Revised list of high-class original motion picture films (1908)

COMEDY. is seated on a park bench and engaged in the congenial occupation of flirting with a nurse maid. In the distance the inspector on his rounds is seen approaching, but the officer of the law just manages to avoid detection by taking off his hat and coat and hiding them under the bench he is sitting upon. After the inspector has passed by he continues his interrupted lovemaking. An inoffensive tramp 'has been an interested spectator of the whole proceeding, and is not slow to take advantage of the opportunity afforded. Watching his chance while the amorous guardian of the law is otherwise engaged he creeps up behind the affectionate pair, and, managing to obtain the hat, coat and club, escapes with them, unnoticed. Now the bogus policeman, having arrayed himself in his "borrowed feathers," and counterfeiting a genuine officer to the best of his ability sallies forth to see what graft he can gather in his new character. He goes back to the park and stations himself opposite a sign which prescribes the speed limit. He does not have to wait long before he secures his first victim, and peremptorily halts an automobile which is being driven too fast. Only one thing for it; the hapless automobilist must stand for a good sized "touch" or go to the lock up, and naturally preferring the former gives up to the supposed officer and continues on his way unmolested. Minor matters next engage his attention, and in his new character he enters into a very vigorous flirtation with two young ladies who are resting on a bench. Then he surprises a couple of unfortunate hoboes drinking from a can, and, driving them away, finishes the beer himself. Much refreshed, he goes out to look for new victims and surprises a petty thief who is snatching fruit in front of a grocery store, and arrests him, but, finding a kindred spirit, they go off and consume the spoils, and together plan fresh outrages on an inoffensive public. The partnership is commenced by the new member holding up a passing citizen, and while he relieves him of his money and jewelry the tramp policeman appears on the scene and pretends to arrest him and lead him off. They are no sooner around the corner and out of sight, however, than the same farce is repeated, and the money divided between them. A luckless Greek with a fruit stand is next to suffer, and what is done to him is a shamp. The alleged policeman takes sample after sample, and finally makes a clean sweep of one end of the stand, and filling his hat goes off, 'leaving the unfortunate vendor speechless with rage. Around the corner he finds his friend waiting for him, and after a hearty dessert they change clothes, and the chum, arrayed as a policeman, returns to still further persecute the unhappy peddler, and after taking what is left of his stock, tips the cart over and leaves him uttering the choicest imprecations known to the Greek language. One more atrocity: A large sign is prepared, "Help the Blind," arrayed in which the second hobo seats himself in a sunny corner to excite the sympathy of the passers-by. Trade is dull, and the fraud policeman pretends to savagely assault the blind man and beat him brutally about the head, just as a kindly looking lady arrives in sight. She, of course, remonstrates, and gives the supposed blind man a handsome present, which the two divide as soon as she is out of sight. A Jewish clothier next comes in sight, and the tramp policeman, by this time being tired of the game, sells his hat and coat to the Jew, and adds the amount thus obtained to his bank roll. Before long the Jew meets the genuine policeman, hatless, coatless and clubless, who recognizes his missing articles and promptly arrests and leads off the luckless Jew, while the scene closes with a picture of our unscrupulous friend counting his ill-gotten gains with a smile of unmitigated slyness and audacity. B. P. 2349-2354. SIGHTS IN A GREAT CITY. Price, $57.1)0. Approximate length, 475 feet. Picture that is a little different from the rest, filled with humorous incidents, pathetic occurrences and sensational happenings. It is interesting from beginning to end. It appeals to one's humorous, 198