"
It was little Mr. Bows in the orchestra who had taught her the 'dodge' in
question. All the company heard the applause, and, as the curtain went
down, came round her and congratulated and hated Miss Fotheringay.
Now Mr. Dolphin's appearance in the remote little Chatteris theatre may
be accounted for in this manner. In spite of all his exertions, and the
perpetual blazes of triumph, coruscations of talent, victories of good
old English comedy, which his play-bills advertised, his theatre (which,
if you please, and to injure no present susceptibilities and vested
interests, we shall call the Museum Theatre) by no means prospered, and
the famous Impresario found himself on the verge of ruin. The great
Hubbard had acted legitimate drama for twenty nights, and failed to
remunerate anybody but himself: the celebrated Mr. and Mrs. Cawdor had
come out in Mr. Rawhead's tragedy, and in their favourite round of
pieces, and had not attracted the public. Herr Garbage's lions and tigers
had drawn for a little time, until one of the animals had bitten a piece
out of the Herr's shoulder; when the Lord Chamberlain interfered, and put
a stop to this species of performance: and the grand Lyrical Drama,
though brought out with unexampled splendour and success, with Monsieur
Poumons as first tenor, and an enormous orchestra, had almost crushed
poor Dolphin in its triumphant progress: so that great as his genius and
resources were, they seemed to be at an end.
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