62 
House <y Garden 
F OR fifty years the Berkey & Gay 
Furniture Company has sought to 
restore and encourage the artistic charm 
in American home life of earlier days by 
designing modern furniture to express it. 
A higher cultural aim has guided and 
inspired all of its productions. Berkey 
& Gay pieces have a simplicity of line 
and a richness of tone which require 
quality in every detail of material and 
workmanship. 
The Shop Mark in every piece evi¬ 
dences the same carefulness in invisible 
details as is apparent to the eye. 
Berkey & Gay furniture is not expen¬ 
sive. It costs but little more than any 
good furniture. It lasts from one 
generation to another, grows more 
valued with the passing years. 
The name of our nearest dealer 
will be sent upon request. 
An interesting brochure concerning Berkey id Gay 
furniture, with illustrations, sent upon request. 
© 
THIS SHOP MARK 
is inlaid in every genuine Berkey & Gay 
production. It is the customer's 
protection when buying and his 
pride thereafter 
BERKEY & GAY FURNITURE CO. 
446 Monroe Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan 
A comprehensive exhibit comprising thousands of pieces of Berkey & Gay 
furniture may be seen at our New York showrooms, 113-119 West 40th 
St., or at Grand Rapids. Visitors should be accompanied by, or have 
a letter of introduction from, their furniture dealer. 
A Miracle Play in a Country House 
{Continued from page 21) 
wears a flowing homespun robe over 
his tunic and carries, besides the crook, 
a goatskin water bottle. They all come 
down to the fore stage and, building 
a fire, start their frugal meal. While 
lounging about the fire waiting for 
the dawn, a star, brighter than has been 
seen before, appears in the sky, framed 
by the center arch. The shepherds see it 
with astonishment and stand regarding it 
with awe and speculation. The angel 
choir is heard singing the “Gloria.” The 
shepherds resolve to follow whither the 
star leads them, and they circle the stage, 
joyfully singing the shepherds’ song, and 
go up the steps and out, the piping shep¬ 
herd with his flute being the last to depart. 
Enter the Wise Men 
Day is dawning, and slowly there en¬ 
ters behind the colonnade an impressive, 
kingly figure in trailing robes of gold 
brocade. It is Balthasar, king of Araby. 
He speaks with majesty, albeit with great 
reverence of spirit, and comes down the 
steps to stand in an attitude of revery. He 
is joined by Jasper, king of Taurus, 
younger, more eager, more impetuous, but 
not less kingly in his silken cloak, fur- 
edged. The Ethiopian, Melchior, enters 
also, slowly and with subdued dignity. 
He speaks with soft-voiced, poetic utter¬ 
ance, with the strain of melancholy music 
so inherent to his race. 
Balthasar prays, his face uplifted to the 
sky, while Jasper bows beside him on one 
knee, and Melchior, in greater abasement, 
bends both knees in reverence. Swelling 
softly to triumphant tones comes the 
“Gloria” again, as from the angel choir, 
and the kings are motionless until the last 
note dies away. Then, Balthasar, turning 
slowly with arm upraised towards the star, 
goes off with rapt and awestruck manner. 
Jasper, pausing at the steps, gazes for a 
moment at the star, then, making a ges¬ 
ture of reverence and obeisance, follows 
Balthasar. The black king stands with 
clasped hands in silent prayer, then, 
raising his head, trails off with slow 
majesty. 
The scene is flooded with a soft, misty 
violet light, then, on the left of the arches, 
the curtains part and another niche is dis¬ 
closed. Here Mary sits beside a rough 
manger, and Joseph stands beside her, 
looking down and leaning on his staff. A 
glowing radiance is cast upon their faces 
as they regard the child cradled in the 
straw. Mary’s upraised, graceful hands 
bespeak her adoration. She is robed in 
crimson silk and Italian blue and her hair 
is bound with a dark blue Madonna-like 
veil floating down over her shoulders. The 
bearded Joseph wears a dull green cloak, 
draped from one shoulder. They wear 
sandals on their feet, and the floor beneath 
them is littered with straw. The radiance 
from the manger lights the scene, as the 
shepherds enter, guided by the star. The 
light dazzles them, and, shielding their 
eyes, they shrink away across the stage, 
and stand huddled and uncertain. 
The angel appears in the circle of light, 
and, raising his arm with a gesture of com¬ 
mand, speaks in tones of joy and triumph. 
“Herdsmen, dread ye nothing—” 
As the angel withdraws, the first shepherd 
takes a few hesitating steps forward and, 
kneeling with simple words of offering, 
lays his greatest treasure, his flute, at their 
feet and backs away. The second shep¬ 
herd speaks as he walks across to the 
Presence, and, kneeling, there leaves his 
cap and withdraws humbly. The third 
shepherd gives his mittens as his offering to 
the Child. As they draw closer together in 
adoration, the angel chorus sings softly 
an old English lullaby. Balthasar enters 
the colonnade bearing a chalice of gold, 
scanning the heavens for the star. It has 
led him hither and he stands motionless 
for a moment. Then looking about him, 
he comes within sight of the manger. He 
descends slowly, and stands lost in wonder 
at the sight before him. King Jasper, en¬ 
tering, kneels under the arch, a swinging 
censor of frankincense in his hands. Mel¬ 
chior, bearing a chest of myrrh, kneels 
also. As they present their gifts, the 
angel appears and addresses them,— 
“King of Taurus, sir Jasper, 
King of Araby, sir Balthasar, 
Melchior, king of Aginnar, 
To you now I am sent 
Go ye westward home 
Into those parts whence ye came down; 
Thy names shall be of great renown 
The Holy Ghost this knowledge hath sent.” 
The kings solemnly disperse to go their 
several ways with benedictory speeches to 
each other. The shepherds follow. The 
angel lullaby is heard again, and the light 
fades out of the sky and the curtains fall 
over the niche and all the stage is dark. 
In a sudden glow of light, framed in 
blackness, the angel is seen with trumpet 
raised upon which is sounded a long clear 
note. All is darkness again, until a half 
light reveals Isaiah withdrawing slowly. 
He delivers the epilogue in resonant and 
measured tones, moving, as he speaks, up 
the steps to the arch where the final words 
are spoken. Ezekiel stands at the foot of 
the steps looking up and off. The angel 
choir breaks into the “seven-fold” amen, 
and the curtain falls slowly on the pageant. 
The vested boys move about relight¬ 
ing the candles, but we seem loath to 
break the spell that is upon us. The 
scent of the incense is heavy in the room. 
A sudden fresh draught flares the candles 
as clear night air streams through the 
room. A log is thrown upon the hot em¬ 
bers of the fire and softly the harp and 
’cello take up the solemn measured tones 
of the “Largo.” 
The Christmas Miracle Play is over, 
but the memory of its charm is to live 
poignantly in our minds for many a 
month to come. 
The authors of the article will be glad to give any 
additional information about the Miracle Play or 
make any suggestions that may render its presen¬ 
tation possible. 
The Gallic Invasion of American Homes 
{Continued from page 36) 
bring home to us is the commendable 
reticence evidenced in the furnishing. 
There is full realization of the furnishing 
and decorative values of the architectural 
background and there is no overcrowding 
of movables. Each piece is excellent of 
its kind and each piece is given sufficient 
room to show the individuality of its 
character. 
The most elegant room in the apart¬ 
ment is carried out in the restrained and 
classic style of the Regence. The paneled 
walls in gray, with mellow tones of yellow, 
are ornamented with graciously curved 
moldings in the natural boiserie with 
touches of dull gold. A delicate gray- 
green is used in the velour brocade cover¬ 
ings for settee and chairs, a green which 
seems to be inspired by the collection of 
jades, delightfully arranged in a specially 
made cabinet which stands at one side of 
the room. Their delicate grays and bril¬ 
liant greens are all in harmony in the jewel 
box in which they find themselves. A 
center crystal lustre, with touches of 
mauve glass, casts a delicate glow. 
