Mr. Danbury, a theatrical manager, is visited by Ellis Harcourt, who seeks a position with one of Danbury's companies. Danbury tells him that, since he is unknown to him, he must prove his ability to act before being given any encouragement. Danbury takes a vacation, and invites some of his friends to go for a cruise with him on his yacht. One of his guests produces the latest edition of the Animated Grouch Chaser. The first picture they look at is "Kid Kelly'' in which the now famous juvenile gets a job as office boy. The kid and his dog manage to make things lively in the office, but at last the boss finds that he has had enough of Kelly's antics, and he and "Jip," the dog, are invited to take a permanent holiday. In "Silas Bunkum's Boarding House" we see Silas entertaining his guests with some amateur theatricals. Among the gifted performers are Mr. Grunt, the pig, and Miss Quack, the duck. Mr. Moor the calf cartoonist, does some clever stunts and Mr. Grunt brings down the house with his imitations of well-known men. While these cartoon pictures are being enjoyed, a tramp, who has come aboard just before the yacht's sailing, is enjoying himself while stowed away in a chest that stands on the deck near to the table where the party is sitting. One of the ladies, not caring to drink her champagne, pours it through a hole in the lid of the chest. The concealed tramp greedily laps it up as it descends through the hole. Later, at the height of their festivities he startles everyone by suddenly popping out of the chest. Danbury, after hearing the tramp's explanation of how he got there gives orders to have him put ashore at the first stopping place. As he is about to be put ashore, he turns his back on the crowd and fumbles with his beard. When he turns around, he is revealed as Harcourt, the actor, who has been masquerading in an exceptionally clever "tramp" make-up. Convinced at last that he can act, Mr. Danbury promises him an engagement, and invites him to remain as a guest on the yacht.