The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-06
NEVER SAW THE LIKE.
Garfield Park Will Be the Scene
of a Spectacle
Such as Has Never Before Been
Attempted in Kansas.
Three Hundred Children in Fancy
Costume on an Immense Stage
Under the Trees.
"Cinderella'' in all it's beautiful spec

"Cinderella'' in all it's beautiful spec
tacular magnificence will be given at
Garfield park, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday evenings, July 20, 81 and %.
Mrs. E. B. Meredith, who is training
the 300 children, for the performance
says that the opera will be the most
elaborate of its kind ever given in To-
peka- The money raised will gONtO the
floral festival fund.
Every morning at Hamilton hall Mrs.
Meredith meets the children and trains
them. II is an immense undertaking,
but the work is being taken care of in
an excellent way. Major A. H. Shreve
and Prof. J. H. Wetherell are assisting
in training somw%f the dancing cIas-
ses.
"Cinderella's" coach is now being
manufactured in Topeka 1t will be a
miniature hack, painted white with
gold trimmings and will have red satin
hangings. 1t will be drawn by four
tiny Shetland ponies, will carry Gin
derella,' a coachman and two footmen.
1t will be driven right onto the large
stage which will be erected at Garfield
park.
Nearly everyone is familiar with the
story of Cinderella 1t is a most
beautiful story of fairy land. When
the naughty sisters have left the pal
ace for the princes ball and Cinderella
is alone and weeping, all the magic
changes in the story in the way of
changing pumpkin into coach, mice
into ponies, and changing "CinderellaS
rags into a fine ball dress will be made
in full view of the audience. The
princes ball will be the brilliant spec
tacle of the occasion.
Following this, the banquet scene, is
the occasion for the introduction of
many beautiful dancing specialties.
Miss Fay Shreve, daughter of Major
Shreve, will give the fire dance. This
has never been given in Topeka, and
it will be a decidedly novel speciality.
The dance is one of Loie Ful1er'S. On
a large plate of thick glass Miss Shreve
will give the dance, while below and
above her, colOred calcium lights will
be thrown on her. She will apparent
ly arise from the floor and float about
in the fiery glare while sparks and
flames will seem to leap from her head
and finger tips. Then she will seem to
vanish and fall to the floor into a small
heap of ashes. Miss Ethel Nichols will
give a rainbow dance. The palace guards
of the prince will drill, dressed in pale
green and gold. They will be 81 girls.
The kings pages, II little boys, will be
led in a song and dance by Miss Grace
Meredith, aged 10 years, who will sing
Mrs. c. S. Baker, entitled We're Little
Pages of the King" Miss Dimple Bak-
er will sing a topical song. The ribbon
dance to be given by IA little girls who
will be dressed in white and will dance
and then pose, will be a feature.
Five girls will give a tambourine
dance.
prince Charming will be represent
ed by Henry Daily, while cinderella
will be Mrs. Lulu Dalby. The two
naughty sisters of Cinderella will be
Maud Shearer and Louise Henderson.
In the banquet scene the various
dishes served will be represented by diff
ferent little ones dressed to represent
the articles of food and table ornaments.
First the bouquets will make their
entree and will pose in the front part
of the stage.
Major Shreve's little boy will be
dressed to represent a lobster and will
he brought huge platter.
Boys dressed to look like oysters and
girls carrying large silver forks will
make their entrance and dance and
sing.
The blackbird pie will be brought on
and "a blackbirds will pop out of it.
Miss Charlotte Butterfly will accompany
the boys and dance a fairy dance. The
strawberries will come on as a dessert,
and will also dance. Following these
the ice cream and cake will be served,
each represented by children in cos
tune.
The whole opera will close with
grand tableau in which all the children
will take part.
Mrs. Meredith says that most of the
dances have been completed now and
that those who take the principal parts
are well up on their lines. The work of
building the large stage and of fitting
up seating accommodations for the large
crowds who will attend will be COM
menced soon Oscar Swayze, secretary
of the Committee of Fifteen is looking
after the business arrangements, while
Mrs. Sutton is giving valuable aid.
The opera with it's spectacular fea-
lures, and it's bright catchy music, will
be the most elaborate juvenile enter
tainment ever attempted in Topeka Its
success is assured. and no doubt the
people of Topeka who want to see the
Floral feature of the Fall Festival a
big success, will patronize the opera
handsomely. The price of admission to
the park will be placed low, so that all
may attend Mr.. Paramore, who has
charge of the park, is now considering
the proposal of the management and
will announce his terms in a few days.
1t is pretty safe to say that he will do
the right thing for the Floral commit
E.,lI