First, some effective groups of statuary must be selected, and carefully examined. Then those persons who are willing to gratify their friends by acting as statues, can be arranged in the different groups according to their fitness; those acting as statues, require marked features, and in most groups fine figures to build upon, as drapery conceals minor faults. All that can be prepared before the evening, are the head gear and the articles for drapery. A cap must be made of white linen or cotton, closely fitting the head. Take candle-wicking, and knit it on common sized ivory needles, wet it in hot water, and iron it dry. Then ravel it out, and cut it into the desirable lengths, and fasten it to the cap like a wig. When placed on the head, this candle-wicking can be arranged according to the statue to be represented, and it will resemble the hair carved in marble. If expense is not to be considered, the drapery should be made of cotton flannel, as it hangs heavier, and is more easily arranged than sheets, which are generally used to save expense. From three to four sheets are often required for the drapery of one person, as it is necessary to hang in such heavy folds to look like marble. One is usually doubled up and tied around the waist, the others folded, tied, and pinned, to resemble the drapery of the statue represented; rules are impossible to give, as the arrangement can only be made by an ingenious as well as an artistic person. Now comes the most disagreeable part, that of painting all exposed parts, such as neck, face, hands or feet, to resemble marble. First, common whiting must be mixed smoothly in water, the consistency of milk. This is put on with a shaving brush, and every part wholly covered with this preparation; let that nearly dry, then rub it in with the hand, then rub in lily white, to give the flesh, besides the whiteness of marble, the soft look of polished marble. The lips are finished at the last moment. Old white stocking legs drawn over the arms will save the trouble of painting them. Then the statues are ready to be grouped for exhibition. Any person who is nervous, restless, and easily inclined to laugh, cannot act as a statue. It is not possible to realize the beauty of such a group of living statuary, when well done, unless it has been once seen. We advise those attempting to get up exhibitions for the benefit of some charitable object, to try a few groups of living statuary; it is very effective to an audience.
11.—LIGHTS AND SHADES.
If you wish to throw the background of a tableau into shadow, place screens between the lights at the sides of the stage and that part of the picture you wish to have dark; vice versa with the foreground. Particular points or characters may be more brilliantly lighted than others, by placing at the side of the stage a strong light within a large box, open at one side, and lined with bright tin reflectors.
Lights of different colors can be thrown successively on a picture, and made to blend one with another, by placing the various colored fires in boxes three feet square, one at one side, and lined with reflectors. Those arranged at the sides of the stage on pivots, can be turned on, one after another, so as to throw their light on the stage. Before one light has entirely vanished from the scene, a different color should gradually take its place.
Ventriloquism Made Easy.
Ventriloquism we always supposed, like many other arts, depended to a certain extent on natural talent, or was a peculiar gift.
Professional ventriloquists favor the idea that it is a natural gift, in order to enhance their profits. But boys of the present age are not so ready to believe in marvellous gifts, and may have persevered in trying to imitate famous ventriloquists, and to try was to succeed.