The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

you Scrooge, anyway. as don't know your
other name. Hurry up.
"But where are we going?'
"Out in Monument Place to join In the
entertainment. All sorts of jolly good
things are taking place out there"
ION the square?" gasped the newspaper
man.
mo, you idiot, on the circle" piped the
little man, with some show of disdain.
And then. as If regretting in an instant his
unkind speech, he hastily added. But come
on. Scrooge, I've been sent after you to
get you to join the carnival Remember,
this is the Indianapolis nights entertain
ment. Cheer up and enter into the Christ
mas fun,'
The theatrical reporter sprang TO his
feet and grabbed up his hat The Genii
caught hold of his hand and together they
made their way through the hallway and
down the stairs to the street. What a
wonderful sight presented itself to the gaze
of the astonished scr;bel Monument Place
was all aglow with electric lights. Great
streamers of scarlet and green ribbons
were floating from the top of the magnifi-
cent stone shaft, and the fountains were
playing as they had never played before,
enormous streams of glstening water shoot
ing I'D. up, I'D until 1t seemed as If the
gigantic sprays must reach to the starlit
skies above. oh, what a glorious sight it
wasi Oh. what spectacle for an artist!
what a feast for the very gods!
And as the two newcomers stood in front
Of the newspaper building looking straight
before them-the one showing absolute
amazement and the other denoting a proud
ownership in the dazzling scene-the big
double doors OF English's Opera House,
just across the asphalted thoroughfare,
burst open and hundreds of pretty girls,
in costumes of wondrous splendor, came
hurrying forth into the glare of the electric
lights.
Here, take a seat on the coping!' cried
the Genii as he hurried across the street,
pulling the newspaper man after him. 1.-The
opening chorus is just about to begin. I've
reserved two good seats over there by the
fountain for you and me-
In another moment the scribe and his
diminutive companion were sitting side by
side In place of vantage. Scrooge-for
by this name the newspaper man was
known throughout the night-observed that
the coping surrounding the monument and
the great flights of stone steps was crowd
ed with merrymakers, all CARRIED in gay
colors. and everybody laughing and shouting
and fiinging confetti and flowers into the air.
He noticed with amusement that on the
head Of every man and woman and child
was tissue-paper cap OF curious design
the kind Of cap that comes wrapped up in
the bonbons that are always distributed at
children's party. The Genii was wearing
one of the comical headpieces twhere it had
come from was a mystery, and, putting his
hand to his own head. Scrooge found that
a pointed Ounce cap was perched upon his
Uranium.
The pretty chorus girls continued to pour
out of the theater until several hundreds Of
them had gathered into one picturesque
group on the asphalted space in front of
the semi-circular hotel building.
For goodness sake. Genii. where did they
all come from?" exclaimed the reporter, his
eyes almost popping out of his head.
The Genii turned two little scornful orbs
upon him. "And you pretend to be a news
paper mani" said the queer little chap.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Why. don't you know that the greatest
Christmas pantomime in all the world has
just been given at English's. 1t was called
The Sultan of Dodo. or The Sleeping Blue
Beard OF Toyland.' There were 500 girls
in the chorus-count 'em if you don't be-
lieve me. Now that the show is over in
the theater all of the maidens are taking
part in the great local entertainment
Listen-the chorus is beginning"
And sure enough 800 sweet voices were al
that instant raised in a burst Of song
Scrooge suddenly became aware that an
orchestra Of unusual proportions had put