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Once, in returning from rehearsal, he was caught in a severe shower of rain in Holborn, and he took shelter in a comb-maker's, where an old man was at work. "Good Heavens ! what pain you are in, sir!" (said the son of Thespis.) “Pain! I have no pain," replied the man, pursuing his vocation. "Yes, you must, (rejoined Bannister

very gravely,) you are cutting your teeth."

PIRON.

PIRON, discontented with the performance of Sarrasin, in his tragedy of "Gustavus Vasa," and knowing that actor had been an Abbé in his youth, called aloud from the amphitheatre, "That man, who was not worthy of being consecrated, at twenty-four, is equally unworthy of being excommunicated, at sixty." All actors in France used to be excommunicated. Sarrasin, however, is said to have been an excellent comedian.

At the performance of the same play, the Abbé Desfontaines met Piron, much too richly dressed, as he supposed; and coming up to him, said "Poor Piron! really, that dress is ill adapted to you!"-"That may be," answered Piron; "but really, in return, Mr. Abbé, you must allow you are as ill adapted to your own." (The cardinal wore the clerical habit.)

MACKLIN'S LAST APPEARANCE.

THIS event occurred May 7, 1789, on which occasion, at the advanced age of NINETY, he attempted his old character of Shylock, for his own benefit; but, in the middle of his part, finding his memory entirely gone, he was obliged to apologize, and request that Mr. Ryder might be allowed to supply his place: this was unhesitatingly granted, and the Veteran quitted the mimic art for ever.

NAT. LEE AND SIR ROGER L'ESTRANGE.

THE author of " Alexander the Great," whilst confined in a mad-house, was visited by Sir Roger L'Estrange, of whose poetical abilities Lee entertained no very high opinion. Upon the knight inquiring whether the poet knew him? Lee answered

"Custom may alter men, and manners change;
But I am still strange Lee, and you L' Estrange;
I'm poor in purse, as you are poor in brains."

RICH, AND FOOTE.

THE education of Rich, the Covent-Garden Manager, had been much neglected, and his language was, in consequence, vulgar and ungrammatical. He had contracted a strange and rude

VOL. II.

I

habit of calling every body Mister, which gave rise to the following bon mot by Foote. Rich having called him Mister several times, the mimic grew warm; and asked him the reason of his not calling him by his name."Don't be angry, (said Rich,) for I sometimes forget my own name." "That's extraordinary (replied Foote ;) for, though I knew you could not write it, I did not suppose you could forget it."

MADEMOISELLE FELIX.

THIS celebrated French actress, who possessed great attractions, was engaged at Petersburg, where she performed in tragedy. One day, when she became the subject of conversation at the table of the Empress Catharine, the young Lans Koy, the reigning favourite, spoke of her with so much warmth, and launched out into such high praise of her graces, that, from that moment, it was noticed, the Empress no longer saw her with pleasure, and forbore to command the pieces in which this actress might have been seen with advantage.

On her side, Mademoiselle Felix felt piqued, spoke with much freedom, and, what will hardly be credited, between the Sovereign and the stage

heroine an open warfare was, at length, carried on. New expedients, to disgust and humble the latter, were daily resorted to; and, every day, the actress became more firm against this persecution, at the same time that her language and her sarcasms often drove her enemies to despair.

It is known that, at Petersburg, the distinction of ranks requires that a certain number only of horses should be harnessed to the carriages. Mademoiselle Felix, who displayed her figure, in the principal streets of the capital, like a Princess, with four or six horses, received an order to appear with two only. Enraged at this prohibition, she resolved to violate it, and even to brave the Empress within the purlieus of her palace. For this purpose, she demanded the equipage and carriage of Count Soltikof, her lover, whose rank permitted him to drive with six horses. She was now to be seen taking turns in the Park of Cazorel until she fell in with the Empress, which was what she had most at heart. Enraged at the boldness and audacity of this girl, the latter instantly sent an order to the superintendent of the police of Petersburg, for her to quit the city within twenty-four hours, and the Imperial dominions within eight days. In another State, less despo

tic, she might have been punished with more severity. The Count, her lover, was exiled to one of his estates.

On her coming to Paris, after this sensible humiliation, she displayed all her loftiness of character, or, it may be said with more justice, her impertinence; for, having been coldly received by the public, in the character of Alzire, which was allotted to her, and the hisses having become general at the moment when she threw herself at the feet of Alvarès, she turned towards the audience, with a shrug of the shoulders, and an air of contempt, such as might have been punished by a residence of a few weeks in the Hôtel de la Force, if it had not been certain that she would never again make her appearance on the boards of the capital.

A SHIFT FOR A RUFFLE.

Once, in a barn, the strolling wardrobe's list Had but one ruffle left for Hamlet's wrist.

Necessity, which has no law, they say, Could, with one ruffle, but one arm display. "What's to be done?" the hero said, and sigh'd. "Shift hands each scene, (a brother buskin cried ;)

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