Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
A LESSON IN ETIQUETTE.
A PLAY FOR LITTLE GIRLS.

who has hurt her foot. and is confined to
her chair.
Betty Dale. friend. who calls to see her
and tells her Of dolls tea party.
Maria Theresa. Marie. Angelina. Gretchen.
four little girls disguised dolls.
Scene-a sitting room. Molly stretched
In steamer chair; Betty sitting on low
stool beside her.
Mo.ly-It was SO good of you to come,
| Betty. And now tell me all about it.
Betty-You are sure you do not suffer?
, Molly-Oh. mol Only the doctor says that
| 1 must be quiet for week. and 50 many
| lovely things are to happen this week.
| First, this tea party.
Betty-If 1 tell you. dear. 1t will make
you feel worse. 1 would stay with you.
only your mother says that l mustn't, for
| you are to take your nap.
| Molly-Yes, take long nap every after
| noon And do you know, Betty, 1 have
| such lovely dreams. they seem really true.
Sometimes they are so funny l laugh right
| out loud.
Betty-wouldn't it be Jolly if you should
| think I'd like to see the thing from
the dolls side. We never hear what the
dolls think of tea parties. ana yet theTe
tn, poor dears sit through them all, look
ing on and hearing such things and never
getting a bite to eat.
Molly Caughing)-I never thought of that
1t is such funny idea. But go on.
Betty-You are to be at Graces at two.
YOU and your doll Angelina; and Marsaret
and her doll Gretchen; and Grace with her
new French doll Marie. Oh! | do SO wish
1 could have gone with Maria Theresa ene
Is so queenly and splendid. l have made
her lovely spangled crown. tried TO
stick it on with glue. but 1t DID not stay. SO
l keep it now with hat pin:
feeling? Well Grace's Marie is just from
France. Graces uncle sent her. The party
is for her. We are to show our best Amer
lean manners, and we are to nave tea ana
three kinds of cake.
Betty suppose Margarets Gretchen will
be dressed fine: no one would believe now
Margaret treats that dol on other occa-
sions
Molly-I suppose this Is gossipins. Bet
ty but if she had feelings dare say l
would have to be more careful. We'll
must go now you look sleepy. Molly. dear
Kisses herr Now dream about splendid
party, and tomorrow We'll exchange ex-
perences. Goes out)
Molly stretching and yawning)| am
40 sleepy, feel as If l should sleep until
tomorrow (Falls back among the pill
lows and breathes heavily. noise out
side In come three little girls dressed like
dolls and walking stiff1y)
Angelina-I wonder where Maria The
resa is? For a queen l think she has very
singular manners. Maybe 1t Is court ell
quette to hide from your guests
Maria coming from behind screen with
a crown hanging on one side Of her head
| tried to be ready. dears indeed l did,
but / have been suffering so!
Gretchen dressed in tatters)-I guess
it was your mistress who made you suner;
Don't talk to me about your humans.
think they are awful
Maria-Will one of you take off this
crown? It's pinned on with spike ana
runs straight into my brains
Marie (French doll. prettily dressed.
walks with mincing gait = Do let me try.
1 thought you did not believe in crowns
in this country. I've helped to take of
Frances crown. (Takes crown of Maria
Angelina-"Wel let us set the table and
have the first tea party of our lives. Eel
low citizens. this is the time of our lives.
Scurry, (AH hurry about stiff1y. set a
table and sit rigidly in chairs)
Gretchen-Now who shall tie hostess?
All together-I! l! l! IL
Angelna-Pray do not act like mis-
tresses. While I've sat at their stupid
for one human party. and I'd show them
hostess? (silence)
Argelina-Wel since none of you want
to be hostess l suppose I'll have to be.
Gretchen-You sound Just like that Bet
ty girl. I'd try to act more dolliied If 1
were you. The way that Betty makes her
self a hostess is positively painful"
(All shiver)
Marie-Do not talk of reign 1t makes
me think OF the reign Of terror.
Gretchen-It makes me think of getting
wet. And with these rags on the thought
is disagreeable. My one decent dress Is
kept for my mistress tea parties. Rags
are good enough for other times. Why.
when the sailor boy. Jack Tar. came to
call the other day l had to hide in Noahs
Ark. l was such a fright.
Angelina-Let Marie be hostess. she Is
company.
Mare-That sounds something like. l
RI a no tno
cup? passes 1T. Maria grins)
Maria-Ah. know the trick. If
take it. you will snatch It away from me
do. I've been to ninety-three tea parties in
various nurseries and 1 never drank a
drop of tea myself. and I've seen the hos
tess drink thousands Of cupsl
Mare-Mercy.
Gretchen tsnatching all the cakes)-rve
seen bushels Of cakes devoured at dolls tea
parties by mistresses I'm going to have a
taste now for the first time In my life (Be-
gins to eat)
Angelina-Well. I've had crumb stuck on
my nose now and then. but shall not see
that ragsedy Gretchen eat all those cakes.
tStares stih1y at herr
Marie-oh! mercy! think you need
crown on somebody's head II these are
American manners. (All fa. back in their
seats ashamed. Gretchen puts cakes ba ck
and hangs her head)
Marie-Im only giddy young thing, but
have a plan. Let each one do as she knows
is right and see what will happen We have
all suffered enough to have learned to be
merciful. Now each one do as she would
like to see her mistress do. Madam Maria
Theresa, do have cup Of tea.
Maria with elegant air accepts and
passes 1t to Observation-Disclosures! But beauty
first.
Gretchen Tin surprised Joy, passes It to
Angeiina)-You first dear. because Of your
quiet unselfishness.
Angelina Slipping it delightedy)-My first
cup of tea! do not wonder our mistresses
like tea parties. Marie pours and passes tea
to each one)
Maria Theresa-Do have some cakes, la
dies. Take all you want. Take two. (Au
accept)
Marie-You come from Holland, madam?
Hretchen with mouthfuD-Yesm. Coun-
Try or windmills and good-mannered chill
dren. " '
harie-And you. madam, are from Aus
IRA Charming country
MARIA Unnecessarily grandmother was an
austrian. married an American and be-
came neutral power
Marie-oh. how shocking! Do not mem
ton It, Cling to your country, madam. mar.
rage or no marriage. Is your husband
Naria-Not to me, madam. He lives
abroad (makes believe cry).
Marle-Tberef No MOI ,r,