New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-21

debonair young gentleman. He moved
his head from side to side with a great deal AZ
assurance. He laughed. He shook his CAM.
He stroed about and staggered, and, finally.
most surprising of ALL he made perfect love.
For so engaging was his conduct that it at
tracted the attention of dainty little LADY,
mouse which lived near by. Timidly she
opened her latticed window and then, after
modest hesitation, she down to chatter
with him. Finally, delighted by his manner.
she responded gracefully to his sentimental
pleas.
This unusual scene, quaint and picturesque
took place recently in the presence of about a
score Of persons in New York home. But
there was nothing strange about this, for the
frog and the mouse were not at all real They
were just marionettes-dressed up puppets.
pulled by strings-and they were giving
marionette show, form of entertainment
which is growing in favor.
AS the frog and mouse caressed each other
a mans voice behind the scenes sang "A Frog
He Would a-Wooing Co." and the maronettes
fitted their gestures to the words if they
actually understood them When this part
of the performance came to an end real man
appeared before the miniature stage. He was
dressed in the costume of harlequin and no
stated in verse, that he going to trans
form himself into marionette. Without far
Their ceremony he jumped into the stage OPEN
ing and pulled back the curtains, concealing
himself entirely.
There was a silence. Then the curtains
opened again and disclosed what appeared to
be the same harlequin, standing alone the
stage, dressed up in the same picturesque
fashion and moving about in the same way.
This time, however, the harlequin was not
real man, but mariopette and only about ten
inches high.
The effect was surprising and delightful,
but twas to be followed by many other quaint
happenings. This time the scene was that Of
a kings castle, complete with all its draw
bridges and courtways, lords and ladies,
princesses, kings and court testers. All were
marionettes and all of them duplicated the
actions of real people Indeed, they presented
an entire play of their own, founded on
charming English ballad which told about
king who created great deal of havoc through
his passion for rhyme.
AS the story progressed the tiny marionettes
changed their costumes and managed their
properties in the drollest manner possible, rails
ing little parasols, powdering their noses and
gesticulating with fans and scepters. The
scenery too changed with the acts, and toward
the end Of the play there real storm at
sea, with miniature boat buffeted about
cruelty on high angry waves, while tiny sea
captain scarcely more than three inches high,
urged his men to be courageous. The eec-
trcal effects were astonishing as the lightning
flashed and far-off trees quivered in the storm.
When the last act came to an end all the
marionettes assembled on the stage and bowed
farewell. Then the audience was invited to
go back stage Here they found half dozen
persons who had been giving the show by
means of manipulating cords Their task is
extremely difficult, for they have to recte their
lines, interpret them properly, watch their
cues, and, at the same time, direct the move
ments Of the toy actors.
at is intricate work. explained their d.
rector land requires that one be on his nerve
every minute. Yet we love it. Indeed, when
one has once become interested in maronettcs
he becomes their slave, and never escape
from their magic power.
Il first started working with a number OF
rag dolls, and I believe other people could do
the same thing easily. | dressed these dolls to
resemble the characters in famous Mother
Goose stories, and then l attached their bodles'
hands and legs to cords. Then / made little
stage here in the garnet out of large picture
frame which / incosed in another frame about
five times as large. Then I covered the inter-
venng spaces with black cheesecloth and my
theater was complete.
"At first l acted out all the characters N.Y.
self, moving about two or three dolls to TIT the
situations. Then several Of my friends grew
interested and assisted me in preparing more
pretentious stage.
1--WE have found that working with MARION
cites is valuable training, for it teaches US
many things about art and literature we
have given plays founded on Idylls OF the
King and scenes from the principal novels Oh
Dickens, Thackeray, Tolstoy, knut Hamsu''
and Gorky. Thus, we have memorlzed the lneo
of many famous masterpieces and have gained
an intimate acquaintance with novelists metn-
DDS of drawing character.
eve have learned a great deal also ABOUT
the costumes and scenery of various countries
because we make our marionettes wear cos
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