Mazulem the Night Owl

“The woman from the Manhattan Women’s Red Pantomime Troup performed Mazulem the Night Owl In White Castle last night. According to the pantomime’s program, the pantomime was written by no other than “Helen America”. The dramas characters: The clown, Freedman Bureau Bell, a black boy, Levy Stickemall, a merchant offering two “segars” for five cents, A Yankee Peddler, a Lady shoplifter, a roast turkey, and the eponymous “Mazulem”.

The whole cast were played by woman, but you could hardly tell by looking at any of the characters for their costumes and makeup hid this fact and transformed them into the characters they were to perform.

The clown is known as “Jackdaw Jaculation”, was ornate with frills in elaborately spangled satin, boasted an egg-bald shaven pate and the sinister white-face of the Pierrot, touched by color in the outlined lips.

The Pantomime opened in what was supposed to be a hotel dining room with the peripatetic Roast Turkey, apparently played by a dwarf, attacking the diners with a carving knife.

The audience was howling rowdily, though less in response to the substance of the pantomime, whatever that might be, than to the whirling, curiously formless dances of the Communard woman, their bare shines and ankles plainly visible beneath the ragged hems of their flowing garments.”

The Difference Engine, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

Great Owls and other Fowl

“Not feeling inclined for slumber, however, instead of turning in Quatermain sat at the doorway contemplating the beauty of the night while I watched the countless fireflies that seemed to dust the air with sparks of burning gold; also the great owls and other fowl that haunt the dark. These had come out in numbers from their hiding-places among the ruins and sailed to and fro like white-winged spirits, now seen and now lost in the gloom.“

Chapter XXIII, What Umslopogaas Saw, She and Allen, H. Rider Haggard

Owls

I found these four owls on eBay. You never know when you might need a wise owl around. They stand one and half inch’s high and are made of solid resin. They are full of detail and are rather cute and were rather reasonable priced I might add.

A Host of Characters-Sir Harry the Muse

Sir Harry the Muse Offers a Service to the Warriors of Redwall

“The owl bowed gravely and blinked his enormous eyes. Matthias bowed courteously in return. “good morning, Sir Harry. I am Matthias, Warrior of Redwall.” When asked why he was called the Muse, Sir Harry “struck an artistic stance” and quipped the following poem:

‘Why pray, do you suppose?

I’m master of poetry and prose,

No equal have I in field and wood,

No creature in smidgeon, a fraction as good.

And if you need a poet, why, here’s one to choose,

This Owl…Sir Harry the Muse.”

Although the owl was applauded, it was mentioned that the “Warriors” were not looking for a poet at this moment.

“The owl blinked in a dignified manner and exclaimed:”

‘Then tell me what you need.

Someone to perform a deed?

A mummer perhaps, or a singer of songs?

A champion, righter of wrongs?

A companion, maybe, to stand at your side?

For my talents are varied and wide.’

After eating a shrew cake and being promised several more, Sir Harry the Muse flies off the top of the cliff and lets down the rope latter that had been hauled up by the slavers.

A Host of Characters-Reaper 25mm Leprechaun and Owl

This is not my first Reaper miniature, but it is my first Leprechaun and owl with a rider.The Chronicles of Narnia’s The Silver Chair has a mention or two of talking owl’s carrying humans around on their backs. I will have to go back and pick out these occurrences.

When I was a child me Mum gave my sister and I a good talking about everything Irish and used to talk in her mother tongue often when my sister and I when we vexed her.

Leprechauns are mischievous and not to be trusted, but capturing a Leprechaun would allow you three wishes, the price for his freedom. At the end of the rainbow you might find the Leprechaun’s Pot of Gold.

Although this Leprechaun might have already had two sheets to the wind he has his pipe and his jug and is ready to take off to the great blue yonder.