I9y A y " MAKE-UP " 'BOOK-HOW TO «* MAKE-UP." A p actical guide for Amateurs, v/itb Twenty-three Colored Illustrations. Price 50 cents. ^5 °^'^o^ •^"A^^'flNf^A: \"-3r, FRENCH'S MINOR DRAMA. / ( (Cbc Retina (L'bition. A SHOW OF HANDS. AN ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SKETCH IX ONE ACT 5 "^ " <^*yy BY ft^i^IOj^W. R. WALKES. ^% Copyright, 1891, by T. H. French. New Yokk T. II. FRENCH SUCCESSOR TO SAMUEL FRENCH & SON publisher 28 West 23d Street | London SAMUEL FRENCH PUBLISHER 89 STRAND as^^^i^B-xJi=' Containing Rouge, Pearl Powder, Whiting, Mongolian, RucIcIt Rouge, Violet Powder ^ox and Puff : Chrome, Blue, Burnt Cork, Pencils for the eyelids, Spirit Gum, India Ink Camel Han- Brushes, Hare's Foot, Wot)l, Craped Hair, Cold Cream, Joining Paste Min- ^^ ' ?^^^' ^is^ors and Looking Glass; packed neatly in Strong Fancv Card-board ±5oxei.. "^4.00; Elegant Tin Cases, $5.00. THE AbOVE ARTICLES TO BE HAD SEPARATELY. FOR PRICES, SEE GATAIDGUL FBENCfl S DESCRIPTIVE LIST. SCENERY, With a viev to obviate the great difficulty experiencerl by Amateurs (particularly country houses) in obtaining Scenery, &;c., to fix in a Dz'awing Room, and then on by coK.siderable outlay for hire and great damage caused to walls, we have decided keep a f-eiies of Scenes, &c., colored on strong paper, which can be joined toge or paste. ( on canvas or wood, according to requirement. Full directions, with grams showin.x exact size of Back Scenes, Borders, and Wings, can be had fret application. The following four scenes consist each of thirty sheets of paper. GARDEN. The above is an illustration of this scene. It is kept in two sizes. The size of the back scene of the smaller one is 10 feet long and 6J-^ feet high, and extends, with the wings and border, to 15 feet long and 8 feet high. The back scene of the large one is 13 feet long and 9 feet high, and extends, with the wings and border, to 20 feei long and ll>r, feet high. It is not necessary to have the scene the height of the room, as blue paper to represent sky is usually hung at the top. Small size, with Wings and Border comiilete, ^7.50; large s:r,e, do., SIO.OO. WOOD. This is similar in style to the above, only a wood ecene is introduced in the contre. It is kept in two sizes, as the previous scene, and blue paper can be introduced as be- fore indicated. Small size, with Wings and Borders complete, $7.50 ; large size, do., tio.oo. FOLIAGE. — This is a sheet of paper on which foliaee is drawn, which can bo repeated and cut in any shape required. Small size, 30 in. by 20 in., 25 cts. per sheet; large size, 40 in. by 30 in., 35 cts. per sheet. TREE TRUNK.— This is to be used with the foliage sheets and placed at the bottom of the scene. — Pi'ice and size .same as fuliago. DRAWINa BOOM. This scene is only kept in the large size. The back scene is 13 feet long and 9 feet high, and extends, with the wings and borders, to 2) feet long and 113^ feet high. In the centre is a French window, leading down to the ground, wiiich could be made practiciiblo if required. On the left wing is a fireplace with mirror above, and on the right wing i- an oil painting. The whole scene is tastefully ornainented and beauti- fully colf)red, forming a most eloeant ])!ctnre. Should a box scene be required extra w-ing-^ can be had, consisting of doors each side, which could be made practicable. Price, with Border.and one set of Wings, $10.00 ; with Border and two sets of Wings, to form box scene, $12.50. COTTAGE INTERIOR. This is also kept in the large size only. In the centre is a door leading outside. On the left centre is a rustic fireplace, and the right centre is a window. Oti the wings are painted shelves, &c., to complete the scene. A box scene can be mane by purchasing extra wings, as before described, and forming doors on each side. Price, with Boriicr and one sec of Wings, $10.00 ; with Border and two sets of Wings, to form box scene, $12.50. ■ The above Scenes, mounted, can be seen at 28 West 23d St., New York. Full directions accompany each Scene. A SHOW OF HANDS. AN ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SKETCH. BY W. R. WALKES. Copyrighted, 1891, by T. H. FRENCH. New York: T. H. FRENCH. SUCCESSOR TO SAMUEL FRENCH & SON, Publishers, 28. WEST 23rd STREET. London : SAMUEL FRENCH, Publisher, 89, STRAND. ^> n - "^ i. t) b A SHOW OF HANDS. Firsi produced at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, W. {h^ permission of the Duke of Westminster), on March Qth, 1890. CHARACTERS. Edward Mr. E. Allan Aynesworth. Angela Miss Norreys. A SHOW OF HANDS. Scene. — A draicing-voom. Angela discovered in a state of great agitation ; walks up and doicn stage ; ^ goes to door and listens; sits doicn in chair, r.c, fanning her- self violently, then rises, takes stage and turns to door, c. Edward enters, stands at door, c, looking very woebe- gone. Ang. At last ! Well, what does he say ? (Edward comes a little forward, hands in ^^ockets, and shal^es his head. Brings him down) Don't shake your head, but speak. Can't you see how dreadfully anxious I am ? Edward, speak ! {shakes his arm) Edw. It's all up with us ; he declines absolutely. Ang. Declines ! Oh, no, Edward, it can't be true ! There's some mistake ; you have misunderstood him. Edw. Impossible ! His final words were, " Never will I consent to j^our marrying my daughter ! Never ! Rather than that she should become your wife, I would witness unmoved her elopement in a butcher's cart with the man who comes for orders." Ang. {distressed) Oh, dear ! oh, dear ! What can have put papa so much against you ? You believe in vaccina- tion, and you are neither a Radical nor a Ritualist ; it's very strange ! Did you tell him everything about your- self ? Edw. Oh, yes ; as you suggested, I piled it up tre- mendously. Ang. Did you mention that you had a thousand a year ? 6 A SHOW OF HANDS. Edw. Yes, and I am afraid I made it fifteen hundred. Ang. How generous of you ! And that your elder brother was very delicate ? Edw. Yes, and I think I led him to believe that the poor old boy was dying. Heaven forgive me ! Ang, Oh, never mind, it's only diplomacy. And did you say that your portrait had appeared in two evening papers ? Edw. Well, no ; I didn't mention that. Ang. There ! Edw. Of course it's fame, but I thought I'd better not say anything about it. You know it appeared in an article headed "A fool and his — " Ang. {interrupting) Oh, yes, of course ; but did you tell him how clever you are — that you have written a letter to the Times on "Bimetallism," and can do heaps of tricks T>^ith cards ? Edw. Yes, yes. I said everything to my credit I could think of ; and more important than all, I told him how dearly I loved my darling little Angy. {placing his arm round her waist) x\ng. {removing his arm) Ah, papa wouldn't be inter- ested in that. He calls love the Attraction of the Sexes, with a capital A and a capital S, and makes theories about it. He's a philosojDher, you know, {rather bitterly) Edw. He is, worse luck. Ang. What do you mean ? Edw. Well, it's jDhilosophy, or something like it, that has so completely done for us, Ang. Ah ! I might have expected it. Papa's fads again ; but go on, tell me all about it. Edw. Well, after I had bhished through my catalogue of virtues, and was anxiously awaiting his decision,' your father exclaimed quite suddenly, " Show me your hand." I put it out — so. {shows hand) He glanced at it for a moment, then smacked his forehead violently and groaned. I was naturally rather alarmed at this, and inquired if he were ill ; his reply was, "Fetch me, from the third bookshelf yonder, volume 44 of ' Pettigrew's Palmistry for Begin- ners.'" Ang. Palmistry ! Ah, to be sure ! It's his latest madness ! Edw. I brought the book. He said, " Open at page A 8H0W OF HANDS. 7 692." I did SO. "Turn to Diagram No. 35," he con- tinued, "and tell me what you think of the thumb there depicted." Well, I couldn't for the life of me make out what he was driving at, so I smiled feebly and said it was very pretty. " No, sir," he thundered out ; "it is not pretty ; it is the thumb of avarice and cruelty, and let me tell you, sir, it is an exact representation of your own. Be gone. Good-evening !" Ang. Oh, Edward ! But you aren't avaricious and cruel, are you ? Edw. I don't know ; I suppose I must be ; it's in a book, I've seen it in print. Oh ! {sigJis) I wish I never had a thumb — or a hand — or an arm — or anything. Ang. Yes ; it would have been much more convenient, and you could easily have written love letters with your toes, like the man at Barnum's ; but no, no, I shouldn't have liked it, there would have been so much less of you to love, {takes hold of Edward's thumh) Ah ! you naughty thumb ! You little know how unhappy you've made us ! Edw. I believe he does, the brute, and glories in it. You beast ! I broke you once, years ago, and if there was a crowbar or anything handy, by Jove ! I'd do it again. Ang. (quicMy) No, ^o ; don't break it again, {suddenly) Oh, I wonder if that has anything to do with its shape ! Perhaps it becar"'e c«'uel and avaricious quite by acci- dent. Edw. By Jove ! most likely. I never thought of that. It may account for everything. Shall I have another try — explain the breakage to your father ? It may change his views entirely, {going toicards door) Ang. Do, dear, do. {jmsMng him off) Run away at once ; and mind you tell him the whole truth. Stay ! {stopping him) Mightn't you mention that it has never been itself ever since it was broken ; more wobbly like ; altogether different from your father's thumb — and your brother's thumb — and the family's thumbs generally — I mean if such is really the case. Edw^ Don't be afraid, I'll spin him a yarn ! {Exit) Ang. {calling after Mm) Don't forget — more wobbly like. Dear Edward ! I hope he'll be careful ; of course one ought always to speak the truth, especially to one's 8 A SHOW OF HANDS. parents ; but I know dear papa so very well, and have- noticed that he takes facts so much better after they have been touched up a little. Dear father ! {rather cfngrUy) I wonder if all philosophers are as tiresome as he is ! He'll never let me get married. This is the third time his fads have come between me and happiness, and now his consent is much more necessary than before, for I care for Edward, really and truly — a thousand times more than I did for the others. The others ! Ah yes ! (smiling at the recollection) What nice fellows they were I There was Tom Pontifex. What a dear little man he was ! Hair a trifle carroty, perhaps, but such a kind heart ! I have never tasted since such delicious chocolate creams as those he used to bring me. I fancy I can taste them now ! (indicating reminiscencea of an ajjpetite gratified in the past) Papa was deep in Phrenol- ogy when Tom proposed, and insisted on feeling his bumps. He ruffled up the poor boy's head till it was like a carpet broom, and then declared that it had the bump of wife-beating abnormally developed — and so Tom vras sent about his business. It turned out afterward that the bump was the result of incautiously taking the air in Hyde Park during the progress of a Socialist Demonstration. That was all ! Fred Stokes was the next disappointment. That was in papa's Spiritualist days. Fred was sent off into a trance and made to declare that he was a blood-stained bandit. What a shame ! Every one knew that he had lived from childhood at Clapham. and had been on the Stock Exchange ever since^ he was sixteen. Poor, dear Fred ! he has made a fortune in Nitrates since, but, alas ! I shall never have the spending of it. Edward's a very long time ; I wonder v.hat they're talking about ? Ah, here he is I Edward enters rapidly with an air of suppressed agitation and excitement. Ang. (eagerly) Well, well ? Edw. Worse — worse than ever, (leaves Angela lacTc as she approaches him) Ang. Worse than ever ! Didn't He believe in the broken thumb ? Edw. He admitted there might be something in n)V A SHOW OF HANDS. ^ story, but went on to say he must make a careful examina- tion of the lines of my hand. He got down another volume- of the Palmistry Book, opened at another diagram, com- pared it with my hand — and oh {groans) his discoveries were simply appalling ; in fact, I feel it is quite impossible you can ever marry the crushed and battered wretch that now stands before you. {sinlcs into chair) Ang. {aside) I expected it ; that's just how Tom went on after his bumps were felt ; but I didn't love then as I dO' now. I can't give Eddie up, and, what's more, I won't, {aloud) Look up, dear ! Edw. {groans) Oh ! Ang. Tell me what was this dreadful discovery ! Edw. {speaking solemnly) Can you bear to hear it ? It's awful ! Ang. Yes. I'll nerve myself. Edw. Good. Ill wait a moment while you do it. {pause, during which Angela clenches her hands and maJces some slight contortions of tlie face, so as to indicate the mental struggle going on within her) Are you nerved ? Ang. Yes, I'm nerved, Edw. {rises and shoics hand) Well, do you see that line ? That is the line of murder ! That one running across — so— is the line of burglary ! And that — oh, nerve yourself as much as ever you can, my Angy — that is the line of arson ! In short, that is the sort of man I am. Ang. {cover ing face and shuddering) It is too, too dreadful, but it canH be true. Edw. Oh, how I wish it were not ; but, alas ! there is no mistake about it. Thumbs you may explain away, but lines are stern realities. Ang. But you never guessed you were this sort of man, did you, Eddie ? Edw. Not for a moment ! Your father says that these evil passions are just now lying dormant ; but they may break out at any moment, and before I know where I am I may find myself burgling and murdering and arsoning all over the place, {takes stage R.) Ang. I see, and when they break out you'll break in with a dagger in one hand and a box of lucifers in the other ! It's very, very awful ! Edw. Yes, ghastly ! {slight pause) I suppose that now we must say farewell forever ? 10 A SHOW OF HANDS. Ang. Yes, I suppose so. {loohs at thumb) Oh, you wicked^ cruel, poor dear hand, (kisses it) Edw. Don't do that ! {holding up his hand) To think that this about-to-be-blood-stained monster has ever dared to clasp your innocent little palm ! Look at the grinning lines of vice, there, and there, and there — in fact — every- where ! Ang. How mournfully interesting, {compares ha7id icith her own, and then starts violently and exclaims) Oh ! Edw. What is it ? Ang. Look, look ! Catch me, I am fainting — I — I've got them, too ! Edw. Got what ? {catching her) ,Ang. The same lines. Edw. Impossible ! Ang. See, see ! Edw. {convpares hands) Good heavens ! It is true, {stag- gers^ holding her) My brain reels — take hold of me — oh, no, of course you can't. Let us stagger to a chair, {they stagger to a chair) Ang. {weeping) Oh, how wicked we are ! (both groan, "Oh ! "■) What will become of us ! Do you think we shall live to be hanged ? Edw. {moodily) Yes, I suppose so. (Angela goes towards door) where are you going, Angy ? Ang. {solemnly) To do my melancholy duty — warn papa to lock up all the razors, put burglar alarms on his study windows, and order a portable fire escape. Wretched old man ; won't he be sorry now that he ever meddled with Palmistry ! My first arson shall be the burning of those books. {Exit) Edw. And my first murder, the man who wrote them ! Ah me ! How little we know our own characters ! Who would . have thought that such terrible potentialities could lie hidden in one's hand ? But I'll cheat them yet. Yes, one way remains. Immediate death. I wonder what is the pleasantest mode of suicide ? Razors ? — no, they make a mess I Poison ? — that hurts ! Drowning — impos- sible, I can swim. I must think it over. I wonder if there is a handbook on the subject ? I'll look it up. _ Yes, the only career open to me now is to strike out a suicidal line of my own — make my sole interest in life my manner of leavinsf it. ) A SHOW OF HANDS. 11 Ang. {rushes in) Oh, Edward, Edward ! Edw. Have you told your father ? Ang. Yes, aud oh — poor papa ! Edw. (gravely) Poor papa ! Angy, you haven't made a start, have yqu ? {indicating the severing oj the icind- pipe) Ang, No — not yet. Edw. {sigh of relief ) xA.h ! Ang. But poor papa ! Edw. Well, well ! Ang. I showed him my hand, and bursting into tears he examined his own — and, oh, Edward — what do you think ? He's worse than we are ; oh, what a criminal family ,we are ! He says there is no telling how soon we may begin. Ply from us while there is yet time. Fly ! Edw. What's the use of flying ? I am just as likely to make a start as you are. Ang, Then come with us. Edw. Where ? Ang. To the nearest police-station — to give ourselves into custody on suspicion. It would be such a comfort, dear, to be chained in the same dungeon with you. Edw. Good ! then let us to our doom. But hark, who's that calling ? Ang. It's papa's voice, (runs to door) Edw. (aside) Perhaps the old boy is starting on the warpath. I must be prepared, (tal-es wp choir) Ang. Hush ! Papa is speaking, (calling off) What did you say? (pause) No? (pause) Really! (listens icith groicing jdeasure) Oh, how delightful — what a relief — how happy I — (runs up to Edward) Did you hear that, dearest ? It's all a mistake. Edw. a mistake ! Ang. Yes, papa has been looking at Diagram 220 instead of Diagram 230, and all our lines, instead of being vicious are those of morality, long life, and boundless wealth. Edw. Angy ! Ang. Eddie ! (fall into each other'' s arms limply) Edw. What a relief ! But we've had an awful fright. I shall remember it to my dying day. However, I suppose we may now consider ourselves really engaged, so we'll go at once nnd get his formal consent. (icaJking together to door) 12 A SHOW OF HANDS. Ang. Yes, he'll have to give it now. ' Edw. Rather ! Ang. Because you know we've carried it by a Show of Hands. (Jiolding up hands as if in the act of voting and JSxeunt) Curtain. i PROSCENIUIVI AND DROP SCENE. !S'Zl4^^0DES3^3'ZTJ3!iX.— A most effective Pro?cenium can be formed by utilizing the paper made for this purpose. Three pieces of wood are merely required, shaped according to this detign, and covered with the paper ; the proscenium having the appearauco of light blue puffed satin panels, In gold frames, with Shakc- rpeare medallion in the centre. Puffed satin paper, Light Blue, size 20 inches by CO inches, per sheet, 25 cts. Imitation Gold Bordering, per sheet, 25c., making 14 feet. Shakespearian Medallion, 18 inches in diameter, 50 cts. X^D^L^^HE* ^g J f»?TVm„ — The picture shov,-n above is an illustra. tion of this scene. It comprises four sheets of paper which are to be pasted in the oentre of any sized canvas that may be requisite for the drop curtain. Size 6^ feet by 5 feet. Price $2.50. JLjC^C^^FLSi. — These comprise three sheets of paper each, and can be had either for drawing-room or cottage purposes. Size, 7 feet by 3 feet. Price, com- plete, $1.25 each. '^J%7"311STj^^J9 \/\/ m — This is a parlor window formed with two sheets of paper, and could be made practicable to slide up and down. The introduction of curtains each side would make it very effective. Size, 3 feet by 4}^ feet. Price, $1.00, complete. lF"Z=S.DE3^a'C:;3E2C '^7f7'i:N"I>^'^?l7°-- Consisting of four sheets of paper, representing a window containing four large ornamental frosted glass panes with colored glass around. Size 6>^ feet high by 5 feet. Price $1.50. 3?*XmS3^ILB.,^k.C?E3«— This is also made with two sheets of paper. The fire is lighted, but should this not be required a fire-paper can be hung over it. It will be found most useful in many farces whei-ein a character has to climb up a chim- ney, and many plays where a fireplace is indispensable. By purchasing a door, win- dow, and fireplace an ordinary room scene could easily be constructed with the addi- tion of some wall-paper. Size, 3 feet by 4>^ feet. Price, complete, ^1.25. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FRENCH'S ACTIN Iriliiiillilll 014 677 763 6 TsrEW z^'Xj^a^-^s. April Folly At Sixes and Sevens Barbara Baron's Wager Betsv Bow Bells Breach of Promise Breaking the Ice Brothers (The) Bubbles By Special Hequest Case for Eviction Chalk and Cheese Charity Circumstances Alter Cases Confederate Spy Compromising Case Crazed Crossed Love ' X)auichefl's Dimity's Dilemma Dreams Duchess of Bays\v;i,ter & Co Duty Engaged Equals False Shame j Fennel First Mate For the Old Love's Sake Oarden Party Oar rick (Muskerry) George Geith Gentle Gertrude Bull Girl Graduate Girls (The) Glimpse of Paradise Gretchen Harvest Home His Own Guest Hook and Eye In Honor Bound Iron Master (The) Lady Fortune Linked by Love Long Odds Love Game Lyrical Lover Major and Minor Man Proposes ( Grundv) Marble Arch Melting Moments Merry Meeting Mariner's lleturn JMiser Month After Date My Friend Jarlet My Little Girl I\Iy Lord in Livery Nearly Seven Nearly Severed Nettle Not Such a Fool, etc. Obliging His Landladv Off Duty Old Cronies On the Brink Once Again Once a Week Open Gate Overland Route Palmistry Petticoat Perfidv Pitv Playmates Promijter's Box Postscript Progress Punch Ruined by Drink Railway Adveutuie Row in the House Sample vs. Pattern Saved Second Thoughts Senior Wrangles Sins of the Fathers Sixpenny TelegTam Sour Grapes Spur of the Moment Steeple Jack Step Sister Smmy Side Sunset Sunshine Taken bv Storm Tears: Idle Tears That Dreadful Doctor The Nightingale Thorough Base Through the Fire Tom Pinch True Colors Two Pros Which Why Women Weep Woman's Wrongs Written in Sand Yellow Roses Yeoman's Service G-UIDE TO SELECTING- PLAYS; Price 25 Cents. Showing how to select Farces, Comedies, Dramas, for Private or Public PeTformanee; giving the Number of Characters, the Author's Name the Sceneiv Costumes, Time in Representation, and the Plot or Advice, connected 1,500 Pieces. with arxici.es neeoeo by amaxeurs, Such as Tableaux Ligh'ts, Magnesium Tableaux Lights, Prepared Burnt Cork, Grease, Paints, Lightning for Private Theatricals. Guide to Selecting Plays. Hints on Costume. Scenery to Pit any Stage. Jarley's Wax Works, Ethiopian Plays. Charades, Amateur's Guide Guide to ihe Stage. ' 28 West 2:Ul St., Xetv York, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ■ 014 677 763 6 % Hollinger Corp.