MORNING WELCOMED BY THE STARS.

A glorious vision: as I walked in gloom, The children of the sun came thronging round me, In shining robes and diamond-studded shoon; And they did wing me with them, and soon In a bright dome of wondrous width I found me, Set all with beautiful eyes, whose wizard rays,—— Shed on my soul, in strong enchantment bound me; And so I looked and looked with dazzled gaze, Until my spirit drank in so much light That I grew, like the sons of that glad place, Transparent, lovely, pure, serene, and bright; Then they did call me brother; and there grew Swift from my sides broad pinions gold and white, And with that happy flock a brilliant thing I flew! Tupper.

Twenty-one Female Figures.

This beautiful spectacle is represented by twenty-one persons. Twenty of the number should be young misses, of about six or eight years of age, who will personate the stars, and one, a young and handsome lady, who is to represent morning. The sides of the stage must be arranged in the form of terraced banks, two feet wide at the bottom, and four feet wide at the top; they should be built from the footlights to within three feet of the ceiling, covered with cloth, and painted to represent clouds. Blue cambric, with white clouds and gold stars, will answer the purpose. In the centre of the stage, two pieces of joist must be placed in an inclined position, running from the footlights to the background. On these build a sliding platform, four feet square, with a small seat, one foot high. This should be made to run with ease from the top to the bottom of the joist; cloth, painted in imitation of clouds and stars, can be extended across the space between the two terraces and the joist, so that it will show a smooth surface. Cover the moving platform with cloth, arranged in drapery style, and paint in the same manner as the rest of the scenery. A back scene should be placed at the top of the terraces, leaving a space of three feet between it and the back wall; this must be painted like the rest of the scenery, and made to open in the centre, near the top of the joist.

The young misses' costume consists of a short white dress, decorated with gold stars, and silver paper interspersed with spangles, white hose and shoes, hair hanging in curls, and encircled with a band of silver leaves, with a silver star on the forehead; a light blue sash, covered with spangles, tied about the waist; and small gauze wings fastened to the back of the dress. Each one should hold a small torch ten inches in length, from which rises a blue flame; these can be made of card-board, and covered with light blue paper, with the ends tipped with gold. At the end from which the flame is produced, insert a strip of tin, to protect the torch from the flames. The torches should not be lighted until all the figures are in position. The young misses take their position at each side of the stage, on the outer edge of the terrace. They must lean forward slightly, and hold the torch out from them. Their attitudes should be varied; those near the top should be gazing upward, others looking down, and a few engaged in conversation. The young lady who represents Morning must be costumed in a loose white robe of tarleton muslin, cut low at the top, flowing sleeves, skirt covered with three wide flounces, trimmed in front with silver rays five inches long. The waist and sleeves decorated with silver and gold spangles, and a satin belt, ornamented in like manner, worn about the waist. The hair should be brushed back from the forehead, and clasped with a band of silver, and allowed to hang over the shoulders in long curls; the head is adorned with a band of gold, with rays of silver radiating from the centre. The position is, seated on the platform, head slightly inclined to the left, the right hand raised over the head, the left rests on the waist; eyes directed to the children in the foreground, countenance expressing pleasure. The goddess Morning will be seated on the platform, behind the scenery.

A yellow fire must be burned in the ante-room, and so shaded that, just as the curtain rises, a small portion of the light will shine on the centre of it; this light should increase in brightness for a few seconds, when the sky in the background must open, and the goddess glide slowly down to the centre of the stage. As the platform moves, the fire should increase in brightness; when she has arrived at the centre of the stage, the yellow light should be thrown into the foreground, and a red light thrown into the background. This can be accomplished by placing the colored fires in large boxes furnished with sliding covers and reflectors; and by drawing out the covers gradually, the light will be thrown on to the picture in the proper manner. The curtain in the background can be opened by attaching at each corner, near the centre, a small cord, which can be passed through pulleys, and attended to in the ante-rooms. The curtain or scenery should be drawn up on the back side, and let down in its place as soon as the platform has passed through. A small rope, painted blue, must be attached to the platform, and pass through a block fastened to the wall of the stage; this can be tended by a person under the stage, who will allow the platform to move with exactness to its stopping place. If the light from the colored fire is not brilliant enough, a few of the lights at the same side from whence the fire is produced can be lighted. Music soft and plaintive at first, and increasing in power at the finale.