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If they were successful, and could bring the birds to the inn without injury before the females of the house had risen, they were rewarded by the hostess with three pots of purl in honour of St. Valentine, and enjoyed the privilege of demanding at any other house in the neighbourhood a similar boon. This was

done," says our correspondent," as an emblem that the owl, being the bird of wisdom, could influence the feathered race to enter the net of love as mates on that day, whereon both single lads and maidens should be reminded that happiness could alone be secured by an early union."

THE THEATRES, &c.

THE "SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL," AT THE, and a third partner named Ford. After some

HOLBORN.

It is refreshing to turn from the vitiated drama of the new theatres lately risen into notice, to the contemplation of a specimen of sterling English comedy, where the story is a genuine commentary on manners, and the scenes and characters humorously and wittily satirise "Folly as it flies." Sheridan'e "School for Scandal" is exactly such a work as best illustrates what a true comedy of manners or society should be. In the words of Tom Moore, the poet, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan's biographer, "it is an El Dorado of wit, where the precious metal is thrown about by all classes as carelessly as if they had not the least idea of its value." In plot, character, and incident, dialogue, humour, and wit, the "School for Scandal" is acknowledged to surpass any comedy of modern times. It was carefully prepared by the author who selected, arranged, and moulded his language with consummate taste, so as to form it into a transparent channel of his thoughts. Like some other chef d'oeuvres of the drama, however, Sheridan's masterpiece owed something to other forms of literature; it put under contribution the more salient qualities of the best novels of the century. As in his first comedy (the Rivals") Sheridan had taken hints from Smollett, in the "School for Scandal" he had recourse to Smollett's rival, or rather twin novelist, Fielding. The characters of Charles and Joseph Surface were evidently suggested by Tom Jones and Blifil; but it must be said that the characterisation, coarse and vulgar in the novel, becomes brilliant and refined in the play. The careless extravagant rake is generous, warm-hearted, and fascinating; seriousness and gravity are rendered odious by being united to meanness and hypocrisy. The dramatic art of Sheridan is evinced in the ludicrous incidents and situations with which the "School for Scandal" abounds; his genius shines forth in its witty dialogues. Drury-lane theatre was fast falling in public favour when Garrick retired from its management in 1776. "His share in the theatre fell to his friend Sheridan, by a joint investment arranged between him, Linley,

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misunderstandings with Garrick's old partner, Lacy, who still owned his half of the entire concern, the new management got into working trim, and sought in various ways to attract a public grieving for the loss of its old favourite. The attempt, however, threatened to end in signal failure until Sheridan bestirred himself the next season to bring out the matchless comedy of the School for Scandal.' 'Thank God it is finished!' were the words he wrote under the last line of the last act, which was sent in to the prompter only five days before its first performance. 'Amen!' wrote the prompter, in his turn, as he got it ready for the greenroom." The success of the play surpassed even the enthusiastic prophecies of Garrick himself, and restored the falling fortunes of the theatre. Besides the immediate gains, it netted, in the two following years, upwards of forty thousand pounds to the treasury. It would seem that there still remains a strong vitality in this fine old play, since, after the lapse of nearly a whole century, the "School for Scandal" has been produced on the boards of a small London theatre (the HOLBORN), and has been made to run five or six weeks in succession, by dint of careful attention to the re-production of the comedy, the engagement of an efficient com pany of comedians, good acting, and a liberal furnishing forth of the mise en scene. After a very long interval, once more enthusiastic audiences are found gathered together, listening to the brilliant wit and graceful language of Sheridan. The great success of the revival of the "School for Scandal" at the Holborn, under the able management of an excellent and highly accomplished actor (Mr. Barry Sullivan), emboldens us to ask, Why are there no writers of comedy of the same class in our own day? Indubitably a new comedy is a rara avis. We must go back at least a quarter-of-a-century to find even a semblance of a masterpiece of dra

* STUDIES IN BIOGRAPHY: By Capt. L. J. Trotter. (8vo., 1865.)—We are indebted to the article, "Sheridan," in Capt. Trotter's fine collection of biographies, for several leading facts relating to the "School for Scandal."

matic art either in comedy or tragedy. The late Sheridan-Knowles wrote some good plays, but they were too strongly imitative, both in form and texture, of Elizabethan plays to claim to be thoroughly original works. Nevertheless, Knowles was one of the ablest dramatists of a now past generation. The late Douglas Jerrold attempted comedy; nearly, indeed, did Jerrold approach to laughing Thalia's domain, but he was never quite at ease on that same "charmed ground." He was an acute observer; he drew character with a master hand; he was a dry, quaint humourist; a wit of a rather caustic nature; he was capable of a sustained brilliancy of style which was pointed and epigrammatic in the extreme; but, nevertheless, his general dramatic picture was always more or less imperfect and untrue: in fact, Jerrold could not tell a good story through without spoiling it as a specimen of dramatic art. He had but moderate inventive powers-the shortcoming of most English writers for the stage. To come down to a later day, the comedies of Mr. Boucicault (especially "London Assurance" if it were not so utterly stagy) had sufficient success to give promise that the dramatist would some day give the stage a high-class work. However, instead of advancing in his art, Boucicault has, as everybody knows, degenerated into the inventor and writer of the so-called "sensational drama." At the risk of raising the venerable question of the critics, What is a comedy? we venture to express our notion of the matter. A comedy is a picture of society in petto. It is a frame-work

in which the actions of a particular phase of society, open to ridicule, are imitated and satirically commented upon. That our modern social forms of existence are as susceptible to dramatic satire as the times and manners of our forefathers were, such plays as "Money," by Bulwer-Lytton (now Lord Lytton), and "London Assurance" testify, imperfect works as they are. But in truth the requisites for high comedy writing are unattainable except to genius itself. The compeer of a Sheridan should possess a various combination of intellectual faculties-deep insight into character; the acuteness to detect the springs of human action; an intellect scintillating with a highly cultivated wit, and as susceptible to humour as that of "old Autolycus" - all these qualities we say must be subordinate to the dramatic art and associated with great powers of invention, to produce another "Rivals" or "School for Scandal." We have no dramatists now of such calibre ; and few actors to act a good five-act play if it were written. Mr. Robertson, the author of "School" and a collection of similar plays, could probably, if he chose to take infinite pains, write a piece at least equal to "London Assurance;" but we hesitate to accept " School," or Caste," or Society" for genuine comedy. We hope, however, Mr. Barry Sullivan intends to encourage high class dramatic composition, by accepting a few good plays for the HOLBORN, where, as we have stated already, the company is a good one, as proved by the long run of "Money" and the "School for Scandal." E. H. MALCOLM.

66

66

OUR LIBRARY TABLE.

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS, IN PART OF THE LAST CENTURY AND UP TO 1860; THE RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMES AMPHLETT, &c. &c. (London: Whittaker & Co., Ave Marie Lane, Wardle, Shrewsbury).-Out of the latitude of the last new novel, or of new books in general, we naturally turn for amusement, and a solace that has became habitual and necessary, to the volumes piled up on the sunny window seat, or on the hanging shelves in our (pro tem.) seaside, or rural parlour. Here is one, a very infant, in a bibliologist's conception of age in books; yet ancient, and out of date in the estimation of most readers, nine years having past since it saw the light. Yet, in glancing over it, I find so much of suggestion that has proved true prophecy of fact, that, read by the light of to-day, seems strange as fiction, of pleasant anecdote, and astute far-seeing good sense, that I am tempted, in the dearth of newer matter, to serve up a réchauffé of the prime of

its pages. Certain, that to the majority of readers, it will have as piquant a taste of novelty as one of the latest production in the literary world. Without being an autibiography, it treats of the principal events in the experience of an active and talented member, or rather master of the local press. Mr. James Amphlett, of Shrewsbury, who, throughout his long life of 85 years, was actively connected as proprietor or editor with various newspapers; and who, from the circumstance of being regarded as its oldest member, has been styled the "Father of the English Press;" a distinction that makes a stranger pause beside his grave in the cemetery at Shrewsbury, to ask its meaning. Amphlett was the son of a baptist minister, who added to his official stipend by keeping a school, and reckoned amongst his pupils M. D. Hill, Esq., afterwards recorder of Birmingham, and his brother Rowland Hill, of the General PostOffice. His son, the author of these recol

Mr.

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"It was known early in the morning that Dr. Priestley's house was on fire and that he had escaped. I went off with some boys of my own age to see the doctor's house. Some of my companions remarked that Dr. Priestley denied Jesus Christ, others said the

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lections, was transferred at seventeen to a baptist drinking cups which had also been supplied them academy, for the purpose of studying for the in clothes-baskets full over their heads, than ministry; but the principal, Mr. Richard they set off for Baskerville, the great printer's Comfield, a philosopher and christian, permitted house, and set that also in flames; "the noble his pupils to discuss various subjects in the Baskerville type is well-known," observes the evenings by way of intellectual exercise, and writer, and Baskerville house and grounds beamongst them the difference between church and came the battle-field of the mob, and some of the dissent. Young Amphlett defended the church; special constables, who, however, were soon the subject was continued for many evenings, overpowered. Here our hero looted a few oats till he, with a few others, argued themselves for his rabbits; while, in going round the into the conviction that the church was right, premises, he saw some men coming out of a and that the mere difference in forms of worship forced cellar window, and others going in. It could not justifiy trinitarian dissenters in their was the wine cellar, aud with true British insecession from the establishment. The conse-stinct, the invaders were calling out for "red quence was, a partial schism in the school, which port." No corkscrew was needed, the more young Amphlett left, and shortly after, we find summary mode of breaking off the neck of the him editing the Shrewsbury Advertiser." bottle sufficed, " and the mouths of some were His boyhood had been passed between Wolver- bleeding. When the wines were not to their hampton and Birmingham, and while still a taste, they dashed them to the floor, and away schoolboy, he had witnessed the Church and went probably champagne, claret, burgundy, and King riots at the latter town, when Dr. probably hock and imperial tokay." The boys Priestley's house was burned, and the doctor had followed the men, but they did not want himself had to fly for his life. The cause of the wines, and the men had to give them a lift in riot was the meeting of the presbyterians at the getting out again; a few hours later the cellar hetel in Birmingham, to commemorate the fell in and the revellers were buried in the ruins. anniversary of the destruction of the Bastile. Special constables appear not to have been as Upon which the mob arose with the cry of Church well organized, or as physically effective in those and King! and after smashing the windows of days as in our own; or probably, I ought to have the hotel and dispersing the meeting there, said, as munerically effective. At a cry of the marched directly against their chapels. But "Constables coming!" while the women and we will let Mr. Amphlett tell the tale : children generaily scampered, Young Amphlett and his friend got lifted on the wharf wall near the gates, when a crowd was seen coming up in procession. "Several of the leaders wore spectacles, and nearly all wore hair-powder, and appeared to be gentlemen;" they were armed with short staffs, "which, as it afterwards appeared, were the rollers used in drapers' shops, which silk and other fabrics are wound on. But though the mob were wholly unarmed, the struggle between them was short. In less than the road leading by or to Spark Brook five minutes the specials were seen running back and to Henley-in-Arden. We entered the shrubbery, with a considerable loss of hair-powder, which was which soon brought us to the house; then, in one fierce "beaten out of their heads in clouds." Other flame, a dead man lay at the corner with blood on his places were also sacked; our author retained a face, who, it was said, was killed by a large corner sweet memory of Squire Humphrey's house, where, stone falling on him. A large stack of coal containing he tells us, 66 we got among a number of lads in many tons had been set on fire and was full lighted, store rooms amid jams and jellies, where I took throwing out a most intense heat. The doctor's laboratory was a separate building on one side of the my ration; and this was my third felonious act. house, approached by a stair flight. The windows We saw several boys cram jam into their seemed to be continuous on two sides. They were pockets, and others smeared their faces in the knocked out, and a number of apparatus, consisting fun. We might have exclaimed jam satis' mainly of glass in a variety of forms, tubes, jars, retorts, without going further with the Roman bard." and other things, which lay in one smash, on the The reaction on the public mind after these sides. We went up for a moment or two, and heard events, was slow, but sure, as the costs to the some persons say that The doctor dealt with the-hundred were between thirty and forty thousand I picked up one small bottle of quicksilver, which con- pounds spread over three years. A little later, sists of all my plunder." and we find the writer present at the singing of Not satisfied with this exhibition of religious" Liberty Songs," in the back parlour of the and loyal fervour on the part of the mob, with the usual temerity of his age, the boy started off again and witnessed the destruction of Hutton's paper warehouse, and the rioters refreshed with cups of ale sent from the Fountain Inu, to divert them, it was said, from further mischief, but really to rouse them to renew it. No sooner had they emptied the tubs, and thrown the black!

riot was foretold in the bible, and the time was come

when there was to be no more kings. When we got to Deritend we met a number of people carrying away all sorts of house furniture with the same impunity as though they had bought them at a sale. Dr. Priestley's house was about two miles from the town

on

Ship Inn, Hill-street; while waiting the presence of the "Deritend, blacksmith, a furious revolutionist," who was expected, but did not come. It was at this time that Parr wrote his spital sermon, and about the same period Roscoe his beautiful song:

"O'er the vine covered hills, and gay regions of France, See the day-star of liberty rise,"

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"The manner and appearance of the delegates' excited some interest from the novelty of them; they usually walked arm in arm, which was considered effeminate and rediculous, as it was a familiarity unknown at that time amongst the gentleman of the town. At that period gentleman usually wore their hair long behind, but the delegates' had their hair cropped close to their necks, while their followers adopted these peculiarities, and were called Jacobin crops.' They also wore shoe-strings, which were an abomination to the buckle ticklers.' Gentlemen, who were strangers to the town, were often pelted in the

streets for this offence."

These particulars are curious, and exhibit a quaint picture of the manners and customs of the latter portion of the 18th century.

Here is a glimpse of the late Charles Matthews, in the cholera year of 1831 at Lincoln, living on a regime of mutton chops and brandy and water. After a few glasses of which, however, he would be droll as in ante-cholera, and on the occasion of an evening spent with the writer amongst other amusing incidents, he said that in his early youth his father was a strict "methodist" at the time when methodists were hooted at and pelted in going to their preaching places. Young Matthews used to clench his fist as he went to chapel with his father on such occasions, and say to himself, "I shall have to see you all frizzling in brimstone." In 1812, we find Coleridge giving a course of lectures on Shakspeare in Fetter

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lane; Mr. Amphlett's analysis of the poet and metaphysician's treatment of his subjects, is characteristic. On one occasion, about this period, he remarked to our author, apropos of a speech made by Robert Hall at a platform meeting of the advocates of the Bible Society, reported in Leicester paper, "how ingeniously Hall dealt with the argument in a circle. He afterwards said these platform meetings, where clergymen and dissenting ministers came into competition, as to which should bid the highest for support in religious zealots, and puritancial enthusiasts-these circumstances he said would lead to a low church, and a high church wider apart than ever yet was known. One leaning to the latitudinarian services of the dissenters, and the other, to the ceremonials of the Romancatholics." A prediction curiously verified in our times, though spoken 1812-13. We find some interesting particulars in this volume touching the late Sergeant Wilkins, who was also in his early days a schoolmaster, and subsequently a member of the press in the city of Lincoln, when radicalism was rampant in that county. In those times leaders in country newspaper were scarcely known between sixty and seventy years ago, but Mr. Amphlett wrote his first in a Staffordshire paper about that period, and continued to write for the local press and various journals to within a few years of his death, his last effort being the compilation of his "Recollections" which, however, he did not live to see published. Our slight brief notice of the book, or rather of its few first chapters (for time and space have limited it), will serve at least to introduce this really interesting volume to our readers, who will find themselves amply repaid in its perusal.

A PAGE OF PAST FASHION S.

During the reign of Louis the Fifteenth, folly and frivolity everywhere held supreme sway, and their head-quarters seemed to be the dressing-rooms of the nobility. Not contented with seeking admiration and dissipation at every other hour, the gay beauty must even at her toilet receive her dear friends, and edify the maids and hairdresser with the on dits of the great world of fashion. In that period, there was some excuse for the fashion in the immense time it took to completely equip the lovely beings for their time of conquest. A description of the toilet may be interesting to our readers. The fair marchioness rises at about noon, and, in a superb wrapper, with impowdered hair, strolls into her dressing-room, where the maid, sweeping aside the rose-coloured curtains, reveals the mirror and toilet arrangements. The hairdresser next arrives, and this is the

most important functionary. Some of the stupendous structures then in vogue reached two feet from the roots of the hair, and, with their powder, looked like mountains of snow, spotted with ribbons, jewels, and flowers. When the structure is arranged, the marchioness lifts a mask from the table and covers her face, while the hairdresser and maid, mounted on ladders, one on each side, shake the powder box over the hair. The ornaments are then fastened in. A small knife is then passed over the temples and forehead, to remove any of the hair-powder that may have fallen under the mask. The complexion is then made up, and when the last touch of rouge is on, the marchioness takes a small box containing black patches; of these she selects three, and places two over the left eye, one on the righ cheek. These, of course, heighten the effect of the

dazzling complexion. The hairdresser now | degenerated into the hoop, both articles of adds an exquisite headdress, composed of attire now so well known by experience to our ewelled butterflies, ribbons, and a bunch of fair readers. Ornamental aprons were also small feathers coquettishly placed above the much worn, and fans had lengthened to eighright ear. Earrings are then added, and, after teen inches. Gay says: wo hours already spent, the marchioness comes to her dress.

This consists of a skirt with an embroidered furbelow and an over-dress of rich brocade, embroidered with flowers, of which the tight corsage is adapted to a full, open skirt, which displays a front breadth of hanging jewels, which falls from the waist to the feet and spreads out in two wings at each side, following the curve of the hooped skirt. The white gloves comes next, then the bracelets and necklace of diamonds, and then, throwing over shoulders a mantle of scarlet satin, she takes her fan, and, the third hour having passed, the toilet is completed.

her

The following bill, bearing date 1719, which will give us a very fair idea of not only what a fashionable lady used to wear at that date, but will also enable us to notice the price of the

various articles :

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A beaver and feather, for the forest
A riding suit, with embroidery of Paris.
Three dresses, for the masquerade, two
from Venice

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£ 8.

2

2

3 6

2 15 10 0

78 0

80

1

0

5

30
100
50

6 15
5 5

2 2

"The fan shall flutter in all female hands,
And various fashions learn from various lands.
For this shall elephants their ivory shed,
And polished sticks the waving engines spread.
His clouded mail the tortoise shall resign,
And round the rivet pearly circles shine.
On this shall Indians all their art employ,
And with bright colours stain the gaudy toy;
Their pains shall here in wildest fancies flow,
Their dress, their customs, their religion show,
Gay France shall make the fan her artist's care,
And with the costly trinket arm the fair."

Spanish broadcloth, trimmed with gold lace, was used for ladies' dresses in the reign of George I., and furbelowed scarfs were worn equally by the duchess and the peasant. Hoods, of all colours and fashions, were worn, both on horseback and at the opera; the projecting frontage again appeared, pointed like a steeple, with long crape steamers, feathers piled up with flowers in stages; and even figures of four-wheeled carriages were head ornaments. Periwigs were also worn by the ladies, and the head was sometimes made up of pins, paste, and pomatum, so as to keep for a month!

The caps, which, at the first part of the eighteenth century, were small-frilled or puffed, afterwards changed to the French nightcap, which half covered the cheeks; this was suc ceeded by the Ranelagh mob-cap, copied from the headkerchiefs of the market-women. At one time, a flat straw or silk hat of small size, and trimmed with ribbons, was worn upon the crown of the head. The bonnet, which, in earlier times, had been made exclusively of 50 silk or velvet, was, in this century, changed 15 0 for straw. Gay mentions a new straw hat, 80 lined with green, about 1724, as a compara 5 5 tively rare article; for the simple art of plaiting straw for bonnets and hats, which now employs, in this country alone, more than 200,000 females, has not been practised to any considerable extent longer than seventy years.

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One from Paris, of green velvet, à la Sultanesse, set with pearls and rubies 123 15 To which may be added such trifles as shoes, stockings, gloves, essences, pomatums, patches, powder, and wire! It is to be hoped the lady possessed a trifle for pin money.

The beau of 1727 is represented as dressed in a fine shirt of linen, the ruffles and bosom of Mechlin lace; a small wig, with an enormous queue or tail; his coat well garnished with lace; black velvet breeches; red heels to his shoes, and gold clocks to his stockings; his hat beneath his arm, a sword by his side, and himself well scented.

The most odious piece of attire introduced in the early part of the eighteenth century, was the large whalebone petticoat, which afterwards

It is said, during the reign of the second George, the ladies piqued themselves upon excessive simplicity; indeed, the whole taste of the day was mock pastoral. Each beau was a Corydon, each lady a Sylvia; and the absurdities of a court masque, where milkmaids sported their diamonds and shepherds carried golden crooks, were borne into private life, and an external display of country innocence vainly endeavoured to gloss over London vice.

In the eighth number of the Gray's In Journal is the advertisement of the sale, by auction, of the whole stock of a coquette leaving off business, consisting of several valuable curiosities, among which are mentioned a transparent capuchin or hood, an elegant snuff-box, with a looking-glass within it, being a very good pocket companion for beauty, directions for

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