Ten Female and Eight Male Figures.
This beautiful tableau is represented by eight small misses, eight
small lads, and two young and pretty ladies. The stage should be
formed so as to rise gradually from the footlights to the background,
which can be done by using boxes of various sizes, and covering them
with green bocking. Twelve of the children should form a circle, the
front of which must be two feet from the footlights, the back
extending to the other end of the stage. They should clasp each other
by the hand, and take the position of the Highland fling; the right
hand raised above the head, the left placed on the hip; the attitudes
should be as graceful as possible. The expression of the faces
denoting pleasure and mirth. Near the footlights, two of the children
should be seated, looking at the others; and standing on pedestals at
each side of the stage, near the front, are the young ladies. The
pedestals are two feet high, covered with pink cambric, and bordered
with green leaves and flowers. The position of the female figures must
be graceful and easy. They stand so as to show a profile view of the
body; each holds a golden wand, which she extends out over the heads
of the dancers. Their eyes are fixed on the movements of the children,
the left hand clasps a stout cord, to which is fastened a large
crimson tassel, that will help sustain the body in position. The
costume of the misses consists of a short white dress, with short
sleeves, the waist studded with small stars and spangles; the bottom
of the skirt bound with light green ribbon, three inches wide, with
gold paper fastened to each edge, and small pink roses placed between.
The sleeves are bound with gold and pink ribbon in alternate bands,
three inches wide; a small scarf of white gauze, covered with spangles
and fringed at the ends with gold, encircles the waist. Flesh-colored
hose, white slippers, a wreath of silver leaves about the head. The
hair arranged in short curls, and small gauze wings, ornamented with
spangles, fastened to the back of the waist.
The young lads' costume consists of a short coat, buttoned snugly over
the breast, made of light pink cambric. The bottom, the ends of the
sleeves, and the collar trimmed with purple cambric, three inches in
width, with narrow strips of gold paper on each side; between the
bands of gold, insert small diamond-shaped pieces of gold paper,
bordered with spangles. A belt made of the same material encircles the
waist; hose of flesh-colored cloth; white slippers, with pink rosette
on the front; a small cap, made of purple cambric, in the form of a
tulip, is worn on the head; it should be rather low, with a stem of
green protruding from the top, the edges scalloped, and bound with
gold paper. Small gauze wings are fastened to the shoulders, which are
ornamented with spangles and silver stars. The young ladies' costume
consists of a long white dress, with a robe worn on the outside of
tarleton muslin; the outer dress should have three wide flounces, the
edges of which are to be trimmed with large silver leaves,
interspersed with gilt roses; these can be made from gold and silver
paper. The waist must be cut quite low, and decorated in the same
manner; the sleeves flowing, and trimmed with spangles and pink
ribbons; large gauze wings, decorated with spangles and silver tinsel,
should be fastened to the back of the waist. The hair must be done up
in a neat coil, and encircled with a band of white flowers. Make the
wands four feet in length, and one half an inch in diameter; cover
them with silver paper, attach a gilt heart on the end. The light for
this tableau can be produced by a whitish-blue fire, burned at either
side of the stage; it should be quite brilliant, and must be lighted
before the curtain rises. Music of a lively order.