The Christmas mask illustrated in these pages was written about the Crusade of St. Louis of France. It sought to re-create, through music, pantomime, costumes, and dance, the spirit of the XVth Century. It was inspired by the wealth of the material of this period in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Here were examples of Gothic sculpture which gave the note of simplicity and reverence, and at the same time accurate information about pose, expression, costume, and line. The stained-glass windows, enamels, and illuminated manuscripts gave suggestions for color and color arrangement. Old Italian chests and the frames of early Siennese paintings influenced the designs of the necessary furniture. In the art library were found photographs and plates of sculptures of the cathedrals of Chartres, Amiens, and Rheims. These were studied for costumes, headdresses, ornaments, and especially for the types of faces which were to be used in the masks. Examples of early textiles were drawn upon for designs of costumes and background. The King collection of books on costume at the Cleveland Historical Society furnished references on costumes. The rare John G. White collection of folklore and music in the Cleveland Public Library furnished songs and chronicles of the time. In this collection beautiful old French music of the XIth, XIIth, and XIIIth centuries was found. The songs were translated and adapted so that they could be sung by children. The action of the mask was made to take place on Christmas Eve, in the year 1255, in the hall of the castle of Count Mathew of Brittany. The mask began with a procession of forty children, in costume, singing this XIVth Century noel: Lead us, Lord, where He doth lie this night! There is a Child of Mary born! Salvation hath He brought to us, Whom we should worship night and morn. Lead us, Lord, a star now shineth bright! In Bethlehem it so befell That in a stable born He was Pray Him for grace to serve Him well. Show us, Lord, where angel wings are light! The shepherds heard that Angel-song That grace did bring from out the sky Where Man was born mankind among. Conditor, our Lord of Power and Might Now let each man upon Him call, Who sits enthroned in Heaven high, That to His bliss He bring us all. [Illustration: _Masks_ _Upper_: _Mummer_, _Queen_, _Jester_ _Middle_: _Egyptian Priest_, _Persian Poet_, _Greek Maiden_ _Lower_: _Columbine and Pierrot_ ]