be increased if there is sufficient room. The
four principal characters are Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Louis
Napoleon, and the Empress. In selecting the persons for these parts,
it will be well to choose those who are as near like the original as
possible. They should be persons of good figure, and of graceful and
easy manners. The sailors and military should be composed of young
lads; the rest of the performers consist of young ladies and
gentlemen. The stage should be arranged in the following manner: Two
tiers of seats should be arranged in a curved line from the right of
the stage, at the front, to the left of the stage, in the background.
The front seat is two feet, the second and back tier should be three
feet, in height, with a wide platform behind, of the same height,
capable of holding twenty persons. These seats should be covered with
a crimson cloth, and are intended to be occupied by Napoleon's suite.
In the centre of these seats should be placed a platform four feet
square and two feet high; on this place the throne chairs, and build a
flight of broad steps in front, covered with crimson, and decorated
with gold. The throne chairs should be made as showy as possible.
Common office chairs can be easily made to answer the purpose by
fastening to the backs pieces of boards one foot wide and four feet
high, and covering the fronts and top of the arms with pieces of board
four inches wide, decorating them with red turkey cloth, and bands of
gold paper. Place them close together, and insert a board decorated in
the same manner between the two, and ornament the top with a canopy of
Turkey cloth, trimmed with gold; on the top place a pointed gilt
crown. This kind of throne can be easily put together, and will be
easier to handle than one made in a more workmanlike manner. The
emperor and empress should be seated in the chairs. The platform is
intended for the military, while the seats should be filled with
dignitaries, officers, and ladies. The empress's costume consists of a
rich brocade, heavily ornamented with jewelry, gold or silver lace,
and any other decoration that will be appropriate, and will add to the
richness of the costume. A small crown should adorn the head, which
can be made showy by using paste pins of various sizes. The emperor's
costume consists of a blue velvet coat, ornamented with gold epaulets,
and trimmed with gold fringe, while the right breast is adorned with
the cross of the legion of