“When all was ready for the first representation， the whole company requestedpermission to speak to me before appearing in public. The dancing lady said the house couldnot be supported unless she stood on one leg; for she was a GREat genius， and begged tobe treated as such. The lady who acted the part of the queen expected to be treated as aqueen off the stage， as well as on it， or else she said she should get out of practice. The manwhose duty it was to deliver a letter gave himself as many airs as he who took the part of firstlover in the piece; he declared that the inferior parts were as important as the great ones，and deserving equal consideration， as parts of an artistic whole. The hero of the piece wouldonly play in a part containing points likely to bring down the applause of the house. The 'primadonna' would only act when the lights were red， for she declared that a blue light did not suither complexion. It was like a company of flies in a bottle， and I was in the bottle with them;for I was their director. My breath was taken away， my head whirled， and I was as miserableas a man could be. It was quite a novel， strange set of beings among whom I now foundmyself. I only wished I had them all in my box again， and that I had never been their director.So I told them roundly that， after all， they were nothing but puppets; and then they killedme. After a while I found myself lying on my bed in my room; but how I got there， or how Igot away at all from the Polytechnic professor， he may perhaps know， I don't. The moonshone upon the floor， the box lay open， and the dolls were all scattered about in greatconfusion; but I was not idle. I jumped off the bed， and into the box they all had to go，some on their heads， some on their feet. Then I shut down the lid， and seated myself uponthe box. 'Now you'll have to stay，' said I， 'and I shall be cautious how I wish you flesh andblood again.'
“I felt quite light， my cheerfulness had returned， and I was the happiest of mortals. ThePolytechnic professor had fully cured me. I was as happy as a king， and went to sleep on thebox. Next morning— correctly speaking， it was noon， for I slept remarkably late that day— Ifound myself still sitting there， in happy consciousness that my former wish had been afoolish one. I inquired for the Polytechnic professor; but he had disappeared like the GREekand Roman gods; from that time I have been the happiest man in the world. I am a happydirector; for none of my company ever grumble， nor the public either， for I always makethem merry. I can arrange my pieces just as I please. I choose out of every comedy what I likebest， and no one is offended. Plays that are neglected now-a-days by the great public wereran after thirty years ago， and listened to till the tears ran down the cheeks of the audience.These are the pieces I bring forward. I place them before the little ones， who cry over them aspapa and mamma used to cry thirty years ago. But I make them shorter， for the youngstersdon't like long speeches; and if they have anything mournful， they like it to be over quickly.”
汽轮上有一位模样很老的人，长着一个欢快的脸庞，若不是做作出来的，那他必定就是世界上最快乐的人了。确实，他是这么说的;我听他亲口说的;他是丹麦人，我的老乡，一位巡回剧院的经理。整个戏班子都由他带着，就在一个大箱子里;他是演木偶戏的人。他的天性中的好心情，他说，还被一位理工学院1毕业生净化过一番，由於受过那位毕业生的那次试验，他有了完满的幸福。我并没有立刻明白他的意思，但是他接着便把这件事的来龙去脉对我讲了个清清楚楚。这里便是他的解释。