enaded the floor of the gymnasium in twos, threes or in
whole companies.

Simple Simon, whose tall, lank figure bore a startling resemblance to
that of the Crane, paraded the floor, calm and unafraid, with none less
personage than the terrible Blue Beard. Hansel and Gretel immediately
formed a warm attachment for Jack and Jill, and the quartet wandered
confidently about together. Little Miss Muffet, in spite of her reputed
daintiness, clung to the arm of Bearskin, who, despite the fact that his
furry coat was that of a buffalo instead of a bear, was a unique success
in his line. One suspected, too that the Brave Little Tailor, whose
waistcoat bore the modest inscription, "Seven at One Blow," and who
tripped over his long sword at regular two-minute intervals, had an
impish, freckled countenance. The straight, lithe figure of the youth
with the Magic Fiddle reminded one of Lawrence Armitage, while his
constant companion, Aladdin, a sultan of unequaled magnificence, had a
peculiar swing to his gait that reminded sharp-eyed observers of Hal
Macy. The Four Fat Friars loomed large and gray, and fanned imaginary
flies with commendable energy, while Snow White, accompanied by her
faithful dwarfs, made a radiantly beautiful figure and was greeted with
ejaculations of admiration wherever she chose to walk.

There were kings and courtiers, queens and goose girls. There were
jesters and princesses, old witches and fairies. Mother Goose was there.
So were Jack Horner, Bo-peep, Little Boy Blue and many more of her
nursery children, not to mention two fearsome giants, at least ten feet
high, whose voluminous cloaks concealed figures which appeared far too
tall to be true. Rapunzel trailed about on the arm of her prince, her
beautiful hair, which looked suspiciously like nice new rope, confined
in a braid at least three inches wide and hanging gracefully to her
feet. Cinderella came to the party in her old kitchen dress, accompanied
by her fairy godmother, and Beauty was attended by a strange being clad
in a huge fur robe and a papier-mache tiger's head, which was
immediately recognized as the formidable Beast.

The gallery of the gymnasium was crowded with the friends and families
of the maskers who were admitted by tickets, a limited number of which
had been issued. When the first notes of the grand march sounded there
was a great craning of necks and a loud buzz of expectation as the gaily
dressed company formed into line, and wh