NOTE.--If it is desired to simplify these costumes, kimonos, cassocks and cottas from Episcopal choirs, draperies of sheets and couch covers, and sandals made of a sole bound to foot with brown cloth cords, will answer admirably in the dim blue light. Nightgowns, dressing gowns, fur rugs, fur muffs opened, fur stoles, opera capes, spangled tunics, window cords and chains, etc., will make valuable substitutes for the oriental garments. ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE [Illustration: SANTA CLAUS JACK FROST ANITA HULDA SERGIUS MEENY BIDDY MARY PADDY MIKE TOMASSO DUTCH TWINS NEELDA AH GOO YAKOB HANS MIEZE SANO SAN] ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE A CHRISTMAS PLAY IN ONE ACT FOR SANTA CLAUS AND SIXTEEN CHILDREN. CHARACTERS. SANTA CLAUS _Adult_ JOLLY JACK FROST _Little Boy_ ANITA, _a Little Italian Immigrant_ _Aged Eight or Nine_ HULDA, _from Holland_ _Aged Ten_ SERGIUS, _from Russia_ _Aged Nine_ MEENY, _from Germany_ _Aged Seven_ BIDDY MARY, _from Ireland_ _Aged about Eight_ PADDY MIKE, _from Ireland_ _Aged about Seven_ KLINKER } _Little Dutch Twins_ SCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM} _Aged Four or Five_ NEELDA, _from Spain_ _Aged Five_ AH GOO, _from China_ _Little Boy_ YAKOB, _from Denmark_ _Aged Six_ HANS, _from Norway_ _Aged Four_ MIEZE, _from Germany_ _Aged Six_ SANO SAN, _from Japan_ _Little Girl_ * * * * * TIME OF PLAYING--_About One Hour and Fifteen Minutes._ COSTUMES, ETC. _For notes on costuming, scenery and properties, see "Remarks on the Production of the Play" at the end of the play._ ARGUMENT. It is the night before Christmas and the scene is on a big ocean-going vessel many miles out at sea. Down in the lower part of the ship, in the steerage, is a group of poor little immigrant children who are leaving the trials and troubles of the old world behind them and are looking forward to the golden promises held out by our own "land of the free and the home of the brave." But the hearts of the little immigrants are sad. It is the night before Christmas, and how could Santa Claus ever hope to reach them away out in the middle of the ocean? Even the sleigh and the magical reindeers could never be expected to make such a trip.