ists; he does things of this sort when he's free, on Sundays.

WAGONMAKER. If I may venture an opinion, I think it inconceivably
difficult to get at the pith of the strophe.

SHOEMAKER. That's just the fine point, you see! But hush--methinks we
have the rain here. [Puts on coat.]

WAGONMAKER. Do the gentlemen think it worth while to stand here in the
rain and get soaked on that old duffer's account?

SHOEMAKER. But we are paid to support the song and we must at least
do the trio before we go; for when we all pitch in together the object
itself won't be able to sleep! The oration, on the other hand, can be
given at any time; besides, there is too small a public for so big a
speech. We'll take the trio--do, mi, sol, do. It is not as ideal as the
aria, but it evinces greater familiarity with the specific conditions.
[Rain patters, wind increases.]

CHIROPODIST. Damned if I stand here any longer and catch cold for that
old charlatan! Remuneration? Six marks each! One can do without that.

WAGONMAKER. I think so, too.

SHOEMAKER. Were you not in on the subscription for the statue, perhaps?
Were you not there and helped, with a medallion, to turn him into a
great man?

WAGONMAKER. Well, we had to, didn't we? otherwise they would have downed
us.

SHOEMAKER. True--but it is ungrateful not to respect his memory. I shall
sing the trio alone.

CHIROPODIST. Oh, you can do it--you, with your sou'wester! I'm going
home to breakfast. [Flings wreath on pedestal, dashes hood of cloak over
head and runs off.]

WAGONMAKER. This is the last time I'm going to lend myself to such
tomfoolery! Good-bye!

SHOEMAKER. [Alone.] And now I'm going to the burgomaster's for a brandy.
But first, I must deliver my speech to the old man on the pedestal;
then my conscience will be easier. [Talks to statue.] You think, you
old Schulze, it is for your sake that we sing, for your sake that we
speechify; can't you comprehend that we do so for our own sakes? We need
a big man to push forward when we turn out to be too little ourselves.
We need your word to quote, since no one credits ours. Our little town
needed your statue in order to become a great city; your insignificant
relatives needed your statue to help them get on and find occupation in
this troublesome world--and therefore, mark you, you stand so high
above us all--a figure for naught but ciphers! Now you have heard a
true remark, you poor wretch! the first and the last you'll hear,
p