AUTHORS AND ACTORS; OR, ENGAGING A COMPANY. _A Dramatic Sketch._ _Scene--The Manager's Room. The Manager discovered._ _Manager._--Well! my theatre is built at last, and I have now only to think about opening it. My walls are so dry that they cannot throw a damp upon my prospects. My stage is all ready for starting; and every one, I am happy to say, seems inclined to take the box-seat. Everything now must go as smooth as a railroad. I have always heard that a manager must lead a devil of a life; but I am in hopes I shall be an exception to the rule, and that management to me will be a delightful pastime. _Fitz-Growl_ (_without_).--But I must see him. _Manager._--Who the deuce can this be? (_Enter a Servant._) _Servant._--If you please, sir, here's a person wants to speak to you. _Manager._--I'm busy about the opening of the theatre; tell him you can't get near me. _Servant._--But he says he's an author, sir, and has called about his piece. _Manager._--His piece! why, these authors let me have no peace at all. _Servant._--He would come up, sir, though I told him you wouldn't suffer any one behind the scenes. _Manager._--And particularly an author; for he makes people suffer enough before them. _Servant._--Here he is, sir; he would force his way up. (_Exit Servant. Enter Fitz-Growl._) _Manager._--My servant says you would force your way up. _Fitz-Growl._--And isn't it natural an author should wish to do so? _Manager._--Well; but, sir, it is not usual in theatres for the manager to see any one. _Fitz-Growl._--Not usual to see any one! It must be a very poor look-out. _Manager._--Well, sir, as you are here, may I ask your business? _Fitz-Growl._--Why, being anxious for the success of your theatre, I sent you three of my pieces to begin with. Now, sir, I've had no answer. _Manager._--My dear sir, we cannot answer everybody. Theatres never answer in these times. However, your pieces shall be looked out. You can believe in my assurance. _Fitz-Growl._--Certainly; a manager ought to have assurance enough for anything. But I tell you, sir, if you want to succeed, you must open with my piece. _Manager._--What is the nature of it? _Fitz-Growl._--Nature! The beauty of my piece is, that there's no nature at all in it; it's beautifully unnatural. _Manager._--Indeed! I hope there is some spirit in the dialogue? _Fitz-Growl._--Some spirit, sir! there is a ghost in it. _Manager._--A ghost, my dear sir! that won't do for my theatre; my audience would have too much sense for a thing of that kind. _Fitz-Growl._--Then you'll never do any good, sir; but, may I ask what sort of pieces you intend producing? _Manager._--Variety and novelty, sir, will be my aim. _Fitz-Growl._--Novelty! then my piece is the very thing. I sink the whole stage. _Manager._--Thank you; but I'd rather leave the task of sinking the stage to others; my aim shall be to raise it.