BETTY’S success raised up, of necessity, some imitators—there were other Roscii, who soon disappeared; and, as ladies deny the sterner sex the sole enjoyment of all the good things of this world, a Roscia sprang into existence—a Miss Mudie, who entered on her theatrical career, even earlier than Master Betty. _Morning Post_, July 29, 1805: “The Young Roscia of the Dublin Stage (only seven years old), who is called the _Phenomenon_, closed her engagement there on Monday last, in the part of _Peggy_, in the _Country Girl_, which she is stated to have pourtrayed with ‘wonderful archness, vivacity, and discrimination.’” Children, such as this, however precocious, are, of course simply ridiculous, and we are not astonished to find fun being made of them. Says the _Morning Post_, October 21, 1805: “A young Lady was the other day presented by her nurse and mamma to one of our managers for an engagement. She came recommended by the testimony of an _amateur_, that she was a capital representative of the _Widow Belmour_. The manager, after looking at her from head to foot, exclaimed, ‘But how old is Miss?’ ‘Seven years old, sir, next Lammas,’ answered the nurse, ‘bless her pretty face.’ ‘Oh! Mrs. Nurse,’ replies the manager, gravely, ‘_too old, too old_; nothing above _five years_ will now do for _Widow Belmour_.’” Old playgoers had not quite lost all their wits, although they had been somewhat crazy on the subject of young Roscius; but he was then fourteen, whilst this baby was only seven. However, the _Phenomenon_ appeared, and duly collapsed, the story of which I should spoil did I not give it in the original. Here it is, as a warning to ambitious _débutantes_—_Morning Post_, November 25, 1805: “COVENT GARDEN. The play of the _Country Girl_ was announced at this house, on Saturday evening, for the purpose of introducing to a London audience, a very young lady, a Miss MUDIE, in the character of Miss _Peggy_. Miss Mudie has played, as it has been reported, but we doubt the truth of the report, with great success at Dublin, Liverpool, Birmingham, &c., where she has been applauded and followed nearly as much as Master BETTY. The people of London seem to have been aware that these reports were unfounded, for no great degree of curiosity prevailed to see her on Saturday. “The audience received this child very favourably on her entrance. She is said to be ten years of age, but in size she does not look to be more than five. She is extremely diminutive, and has not the plump, comely countenance of an infant: her nose is very short; her eyes not well placed; she either wants several teeth, or is, perhaps, shedding them; and she speaks very inarticulately. It was difficult to understand what she said. When she attempts expression of countenance, her features contract about the nose, and eyes, in a way that gives reason to suppose she is older than her person denotes. She seems to have a young body with an old head.