opera capes, spangled tunics, window cords and chains, etc., will make
valuable substitutes for the oriental garments.

ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE

[Illustration:

SANTA CLAUS JACK FROST ANITA HULDA

SERGIUS MEENY BIDDY MARY PADDY MIKE

TOMASSO DUTCH TWINS NEELDA AH GOO

YAKOB HANS MIEZE SANO SAN]

ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE

A CHRISTMAS PLAY IN ONE ACT FOR SANTA CLAUS AND SIXTEEN CHILDREN.

CHARACTERS.

SANTA CLAUS _Adult_
JOLLY JACK FROST _Little Boy_
ANITA, _a Little Italian Immigrant_ _Aged Eight or Nine_
HULDA, _from Holland_ _Aged Ten_
SERGIUS, _from Russia_ _Aged Nine_
MEENY, _from Germany_ _Aged Seven_
BIDDY MARY, _from Ireland_ _Aged about Eight_
PADDY MIKE, _from Ireland_ _Aged about Seven_
KLINKER } _Little Dutch Twins_
SCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM} _Aged Four or Five_
NEELDA, _from Spain_ _Aged Five_
AH GOO, _from China_ _Little Boy_
YAKOB, _from Denmark_ _Aged Six_
HANS, _from Norway_ _Aged Four_
MIEZE, _from Germany_ _Aged Six_
SANO SAN, _from Japan_ _Little Girl_

* * * * *

TIME OF PLAYING--_About One Hour and Fifteen Minutes._

COSTUMES, ETC.

_For notes on costuming, scenery and properties, see "Remarks on the
Production of the Play" at the end of the play._

ARGUMENT.

It is the night before Christmas and the scene is on a big ocean-going
vessel many miles out at sea. Down in the lower part of the ship, in
the steerage, is a group of poor little immigrant children who are
leaving the trials and troubles of the old world behind them and are
looking forward to the golden promises held out by our own "land of
the free and the home of the brave." But the hearts of the little
immigrants are sad. It is the night before Christmas, and how could
Santa Claus ever hope to reach them away out in the middle of the
ocean? Even the sleigh and the magical reindeers could never be
expected to make such a trip.

Anita, a little Italian girl, alone has faith in the coming of the
good Saint. She is wandering around the ship when all of a sudden,
much to