The National tribune., 1882-09-16

for charity; for, when one of them grew up, he
wished to write for the Sc. Nicholas something
that would interest the hosts of children who
read the magazine, and he wrote for them
full account fthe pantomime OF he Rats and
the Mice" and the opsretta of Bobby Shaf-
toe" which have since been acted IN hundreds
Of parloTs. to the delight Of old and young
And even this was not the end. A few
years later he was asked 10 assist In raising
very large sum of money for charity; and
remembering the funny old mill theatre, he
caused lovely airs TO be composed for these
pieces, and, 10 connection with many other
scenes, had them presented in large opera
houses by young ladies and children, to
audiences of their friends who gathered
IN such numbers that as much as one
Thousand dollars has been realized in q
single evening from the simple and natural
representation of these Mother Gt>ose PLAYS
In every city of note from Montreal to St
Louis, with three exceptions, these Gems of
Nursery Lore have earned money for charit-
able purposes, and in many of the reprssen-
tations the costumes and appointments have
been very costly and elegant; but none Of
them have given more pleasure to actors and
spectators than was enjoyed by the simple
country people who witnessed the original
performance in the old mill On the hillside,
in which all these greater and more elabor-
ate exhibitions originated. This little trib-
ute of respect to the dear old Dame, to
whose early inspiration so many poets and
wise men owe their best efforts, will not be
considered out of place; but there are those
who feel that Mother Goose has had her day,
and tnat her old rhymes have become little
hackneyed by Ott-repeated representation.
To such as these, St. Nicholas has offered
many pantomimes and operettas on wholly
rev themes, and these may be readily used
By young folk to earn money for charity.
The children OF to-day are constantly ask
ing: How can we also make money to help
carry on our Sunday mission schools and to
help the pOor?n Letters of inquiry come
often from distant cities and towns in the
Far West. In reply to these queries we
would recommend the Children's Carnival
rs the simplest and newest method. To en-
.
true story may not be cut of place. In one
of the chief cities of western New York the
largest church In town contemplated an en-
tertainment for charity and became discour-
aged, when two young schoolgirls took up
the abandoned idea and carried it out with
immense success, using the operetta and
pantOmime from this magazine
TtA.1
notice of your plan in the schools, asking
those interested to meet for the choice OF
manager, treasurer, and committees for the
alcoves, refreshments, and amusements,
which may consist of three or more girls
and boys for each. The first committee has
the duty Of arranging stage at the end of
the hall, unless one is already built, as is
the case in many town-halls, and also the
choice of twenty-five performers and the Sc
lection of the pantomime, operetta, and tab
leau from their magazines. The manager is
responsible for all performances on this
stage, which should occupy an hour after
the supper, and before the sales in the al
coves. The refreshment committee prepare
tables across the end of the hall opposite the
stage and attend to the supper, which is So
Iicitea from the homes of all interested.
They also choose four walters for each
table, who bring the refreshments from q
side room and collect the money for them.
The treasurer has charge of all receipts
and pays all expenses, and appoints door
keepers, ushers, and ticket-sellers. The
committee on alcoves prepare three on each
side Of the hall, draped with cambria or
any hangings suitable for the periods repre-
sented. They also choose attendants for
each, in appropriate costumes, as, for in
stance, the Curiosity Shop, with Little
Nell" " and "Grandfather," who show or sell
antique furniture and bric-a-brae in the up
per alcove on the left side of the hall. In
the next three Turkish girls sell coffee, and
in tie third two Japanese sell tea and fans
Across the ball "SiInple Simon sells pies
and cakes, and Dame Trot" fancy goods
and toys; and in the last alcove, on the right
side of the hall three little fairies sell candy.
Flower girls fit around the hall with bou-
auefs, and music is furnished from piano
or orchestra, in case of q dance or promenade
at the end of the evening. The performance
on the stage is of course the principal at
traction, and may be very effectively used in
any parlor or hall, with or without the car
nival; but the latter, when the work is
divided, is not as labOrious as you might sup
pose, and cannot fail to please as well as to
earn money for charity.