TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Text in italics is shown in _underscores_. Text in Small Caps was converted to ALL CAPS. Punctuation and text was retained as in the original except for a change on page 17, “and exit upstairs” to “and exits upstairs”. The Lighting of the Christmas Tree In the Vassar Series of Plays Edited by Gertrude Buck Adapted by Josephine L. Palmer and Annie L. Thorp, by permission of Messrs. Doubleday, Page & Co., from “The Christmas Guest,” by Selma Lagerlof. Samuel French: Publisher 28-30 West Thirty-eighth St. : New York LONDON Samuel French, Ltd. 26 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY JOSEPHINE L. PALMER AND ANNIE L. THORP COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY SAMUEL FRENCH _All Rights Reserved_ “THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE” is fully protected by copyright, and all rights are reserved. Permission to act, to read publicly, or to make any use of this play must be obtained from Samuel French, 28-30 West 38th Street, New York City. It may be presented by amateurs upon payment of a royalty of five dollars for each performance, payable to Samuel French one week before the date when the play is given. Professional rates quoted on application. Whenever this play is produced the following notice must appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the play: Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French of New York. THE VASSAR SERIES OF PLAYS Every play in this series has been written by a member of the Play-Writing Class at Vassar College. But each play as printed is the product of a group-activity. Not merely an individual seated at a desk, but a community working together in a theater, is responsible for it in its final form. Some of these plays have been “tried out” by the Vassar Dramatic Workshop and some by the Community Theatre of Poughkeepsie, New York. By the coöperative efforts of all who were associated in these enterprises--actors, committee workers and financial supporters--these plays have been given a sympathetic and intelligent production before audiences also intelligent and sympathetic, whose reaction has afforded the writers much valuable criticism. In the preliminary readings and rehearsals, also, occasional weak points which had escaped the ordeal of class criticism came to light and were strengthened by the author’s revision. In fact, the plays as they appear in this series are literally a collaboration of the writers with innumerable friendly critics in the play-writing class, the cast and the audience. And it would be ungracious to put the fruits of this collaboration at the service of the public without grateful acknowledgment to all those who have in any way helped to establish and carry on the Vassar Dramatic Workshop or the Community Theatre of Poughkeepsie.