An even number of small boys of uniform height must be used for this drill. Usually it will be found necessary for the Juniors to call in the aid of children outside the society, which will furnish a fine opportunity to win new members.
At the rear of the stage a small hut should be constructed of light framework, and covered with heavy brown paper. The roof and window-sills of this must be spread with cotton to represent snow.
On the floor of the stage a heavy white cloth should be stretched, and in the rear and at the sides boughs of evergreens covered with cotton should be arranged to represent the woods.
The floor of the stage must be laid off as shown by diagrams to prevent mistakes. Half of the children must be dressed in fairylike suits of white, carrying a half-hoop trimmed with mistletoe and white satin ribbons, the ribbons tied at each end of the hoop. The others must be costumed in like manner, only in red, having hoops trimmed in holly and red ribbons. All must wear green gauze wings.
When the drill begins, old Santa and his wife should be seen busy in their little house, fixing toys. If presents are to be distributed, they must be placed in the hut previous to the beginning of the exercise. The children enter skipping to music, following the lines shown in [Diagram A], mistletoes on the right and hollies on the left, or the reverse.
Diagram A.
They skip, following lines as indicated by arrows in A, with arms in upward bend position and hoops arched overhead. When the leaders reach lines R and L, the skip step is changed to a march, and they join hoops with partners so as to make a complete hoop with bows at each side. This is a very easy movement, though it may seem the contrary. Those on the right extend the inside arm straight to the side, shoulder-high, holding the end of hoop with the arch down. Those on the left extend their arms in the same way with the arch up. Each child grasps the end of the partner’s hoop with his own in the inside hand.
On the leader’s reaching the front line the first position of the hoops is resumed by all with skip step. When the side lines are reached, they turn on the diagonal lines and begin a fancy step, dropping the hoop down around the neck like a boa. On a change of music drop the hoop, and advance the inside foot diagonally to inside (towards partner), and place it on the floor, first count; hop on the advance foot, and swing the outside leg across in front, bending the knee so that the foot which is crossed over comes almost as high as the knee of the inside leg, second count; swing the same foot diagonally forward to the outside again, and place it on the floor, third count; hop on it, and swing the inside leg across in front of the outside, fourth count. This step is called “swing-cross step,” which somewhat explains the movement. On the leaders’ reaching the front line the skip step with first position of hoop is resumed by all. On reaching the side lines again, instead of coming down diagonal lines as before, they turn on the rear lines as shown in [B], and come down the lines R and L in [C], with the following fancy step: