Merrie England in the Olden Time, Vol. 2Daniel, George
History
Merrie England in the Olden Time, Vol. 2
Daniel, George
England -- Social life and customs
So finding, though in Ireland, my capital wasn't doubling, I gave the
bog-trotters the “Glass of Fashion” (they never gave me a glass of
anything!) to a sausage-maker's Polonius; took my leave and two and
six-pence; bolted to Ballinamuck; (my Farce of Ducks and Green Peas
never had such a run?) starred it from Ballinamuck to Bartlemy, and
engaged with the man that lets devils out to hire, and deals in giants
of the first enormity. My crack parts are Othello and Jim Crow; so that
between the two, the lamp black never gets washed off my face, and I
fear I shall die a Negro--
“Thus far,” added the great Tragedian, rolling up the papers into a
bundle and tossing them over to Mr. Titlepage, “the Autobiography of
Bonassus! From Smithfield we march to the Metropolitans. 'The Garden' is
sadly in want of a fine high comedy figure at a low one; and Drury, of a
Tragedy Queen who can do Dollallolla. I smother a new debutante, Miss
Barbara Bug-gins; beat Liston * hollow in Moll Flaggon; and put out of
joint the noses of all preceding Mac-beths. The Tumbletuzzy opens in
Queen Katherine (which she plays quite in a different style to
Siddons).”
* Of an actor so extensively popular, let us indulge a few
reminiscenees. We remember his first entrée upon the boards
of old Covent Garden, in Jacob Gawky; but his present
amplitude of face and rotundity of person were then wanting
to heighten the picture; and flesh, like wine, does wonders.
His voice, too, has Avaxed more fat and unctuous; and
broader (like his figure) has grown his fun. The stage
became possessed of a new character, such as humourist had
never before conceived, or player played--Mr. Liston!--The
town roared with laughter; actors split their sides at his
deepening gravity; caricaturists, in despair, cast off
invention, and trusted solely to his unique lineaments; our
signs bore aloft his physiognomical wonders; and walking-
sticks, tobacco-stoppers, snuff-boxes, owned the queer
impeachment.
Liston! the Knight of the comieal countenance, where Momus
sits enthroned in every dimple, crying aloof to the sons of
care and melancholy! He is the very individual oddity
described in the epigram--
“Here, Hermes” says Jove, who with nectar was mellow,
“Go, fetch me some clay, I will make an odd fellow.”
And forth sprang Liston, a figure of fun! Not for the
amusement of gods, but of men!
To Suett Ave owe our first impression of drollery, but his
glimmering spark was soon extinct. The sun of Liston has
been before us from its rising to its setting. We hailed its
grotesque ascension, basked in its-broad meridian, and now
(when time has somewhat sobered down its comet-like
eccentricities) sorrowfully contemplate its going down.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account