New-York tribune., 1900-12-23
CHRISTMAS MERRYMAKING
END OF THE CENTURY INNOVATIONS IN
FESTIVITIES-HIGH PRICES PAID
FOR DRAWING ROOM EN-
TERTAINIENTS
TERTAINAIENTS

| How to entertain the children of smaller and
| larger growth we--for all children on
| Christmas Day-is of the problems of the sea-
| son. The giving of expensive entertainments in
| private homes is an end of the century innovation
IN this country. Thirty years ago these were linn
ited music, lectures and recitations, with some
| times the help of q hhmorist. Since that time there
| has been a growing tendency to copy England In
| employing professionals, and now talent is engaged
! for private horses at a cost ranging from SO for
| Punch and Judy to $1,000 for opera stars. Five
| years ago a vaudeville entertainment for private
! house club would not have been considered high
class. To-day 1t is the fad, and has been elevated
almost to the standard of the musical field. For
| the little ones Punch and Judy is as fascinating
as it their forebears and Santa Claus. in
| velvet robe and cap, his long, white beard still
bristng with the icy winds of the snow country. is
| just captivating ever.
Mamma" shrieked youngster last year, as the
good saint, bearing his load pranced into the room,
| "ask him to stay TO supper"-this being the acme
| Of hospitality according to baby ideas.>
You can ask him. responded the mother and
| Alfred, seizing Santa Claus by the coat, gave a
pressing invitation.
ITO superb exclaimed Santa Claus in great
amaze my man, do you not know that / never
get minute to eat; that it is Christmas somewhere
all the timer
Alfred, without evincing particle of perturba-
ton turning to his mother said. why. mamma,
he looks just as If he ate lot"
As Santa Claus Uncle Jack whose appetite
part of the programme received hearty applause.
Another little boy had determined to satisfy his
curiosity to Santa Causs mode of entrance to
the house. and escaping from his mothers vigi-
lance discovered the saint eating bonbons in the
buffers pantry. Rushing back to the assembled
family in the library, he shouted: Santa Claus
has come! He got down somehow and is eating
candy in there!"
This year this youngster, remembering Santa
CIauss sweet tooth, insisted leaving box of
ed
Strange as may seem. when the stocking was ex-
plored in the morning the candy was gone and in
place of it a note of thanks signed Santa
Claus"
The marionettes, popular among the French
children who support with their pennies travelling
shows of the kind in the Champs Elysee and other
Paris parks is liked equally well by Young Ameri-
ca .:nd has become of the favorites among
parlor entertainments 1t consists of stage. with
settings scenes properties and costumed figures.
the latter about three feet in height. The enter
comes in and with the aid of a ventriloquist rem
ders popular songs; balloon ascensl9H na me
haps more than all. delights the youngsters. For,
while he dances his bones suddenly fall apart and
lie scattered on the floor Then. before there is
time to recover from amazement at the calamity
begin gather themselves together until
again the perfect skeleton whirls about the stage
Magic always delights the younger members or the
family. and the man who shakes an empty hand
kerchief and produces live rabbit or bird, or
garded as more than mortal. The old fashioned
humorst and the palmist, too always WAYS entertain, t ain
animal man. who appearing in the skins of vari-
Gus domestic and wild animals. initiates their cries
and antics. The shadOwgraph is another never
falling source of amusement. An entire play the
of which are the ten fingers and thumbs or
a deft pair of hands is part of the programme for
one home. A house will appear on the sheet, and
beneath the window serenaders A pail of water
thrown from the window submerges the singers
and policeman appears upon the scene and takes
them off. Cinderella and other fairy and nursery
tales in brilliantly colored moving pictures are
among the newest pleasure giving schemes.
Merry revel will be heard in many country houses
which have been kept open until after the holidays
and to supply these. well city homes. with
suitable entertainment will tax 10 their utmost
the amusement bureaus.
While the ctildrens entertainment Will in most
cases occupy the morning afternoon of Christ
mas Dav that for the grownups will be given in
the evening. For these vaudeville performances
are most popular, and cost the most. These, OF
course, necessitate large rooms and stage. other
and simpler modes of amusement are found In
musical programmes for which soloists, guar
tets mnstrels, bands, orchestras. ETC. can be pro,
cured. Comedians story tellers. caricat turists and
mOnoiogists help to make enjoyable evening.