d black chapeau. The position must be so that a partial front
view can be had of the body; eyes directed straight forward. The light
should be of medium quantity, and come from the front of the stage.
Music of a national order.

THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

O! thou hast wander'd long
From thy home without a guide;
And thy native woodland song,
In thine altered heart hath died.

Thou hast flung the wealth away,
And the glory of thy Spring;
And to thee the leaves' light play
Is a long-forgotten thing.

Still at thy father's board
There is kept a place for thee;
And, by thy smile restored,
Joy round the hearth shall be.

MRS. HEMANS.

Four Male Figures.

This scene, so familiar in Scripture history, represents the father
standing on the step of his mansion, about to embrace his son, who
stands near. The background of the picture should represent the
portico of a house, and can be made in the following manner: Procure
at a paper store four fresco pilasters, with caps and bases, and a
wide cornice to match; also a roll of granite paper; paste the cornice
and pilasters on cloth; fasten the cornice across the ceiling of the
stage, five feet from the background, and suspend the pilasters from
the lower edge, placing them at equal distances from each other; form
the steps out of boxes and boards, and cover them with the granite
paper. At each side of the steps place a large vase of flowers. Behind
the pilasters, at the end of the upper step, are seen two servants.
They are stooping down and looking at the group in the foreground.
Their costume can be easily made up. Frock coats, trimmed on the
bottom of the skirts, cuffs, and front with colored cloth, five inches
wide; white pants, black hose, crossed with red binding; low shoes;
knee and shoe buckles; low-crowned, black Kossuth hat, encircled with
a band of gold, and ornamented in front with a large paste pin and
showy plume. The gentleman who represents the father must be of good
height and large figure. His costume consists of a purple velvet coat
and breeches, white hose, crossed with black ribbons, low shoes, knee
and shoe buckles; over the shoulders is thrown a long cloak, trimmed
with ermine; hair and beard quite long, which can be imitated with
flax, glued to cloth made to fit the head and face. If dresses cannot
be procured at a costumer's, cheap material can be made up