We have never seen less than two men concerned in these ambulatory exhibitions: one to carry the theatre and use Punch's tin whistle, and the other to bear the box of puppets and blow the trumpet. During the performance the money is collected from the bystanders, and far from agreeing with Mr. Strutt that the contributions are "very trifling," we have seen, for we have taken the pains to ascertain it, three, four and five shillings obtained at each repetition; so that, supposing only ten performances take place in a summer's day, the reward to the two men, on an average, might be about a sovereign each. On one occasion we remember to have seen three different spectators give sixpence, besides the pennies elsewhere contributed, on which the collector went back to the theatre and whispered the exhibitor, who immediately made Punch thus address the crowd: "Ladies and gentlemen, I never yet played for sevenpence halfpenny, and I never will; so good-morning." He then "struck his tent" and departed, pocketing nearly two shillings, and excusing himself from going through the performance, under pretence that all the contributions he had received only amounted to sevenpence halfpenny. CHAPTER III. ANTIQUITY OF PUNCH IN AMERICA. In the preceding chapters we have spoken of the origin, progress and high esteem held for Punch and puppet-plays throughout the countries of Italy and England; and judging from our own personal experience and actual knowledge, in still greater favor may Punch be said to hold for himself amongst the fun-loving Americans. What children's party is brought to a perfect state of merriment unless with the greetings and comicalities of Mr. Punch? Though for a while the tracing of the adventures and travels of Mr. Punch throughout this land is lost, yet we have before us sufficient to show that his family are of good antiquity, the _New York Gazette_ of Feb. 20th, 1739, having the following announcement: "To-morrow will be performed, in Mr. Holt's long room, the new pantomime entertainment, in grotesque characters, called 'The Adventures of Harlequin and Scaramouch; or, The Spaniard Trick'd,' to which will be added an Optick, wherein will be represented in perspective several of the most noted cities and remarkable places in Europe and America, with a new Prologue and Epilogue addressed to the town. To begin precisely at six o'clock. Tickets to be had at Mr. Holt's, at five shillings each." Ireland's history of the New York stage preserves the next earliest record of mechanical puppets performed in this country. It refers to the _New York Gazette_ of August, 1747: "To be seen at the house of Mr. Hamilton Hewetson, at the sign of the Spread Eagle, near White Hall slip, Punch's opera, 'Bateman; or, The Unhappy Marriage,' with a fine dialogue between Punch and his wife, Joan, acted by a set of lively figures."