. Father Penny, you're slipping. It's a long way off eleven o'clock. (Leaving her stool and going to the printing press) Come here, Jimmy and ink these galleys. We'll never get these proofs out in time.

(JIMMY inks the galleys and PEG manipulates hand press singing softly).

Take thy Banner!

Let it wave!

O'er the faithful,

And the Brave.

(Takes proofs to JOHN PENNY). Get these corrected father...We're all behind time as usual, and don't worry If you see small L's used for capital I's.

JOHN PENNY. Type getting low again?

PEG. Not more than usual, but the member's speech Jimmy is setting up will take all the I's.

JIMMIE. Over thirty of them already! And I'm only half through.

PEG. (Going back to her stool). Jimmie, I've a feeling that this will be a busy day Something's going to happen.

JOHN PENNY. (Putting on his coat and hat). I'll do these proofs later on. Old Booty is to receive five deputations at the Commercial at eleven and I must get particulars of everything before the start.

MARTY. (Moves towards back door ). Five deputations at the Commercial and the member there! I'll he back later on. (Leaves >by door back stage).

PEG. (As Penny reaches the door ). That means five drinks. Come here a minute, father.

(As JOHN P. comes back to his cubicle PEG produces a printed card from under a type case)

This is a morning for the Litany. Stand to attention Jimmie.

(JIMMIE stands to attention.)

(To PENNY). Take off your hat and repeat the words after me. (Reading from the card)—Whereas my daughter...

JOHN PENNY. (Hurriedly recites). Whereas my daughter Margaret, commonly known as Peg—

PEG. Not commonly!

JOHN PENNY. Whereas my daughter, generally known as Peg, brought up my motherless children, including herself, from infancy, and whereas on reaching years of discretion my said daughter became Editor and Business Manager of the Boondi Banner; and whereas my said daughter struck work and and—

PEG. And only-

JOHN PENNY. And only resumed her onerous duties on my agreeing when called on to repeat the following solemn undertaking—

PEG. I promise.

JOHN PENNY. I promise that now and for ever hereafter I will only have one at eleven, and one at four, on six days of the week, with one extra on Sundays!

JIMMIE. S'elp!

JOHN PENNY. So help me, God! (Makes for the door hurriedly)

PEG. Send some copy over as