Glacier County chief., 1939-12-22
Christmas Tree Program
At High School Tonight

NJ Uu6u1 OI1uVV1 IOulIS uuI
The community Christmas tree
project is again under way and
the program will be held in the
high school auditorium Friday,
December %, at 500 pm. A very
colorful and attractive operetta
will be presented by the pupils
of the elementary school under
the direction of Miss Adeline
Logan and Miss Florence Schmidt
with the assistance of the other
teachers of the elementary school.
The operetta entitled THE
Maai's Gift" will be presente d in
two acts. The scene of the story
is laid in medieval England on
Christmas Eve. In the cathedral
there is q shrine believed by many
to contain the crown and scarlet
robe once worn by Caspar, one of
Three Wise Men. Tradition says
that once each year at the Christ
mas season. Caspar appears again
on earth, wearing his scarlet
robes and jewelled crown and
walks up and down the highways
giving a gift of gold and
heavenly blessing to all who
chance to meet him, just as he
brought a gift to the Little King
80 long ago.
Elsbeth, the little girl who lives
at the inn, believes with all her
heart in this legend. Her life
is not very happy one, as she is
living with the innkeeper, whom
she calls her uncle. EIsbeth has
only a faint recollection of her
father and mother. and Morley
will not allow her to speak of them
and tries in every way to con-
vince her that what she says she
remembers is not true.
On Christmas Eve, Sir Arthur
Hartford, Crusader but recently
returned from Palestine. comes
to visit the rich people in the
Manor House. He has been away
from England for over five years,
during which time he has learned
of the death of his father and
mother and little sister. The news
of Sir Arthur's arrival frightens
Morley so that he plans to send
Elsbeth to another part Of old
England. However, before he can
do 80, Elsbeth meets Sir Arthur,
and as he is wearing the white
tunic of the CRUSADER and a long
scarlet cloak. takes him to the
Magi she has so long expected.
Sir Arthur on talking to the little
girl discovers she is his sister
whom he believed to be dead; he
also recognizes in Morley the old
coachman who was with his fam
lily for many years. Morley is
forced to confess that after the
death of Elsbeth's parents who
were killed in an accident, he was
to take Elsbeth and a consider.
able sum of money to some
distant relatives. However, he
was tempted by the sight of so
much gold and so he reported
that the little one had been killed
with her parents and disappeared
with the child and the money.
He produces proofs of Elsbeth's
identity and the greater portion
OF the gold which he has never
dared spend. So Elsbeth receives
her gold and the greatest happi.
ness she could ask for in the re-
turn of her brother; and feels
that she has really received the
Magi's heavenly gift.
The rich children from the
Manor House and young Tom.
Morley's son, play important parts
in the story. The Mummers add
a great deal of merriment and
fun to the play. and the Carol
Singers, Strolling Players stage
The Nativity. scene from an
old mystery play of the Middle
Ages. The whole operetta has the
setting and atmosphere of Med.
ieval times.
Cast of Characters The Watch
man. Arthur Salois; Rich child.
rem of the manor house
Harold, Margaret. Mary Rodgers,
Danny Perkins, Eva Fields: The
Good Dame. Clara Marie Billie.
deaux; Elsbeth, Marilyn Beck;
Thomas Moreley. Thomas Starr;
Tom, his son, Charles Shelton;
Sir Arthur Hartford. Eddie Shell
ton; The Mummers-Wayne Dun
can, Leo Flamand. Henry White,
Stanley Perkins, Winslow Dever.
eaux; Three Shepherds-Elliot
Boggs. Earl Silvas. Calvin Clark;