The New York herald., 1870-12-26

Brilliant Success Of "The Christ Child's
Fenst," Last Night, mt the Grand Opera
House.
The miracle play forms one OF the few bright
CLEANS OF poetry that ilumined the mediava ages
and many modern poets and cssayists notably
Longfellow in 1.-THE Golden Legendrl have at
tempted, not without success. to er:ag home 10 Ms
the strangely quaint charm tasf stil ellngs II In
the memory OF scholars. II had. however, two
grave and even conspicuous fauIts-coarseness aud
basphemy. With these few words OF Introduc
tion we bring TO the notice OF our readers the
interesting entertainment at the Grand Opera
House last evening, under the auspices Of the So
dality or st. Paul's Church. Although announced
simply as Kinderfeste, or Chrischild's feast, 1t
revived all the more pleasing features OF the old
miracle play while II carefully avoided its grosser
bemlshes. There was The same curious mlngng OF
saints 'and school children and angels and Mary
and Joseph, and the shepherds OF Bethlehem; the
same splendid display Of rich cOored dresses; the
same tone OF child-like belief In The absolute power
Of mother Church. and the unquestlonable
reality of her traditions and legends. No mere
charming or appropriate mode OF worraily celebrate
ing Christmas sunday evening could have been
devised. The play opened with tables AL OF school
children the boys dressed III the uniform or the
S0daity and the girls in plain white muslin. In the
centre were boy with red cape frnged vita gold,
and girlsor larger growth the queen OF the feast
with wand OF authority, while the side groups were
relieved by two maidens bearing the green nag OF
Erin ana our own dear many starred banner. Alter
several glees hymning the praises OF this joyous
festival, had been rendered with singularly
pleasing effect by the fresh voices OF the children,
the COED Santa Klaus himself appeared upon the
scene, vested In his snowspanged robe and fur cap
and bearing IN one hand bundle OF switches and
In the other bag OF goodies to reward the evil ana
the good children according to their deeds of the
past year. The next part exhibited the episode OF
the shepherds and the announcement Of the birth OF
the Messiah by the heavenly messengers, with "A
view In the background OF the stape--net grotto.
but a realistic stable with a realistic manger-in
which the Saviour OF mankind first "took upon
Him nesh.- The closing tabieau con.
sisted OF scenes around the Christmas tree, three OF
which were stripped to I'LL the hearts OF the youth
1ul players with harmless pleasure. The play con
cluded by speeches OF thanks TO the givers OF tLt
entertainment and chorus or praise ts Him whose
hand is ever opened 10 minister TO tie wants of HI
| creatures.
| The entertainment could scarcely have been better
managed, II the want Of punctuallty IN beginning at
the advertised time be excepted, and reflected til,
greatest credit on all concerned IN its production
| The singing was excellent, the orchestra wei
trained, the dresses and appointments splendid ant
| yet tasteful Indeed, the whole affair was so bril-
| liant success that there be little doubt tina
| every Christmas henceforth Chrtst-child's feas
| VIII be one OF the most charming features OF til,
| New York celebration Of the festival