THE THREE GRACES.
Reading edition
Faith, Hope, and Love, now dwell on earth, And earth by them is blest; But Faith and Hope must yield to Love, Of all the graces best.
Three Female Figures.
This is a statuary tableau, and is represented by three young and beautiful ladies of about the same height and figure, with regular features and long hair. Their costume consists of a long white robe, worn with few skirts, and cut extremely low at the neck, sleeves five inches long, a mantle of white tarleton muslin worn across the breast, tied at the side, and allowed to trail on the floor; the hair arranged in braids at the sides of the head, ornamented with large beads, clasped with a silver band behind, and allowed to hang in short curls in the neck. The ornaments should be entirely white. The three ladies stand on a pedestal three feet high, and four feet in diameter; this must be covered with black or green marble paper, and placed in the centre of the stage. The centre lady stands facing the audience, with the right hand raised above the head; the left clasps the hand of the lady at the left side, who is looking into the eyes of the figure at the right, and rests her right hand on the shoulder of the centre figure. The figure on the other side stands in a graceful position, resting her hands on the shoulder of the centre figure, and looking into her face. The countenances of the three should express pleasure. The light for the piece must be soft and mellow, and come from the side of the stage. Music low and plaintive.
