cut the morning before the performance. Painted scenery of course should
be used to help out. Palms and shrubs can be rented for the evening. A
great many pieces of candy--say, molasses drops wrapped in
tissue-paper--should be laid in the branches of the sugar-plum tree. The
bean-stalk can be made of three good-sized poles, set close together in
openings cut through the stage. The tops should go up out of sight of
the audience and be secured to a platform where actors can hide at the
right time. The poles should be wound with real foliage, or with green
tissue-paper. The trunk of the telephone tree might be a hollow log, in
which a small door is cut. The bell and cardboard receiver are hung
inside the opening. Branches should be skilfully thrust into the top of
the log, to finish the tree. Branches should be heaped also about the
“roots” of all the trees, and the more green things there are scattered
about the stage, the better. The blunderbuss is made by fitting a
cardboard horn to the end of a rifle, shot-gun, or toy gun; but the
entire weapon can be made of wood and cardboard.