Three girls should wear ridiculous costumes, making themselves as
grotesque as possible. Each one being a prima donna, should try to
outdo the other in appearance as also in voice. The hair should be
fashioned after the same arrangement as that of a celebrated vocalist,
the hands and arms should be covered with evening gloves. The material
of the frock need not be costly, but it should be smart and showy; the
frock should be made with a train. Each should carry a conspicuous
fan, or immense bouquets of large bright flowers, such as full-blown
roses, poppies, yellow chrysanthemums, etc. The bouquets should be
trimmed elaborately around with white paper lace.
At an appropriate time the hostess will announce the arrival of three
celebrated Prima Donnas, and before they appear she will give each of
the company a noticeably colored paper flower, or bunch of flowers,
such as marigolds, morning glories, scarlet geraniums. Having given the
flowers, she will say, “When the artists have concluded their song, let
each one do as I do.”
This said, the artists enter, and having promenaded to the front room,
gesticulating all the time, they bow and sing a line each, and each in
a different key, to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne,” the following:
Young Mousy Mouse
Has made a house
Out of the farmer’s cheese.