In all entertainments at home, whether tableaux, living statuary, charades, or short plays, it is well to have ready certain"properties,"as they are called, that add greatly to the effect, yet need not be expensive. There are various books giving full directions for building a stage, and arranging every thing connected with it, often at great cost and trouble. With such work this book does not meddle, preferring to give only what is possible anywhere, and need cost but a very small sum. But there are certain directions which apply to the simplest as well as to the most elaborate entertainment, and will help in"the arrangement of stage scenery, furniture, curtains, background, costumes, and light."

A stage raised from the floor is of course most desirable ; but, where this cannot be, a parlor with folding-doors is next best. Where tableaux or living statuary are to be attempted, one person should be chosen as stage-manager, who has a good eye for color and grouping. A frame is the first essential, and must be made to fit the front of the stage, whether this is a raised platform or merely a back-parlor.

"Four1 pieces of wood an inch thick, and about one foot in width, are neatly joined at the corners; and over the entire open space is fastened a coarse black lace, through which all the pictures are to be seen. The wooden frame must now be covered with glazed cambric, bright yellow in color, which is drawn tightly over the wood, and fastened securely, being neatly drawn over the edges. At regular intervals fasten large full rosettes of the cambric. It is a great improvement, though not necessary, to mix black with the rosettes, and carry a narrow strip of black all round the inner and outer edges of the frame. Upon the inside of the frame fasten several curtains of colored gauze, - blue for ghostly scenes, and rose-color for fairy scenes. Arrange these so that they can be lowered or raised easily when required. The frame is now ready to put up.

The directions which follow are taken from a very carefully prepared little book entitled Parlor Exhibitions, edited by Mr George W. Bartlett, a name familiar to all the readers of St. Nicholas and Wide Awake, and published by Dick & Fitzgerald, New York.

"If you have a pair of full, handsome crimson curtains, they are very effective placed upon a bar inside the frame, about one foot from it, and looped at the sides high enough to clear the heads of the performers. The drop-curtain (to be raised and lowered) should be hung about two feet from the frame, on the inside.

"When your frame is up, fasten, at the sides and top, rods with gas-jets ; or, if gas is not available, lamps should be located at regular intervals to light the tableaux.

"The frame now being ready, stretch across the sides of the stage and background dark gray or brown muslin, or woollen cloth, so as to shut out all objects behind the frames.

"The best arrangement for a background is to stretch a strong wire down each side of the stage, and another one across the back, from which the dark muslin or woollen curtains hang down, forming a complete enclosure behind the frame. The wires should be placed so as to leave free passage on each side of and behind the enclosure, and furnish a space, out of sight of the audience, for putting away furniture and properties, etc., when not in use.

"If the parlor is used as a stage, the floor should also be covered with plain dark cloth, that can be removed when the scene requires a parlor carpet.

"It must be remembered that carpet and background must be of woollen material, or unglazed cotton. Any material that will shine in a strong light will ruin the effect of a tableau. Woollen is by far the best, as it completely absorbs the light, and hangs in uniform folds.

"In grouping, the colors must be very carefully selected to prevent either glaring or gloomy effect. Often a piece of gay drapery thrown over a chair will enliven a picture where all the figures are in the dark evening-dress of a gentleman of the present day; but, where ladies are grouped, their own dress is usually sufficiently bright.

"Never bring two bright colors against each other. If they are necessary in the same group, introduce between them some white, black, or neutral-tinted drapery. If they are light as well as bright, use gray or brown to harmonize them.

"White should always be sparingly and judiciously used in tableaux, and should be of either very glossy fabric or very thin material; as tulle, book-muslin, or lace. Thick white material, like lawn, marseilles, or pique, is not effective in tableaux.

"The arrangement of color in tableaux must be governed by the same rule as in painted pictures ; and it must be borne in mind, that not only the personages who are grouped for the picture are to be considered, but the accessories and background will also strike the eye of the spectator at the same time."