The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-12-29
THE ARI0N'S TREE.
Santa Claus Distribution of Gifts
Preceded By a Fairy Play.

The Children's Christmas festival held
yesterday afternoon at the Arion Club
for the children Of the members was
grand success and the acting Of the
children in the pretty little play far ex-
ceeded their parents expectations. The
play was four act adaptation OF Ger
man fairy tale called princes
Tansenschonen."
The story of the play is that Of a prin-
cess who at her birth received from her
fairy godmotner a ring possessed of won
derful properties for good and evil. This
ring she wore until she grew TO be quite
young woman, and as her finger IN
creased IN size the ring grew In proper
tlon. There was an old witch in the
neighDoring wood who had conceived a
violent hatred for the pretty princess.
but could not harm her while
she had the ring. One day the
princess aid the ring on the window sill.
and the witch. changing into an owl,
flew away with 1t. The princess fell Ill as
soon as the ring was gone and no one
could cure her. The king, her father, Of
fered her hand and half his kingdom to
any one who could make her we'll The
son Of monarch in neighboring coun-
try had been carried OF by an eagle and
dropped in the woods near the wirchfs
house He was found by cobbler,s wife,
who took him home. He did not like HIS
new quarters and ran away. While be
was lying asleep In the woods two elves
came TO MIN and whispered In his ear the
story OF the princess, and that he could
find the ring in the w1tch's well.
He, supposIng he had dreamed
this, went TO the well and
while the witch was asleep recovered
the ring. He at once went TO the palace
and demanded to see the princess. and
forced mis- way through the guards. He
gave her the ring and she recovered and
they lived happily ever after.
The parts ia the play were extremely
well taken and Paul Platsckke carried of
the honors. Moritz Wirths was very
clever and George Pratt and Harriet
Leibu were also very good. The Oldest Of
the children was only ten and for actors
so very young they did remarkably we'll
Minnie Hunsbrock was very good and re-
ceived two bouquets
After the play, which was applauded
with great enthusiasm by the parents of
the performers, Mr. H. G. Reese ap-
peared, dressed as Santa Claus, and made
a very graceful speech, after which the
handsome Christmas tree, laden with
presents for the little Leople, was bereft
of its treasures Dancing was then COM
meneed By young and old.
Among the many present were Mr.. and
Mrs Philip Pattberg and their children,
Mr.. II. Pattberg and family, Mr.. and
Mrs. Louis Pattberg, Mr.. Walter Wirths,
Mr.. and Mrs Rudolph Wirths.
Mr. and Mrs. II. Lieber and chill
dren, Mr. Wirths, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. l. Frankebach and children. Mr. and
Mrs. Nichols Witsch and children, Mr..
and Mrs. L. w. Kaestner, Mr.. and Mrs
William Heppenheimer, and Miss Helena
sHeppenheimer. Mr. and Mrs. George A.
Augustine and family, ylr. and Mrs
+. Armbrnster and child, Mr..
and Mrs. Castens and family. Mr..
Henry Dakaa, Mr.. and AIRS Gus HHna-
brock and family. Mr.. and Mrs. G. Ehr-
mann and family, Mr.. Morris Hammer
schlag and family. Mr.. and Mrs. F. Keim
Otto Otto Locke and children e Mr I.
Charles Locke and daughters, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Mehl and children, Mr. and
Mrs. Emil Mehl and family, Mr. and
Mrs. B. Raede and family. Mrs. and Mrs.
II. Reese and family aud Mr.. and Mrs.
Schmandt and children