PAPERGRAPHY
HOW AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT MAY BE GIVEN WITH A SHEET OF PAPER
THE greatest attraction wielded by Papergraphy is, perhaps, the extreme
simplicity of the apparatus required.
At first sight it seems utterly impracticable that a first-class
entertainment, of almost a quarter of an hour’s duration, can be given
with a sheet of paper. Moreover, very little practice is necessary.
Cartridge paper is the kind usually employed by professional
entertainers, and a suitable size is 54 inches by 36. A sheet of these
dimensions may be purchased from any stationer’s or dealer in artists’
requisites.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.--Paper folded.]
[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Paper pleated.]
[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Rosette.]
The paper must be marked out lengthwise into five parts; the central
section being 12 inches wide and the two on each side 6 inches in width.
The paper should next be folded along these lines (Fig. 1), and once
again folded into a series of pleats, as depicted in Fig. 2. A
convenient width for these pleats is 1 inch.
All being now ready for the first demonstration in Papergraphy, commence
by forming a _Rosette_ (Fig. 3).
Close up the pleated paper, and pull round the corners of each until
they meet.
_Table Mat_ (Fig. 4). Keeping hold of the ends of the rosette, stretch
out the pleats as far as possible.
_A Primitive Boat_ (Fig. 5). With the pleats still fully extended, turn
each end up, almost at right angles.
[Illustration: FIG. 4.--Table mat.]
[Illustration: FIG. 5.--Primitive boat.]
_Church Window_ (Fig. 6). This is formed very similarly to the table
mat, the difference being that one end is allowed to hang straight down.
_Fan_ (Fig. 7). Close up the pleats and spread out one end in the form
of a semicircle.
For the next series of transformations, the first fold (A, Fig. 1) must
be opened.
[Illustration: FIG. 6.--Church window.]
[Illustration: FIG. 7.--Fan.]
[Illustration: FIG. 8.--Mushroom.]
_Mushroom_ (Fig. 8). Pull both ends round to form a cylinder, with the
open fold at the top.
_Candlestick_ (Fig. 9). This is made by simply turning the mushroom
upside down.
_Clown’s Hat_ (Fig. 10). Press the top of the candlestick together,
making it as pointed as possible, and place upon the head, with the
folded bottom acting as a brim.
The second fold--on the same side as the fold already employed--must now
be opened.
_Flower Vase_ (Fig. 11). Keeping the two folds well open, pull the ends
round, into the form of a cylinder.
_Eastern Water-Jug_ (Fig. 12). Bend the paper round in the reverse
direction to that forming the flower vase. Then close the bottom end,
and place on the shoulder, as though carrying a pitcher.
[Illustration: FIG. 9.--Candlestick.]
[Illustration: FIG. 10.--Welsh hat.]
_Chinese Mandarin_ (Fig. 13). Turn the Eastern Water-Jug upside down,
and place it upon your head. Slight facial contortions can always be
made with good effect whenever the three hats included in this list are
formed.
[Illustration: FIG. 11.--Flower vase.]
[Illustration: FIG. 12.--Eastern water-jug.]
The first fold (A, Fig. 1) must next be opened on both sides.
_Sentry Box_ (Fig. 14). Pull round the two corners of one end until they
meet, allowing the other end to hang down to its fullest extent.
_Wash Bowl_ (Fig. 15). Pull round the corners of both ends until they
meet, and press the pleats together.
_Foot-Bath_ (Fig. 16). Still grasping the ends of the wash bowl, draw
the pleats out as far as possible.
_Fatigue Cap_ (Fig. 17). Turn the foot-bath upside down and place upon
the head.
For the remaining papergraphs, all the folds must be opened.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.--Chinese Mandarin.]
[Illustration: FIG. 14.--Sentry box.]
_Dumb-Bell_ (Fig. 18). With the folds open on both sides, pull the
pleats round into a cylinder. Then grasp the dumb-bell by the center
with your right hand, and bending your forearm, flex the biceps as
though exercising.
_Bon-bon_ (Fig. 19). Bend the paper round the reverse way to that
forming the dumb-bell.
[Illustration: FIG. 15.--Wash bowl.]
[Illustration: FIG. 16.--Foot-bath.]
[Illustration: FIG. 17.--Fatigue cap.]
_Granny’s Cap_ (Fig. 20). Open out the pleats, and place the paper upon
the head, pulling the sides down over the ears, to the chin.
After a little practice, all that it is necessary to do in order to give
a successful entertainment is to learn the correct order in which the
transformations take place.
For the first two or three performances it is a good plan to write out a
list of the various “folds” upon a small slip of paper, which should be
placed in such a position that a hasty glance can be thrown at it in
case of the memory failing.
As will doubtless have been noticed, the different folds have been so
arranged in the article that each transformation leads up to the next.
It is therefore of great importance that the performer should remember
their correct order. Otherwise he may suddenly find himself attempting
to make a fold with only one pleat opened, when really three are
required.
It is at such moments as these that the young entertainer wishes the
ground would open beneath him, that a cyclone would whisk him away, or
that any other phenomenon might occur which would carry him beyond the
gaze of his inquisitive audience.
When making a fresh transformation, the performer should move his arms
gently from side to side, and sway slightly from the hips--very much as
though he were holding a concertina. This will lead the audience into
the belief that he is engaged upon some extremely difficult fold, and
will completely hide the simple movement he is really making.
If the performer is a good elocutionist, and possesses plenty of
self-confidence, he might prepare some “patter” to go with the
performance. An excellent alternative, however, is to ask somebody to
play a dreamy waltz from the piano throughout the performance.
It will then only be necessary for the entertainer to make a few
introductory remarks before commencing his “show”; to announce the name
of each transformation as he makes it, and finally to thank the audience
for the attention with which they have followed his few experiments in
Papergraphy.
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Dumb-bell.]
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Bon-bon.]
[Illustration: FIG. 20.--Granny’s cap.]