Byrne's innovation was not resisted, and it was well received, and ever
since this memorable occasion, the character of Harlequin has, for the
most part, been dressed as Byrne dressed it. The significance of the
present-day variegated colours of Harlequin's costume are somewhat
different to the above, and denote: red, fire; blue, water; yellow, air;
and black, earth. These--the four elements--are typical of the regions
governed by Mercury.
Mr. Byrne was at Drury Lane in the time of Garrick. He died December
4th, 1845, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. Mrs. Byrne, who was also
a dancer, pre-deceasing her husband by a few months in her
seventy-fourth year.
Joseph Grimaldi, son of "Old Joe," made, at twelve years of age, his
first appearance at Sadler's Wells in 1814, playing Man Friday to his
father's Robinson Crusoe. For several years both father and son played
together in various Pantomimes; and it was thought that before young Joe
there was a brilliant future. This, however, was soon dissipated, as he
embarked upon vicious courses, and through a blow on the head received
in some brawl "He became a wild and furious savage; he was frequently
attacked with dreadful fits of epilepsy, and continually committed
actions which nothing but insanity could prompt. In 1828 he had a
decided attack of insanity, and was confined in a strait waistcoat in
his father's house for some time."
From engagements at Drury Lane, Sadler's Wells, the Pavilion and the
Surrey Theatre in turn, he was dismissed, finally "Falling into the
lowest state of wretchedness and poverty. His dress had fallen to rags,
his feet were thrust into two worn-out slippers, his face was pale with
disease, and squalid with dirt and want, and he was steeped in
degradation." This unhappy life came to a final close in a public-house
in Pitt Street, off the Tottenham Court Road.
Signor Pietro Bologna, a country-man and friend of Giuseppe Grimaldi,
Joe Grimaldi's father, brought with him from Genoa his wife, two sons
and a daughter. They were all Mimes, and, in a Pantomime produced in
1795, entitled, "The Magic Feast," Signor Bologna was Clown, and his
son, "Jack" Bologna, was Harlequin; the latter being also Harlequin to
Grimaldi's Clown, both at Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells. "Jack"
Bologna married a sister of Mary Bristow, Joe Grimaldi's second wife,
and the mother of poor young Joe.
Tom Ellar was another famous Harlequin, first making his appearance at
the Royalty, Goodman's Fields, in 1808. For several seasons he played
Harlequin at Covent Garden.
Many years ago penny portraits of Mr. Ellar "In his favourite character
of Harlequin," were published by a Mr. Skelt, or a Mr. Park, of Long
Lane, Smithfield, and were the delight of those, who, if living now, are
old and gray.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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