Brereton, in his day, had seen as much misery while strolling as Bensley,--a gentleman as well-born as himself. The latter once tramping it with Robinson, they found that they had but a penny between them. They tossed as to who should have the mutton pie which it could purchase, and Bensley burst into tears while the winner devoured the prize. Their next dinner was purchased by their cutting off their hair, then worn long, and selling it. And this incident of the hair reminds me of Fox, the manager's son at Brighton, who, when hair-powder was worn by some and denounced by others, because of the tax upon it, appeared, in some fine gentleman's part, with his head half in powder and half without. To allay the uproar that ensued, he explained that he did it to please both parties, and of course gratified neither. Some old strolling companies, on the tramp, walked very many hundreds of miles during the year. Even the richer brethren of the craft sometimes suffered tribulation. As once happened with the Bath Company, when their scenery, machinery, dresses, and "property" of every theatrical sort, were burnt in their caravans, as they were crossing Salisbury Plain. I return again to the old houses, for a moment, to consider three subjects not yet touched upon,--the old rage for prologues and epilogues,--the "dedications" of plays, and the "benefits" of the actors. [Illustration: Mr. Dibdin as Mungo.] FOOTNOTES: [84] Garrick dressed Macbeth in a suit of scarlet and gold. Macklin, in 1774, was the first to introduce any Scottish character into the costume. [85] Judging from Tate Wilkinson's account of this lady and her mother, this was not a slip. [Illustration: MILWARD'S "BENEFIT TICKET." (Hogarth)] CHAPTER XII. PROLOGUE, EPILOGUE; DEDICATIONS AND BENEFITS.