The Course of Lessons Given in America By Mme. Géraldy

Mme. Géraldy prefaced her course of lessons with the following remarks:

God is Trinity. Man, created in the image of God, bears the seal of the Trinity. In these lessons we shall analyze our whole person. We shall dwell upon three terms: Concentric, normal, excentric. We find them everywhere.

1, excentric; 2, concentric; 3, normal.

We will begin with the eye--it is the most difficult.

Lesson I.
The Eye and the Eyebrow.

The Eye. Concentric Closed.
Normal Open, without expression.
Excentric Wide open.
The Eyebrow. Concentric Lowered.
Normal Without expression.
Excentric Raised.
Combinations of the Eye and Eyebrow.
Eye. Eyebrow. Expression.
Concentric Concentric Intenseness of thought.
Concentric Normal Heaviness, or somnolency.
Concentric Excentric Disdain.
Normal Concentric Moroseness.
Normal Normal Without expression.
Normal Excentric Indifference.
Excentric Concentric Firmness.
Excentric Normal Stupor.
Excentric Excentric Astonishment.

The expressions of stupor and of astonishment are greatly increased when preceded by a quivering of the eyelid (blinking). This should be very rapid and very energetic. Delsarte always insisted on this blinking.

Anxiety calls for a double movement of the eyebrows: First, contract them; secondly, raise them.

Vitality is expressed by raising the outer part of the eyebrows. This accomplishment is very rare; but, then, it is not necessary.

Contraction of the lower eyelid expresses sensitiveness.

Lesson II.
The Head.

The Head. Concentric Bent forward.
Normal Upright.
Excentric Bent backward.
Concentro-concentric Bent forward and inclined to one side (toward the person): Veneration.
Concentro-normal Bent forward: Examination.
Concentro-excentric Bent forward and inclined to the other side (from the person): Suspicion.
Normo-concentric Inclined toward the person: Tenderness.
Normo-normal Upright: Without expression.
Normo-excentric Inclined from the person: Sensuality.
Excentro-concentric Bent backward and inclined to one side (toward the person): Abandon.
Excentro-normal Bent backward, straight: Exaltation, vehemence.
Excentro-excentric Bent backward and inclined to the other side (from the person): Pride.

It is the position of the eye that determines the expression of the head, for it is the direction of the eye that tells us on which side the object of veneration, suspicion, etc., is supposed to be. The shoulders should be observed here. They are the thermometer of passion; the stronger the emotion, the higher they should be raised.

Lesson III.
The Hand.

The Hand. Concentric Closed.
Normal Open.
Excentric Wide open.
Concentro-concentric Fist closed tight, thumb pressing against the knuckles: Struggle.
Concentro-normal Hand closed, thumb resting lightly against the side of the index finger: Power, authority.
Concentro-excentric Hand open, fingers contracted: Convulsion.
Normo-concentric Limp, fingers turned slightly inward: Prostration.[A]
Normo-normal Limp: Abandon.
Normo-excentric Open, fingers straight: Expansion.
Excentro-concentric Wide open, fingers stretched apart and contracted: Execration.
Excentro-normal Fingers stretched apart and straight: Exaltation.
Excentro-excentric Fingers stretched wide apart and backward: Exasperation.

Lesson IV.
The Arms.

Let the arms swing backward from their natural position, with the palm of the hands turned toward the front; head raised. Say: "It is impossible!"

There is no doubt whatever about it.

Arms at the side in their natural position, palms toward the front; head straight, Say: "It is not so."

Arms slightly forward; head very slightly bent. Say: "It is improbable."

Forearms slightly raised. Say: "Maybe."

Forearms still higher. Say: "It is probable."

Forearms at right angles with upper arms, palms always upward; head bent. Say: "It is so."

Forearms higher. Say: "It is certain."

Forearms still higher (upper arms follow); head bent forward. Say: "It is evident!"

Forearms still higher (by this time the upper arms are horizontal); head bent way forward. Say: "There is no doubt whatever!"

As will be noticed, the head moves in the opposite direction from the arms. The face must express what the words say. The movements of the arms alone, without the expression of the face, do not mean anything.

Lesson V.
Inflections of the Hand.--Combinations of the Arm and Hand.

1. Acceptance. Put the arm out naturally, palm upward.

2. Caress. Raise the shoulder; bend the head, keep the elbow close to the side; raise the hand as high as the face and, with palm outward, bring it slowly down again as if stroking an object, at the same time raising the head.

3. Negation. Draw a horizontal line in the air, the movement finishing in an outward direction.

4. Self-control. Arm hanging at the side, hand in the concentro-normal condition, denoting authority, power over one's self.

5. Authority. Extend the arm and raise it in front a little higher than the level of the shoulder; then raise the hand, which should be in the concentro-normal state, from the wrist and let it fall again with decision.

6. Menace. The arm is kept in the same position, the fist clenched (hand concentro-concentric).

7. Execration. Arm extended from the previous position sideward; hand excentro-concentric, palm toward the back; head turned in opposite direction,

8. Horror. Arm outstretched in front; hand excentric, palm outward; head thrown back.

9. Desire. Arm in same position; hand assumes the normal condition and turns its palm upward; head still thrown back.

These movements should blend one into the other, and should be executed without any affectation. The law of opposition should be observed here; for example: In the ascending movement of the arm the hand falls from the wrist; when the arm descends, the hand points upward.

Lesson VI.
Basic Attitudes.

1. Weakness. Feet close together, weight of body on both. This attitude is that of childhood and old age.

2. Perfect calm and repose. Rest weight on one foot (settling at the hip), bend the knee of the other leg and advance the foot.

3. Vehemence. Move the body forward so that the weight rests on the foot that is in front; the heel of the foot that is behind is thus raised.

4. Prostration. Throw one foot far behind the other, with the knee bent and the weight of the body upon it. This attitude, when properly taken, leads to the kneeling position.

5. Transitive position. In walking, stop midway between two steps and you have the 5th attitude or transitive position. It is the one that leads to all kinds of walks, and especially to the reverential or oblique walk.

6. Reverential walk. Let the foot which is behind take a step forward in this manner: With the toe describe on the ground a semi-circle that bends inward toward you; this will cause the heel to pass over the instep of the other foot. The other foot now takes a straight step forward, and you pause in a respectful attitude before the personage of importance whom you wish to salute. Several steps may be taken in succession before the final pause. The ceremonious step is always taken with the foot you begin with (the one toward the person you salute); the other foot always takes natural steps. This walk is only meant for men, and only on grand occasions.

7. Intoxication, vertigo. The feet are planted on the ground and apart. This attitude expresses familiarity.

8. The alternative. One foot in a straight line behind the other, the weight of the body on both. This attitude is offensive and defensive.

9. Defiance. The weight of the body on the foot that is behind, the other foot diagonally forward; head thrown back.

Delsarte never classed the basic attitudes under the heads of concentric, normal or excentric, any more than he so classed gestures. He simply gave them in the above sequence.

Lesson VII.
The Medallion of Inflection.

"The Key to all Gestures"

↓ Affirmation.
⇄ Negation.
↑ Hope.
↙ Rejection of things that harm us.
↗ Rejection of things that we despise.
⌣ Ease, comfort (resembles a hammock).
⌢ Silence, secrecy.
() Plenitude, amplitude.
)( Delicacy, grace.
⤶ Physical beauty.
⤴ Beauty of intellect.

↓ "You may believe → that no lord

had as much glory or happiness."