"The 6pectator, Yanuarp lltb, 1551
The festivities of the season at Woburn Abbey, which for five weeks past have been a point of attraction to the large and varied circle of those who enjoy the privilege of a visiting acquaintance with the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, "may now be considered over," write the chroniclers of fashionable events. The amateur theatricals were wound up on New Year's Day, with a pleasant diversity in the shape of a charade. . . . The season is not so far passed but that our young readers will enjoy picking the literary kernel from the elegant scenic description.
"A CHARADE, IN THREE SCENE.
"Scene First.—A fair, with brilliant and beautiful stalls, people of all nations buying and selling,-among others a Jew, who deals the hardest bargains to every one, and makes himself very prominent throughout the whole scene.
"Scene Second.—The fair is nearly over, when two wandering maidens from a foreign land stop to buy some riband at Mrs. Measure's stalL As they are going away from the stall, after having concluded their purchase, Mrs. Measure charges one of them with stealing several ells of riband: this they deny, sing a duet from La Gaza Ladra, descriptive of their sufferings under a false accusation ; but Mrs. Measure being obstinate, they are delivered over to the constable. Just as he is taking them away, however, the riband is discovered. Tableau. Scene closes.
"Scene Third.—The populace, determined to show their satis- faction at the innocence of the poor girl who was charged with the theft, determine to form a procession to a noble and kind lady ; the procession is received very graciously ; the innocent maiden is crowned with a crown of amethysts ; and the Christmas-tree of the Duchess of Bedford is revealed sparkling with jewels. 'God Save the Queen' was played at the termina- tion of the charade."
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