[Illustration: York, you'r wanted! T]IS a gratification to _Mr. Punch_,
to be able to announce that he has entered into an arrangement with
descendants of the celebrated _Masters Sandford and Merton_, who, with
their admirable preceptor, the grandson of the illustrious _Mr. Barlow_,
will, during the present Christmas Holidays, visit most of the
Metropolitan amusements.
One morning, as they were sitting, after breakfast, in their lodgings in
the Strand, TOMMY said to MR. BARLOW, "May I ask you a question, Sir?"
MR. BARLOW considered for a few moments, and then granted the desired
permission.
_Tommy._ What, Sir, is a Pantomime?
_Mr. Barlow_ (_smiling_). Perhaps HARRY can tell you.
_Harry._ Willingly, MASTER TOMMY.
_Tommy._ I should like very much to hear.
_Harry._ You must know, then, MASTER TOMMY, that in London there are a
great many buildings called Theatres, or The_ay_ters, to which some
people go, and, in cases where the free list is entirely suspended, and
the absurd system of orders is abolished, actually pay money in the
expectation of being amused by the performers. Indeed, at
Christmas-time, when nearly every sort of entertainment is open to the
public, it is a person's own fault if he is not constantly amused.
_Tommy._ But pray, HARRY, have you no more particulars to tell me about
these Pantomimes?
_Harry._ You can judge for yourself, MASTER TOMMY.
TOMMY was so affected with this rebuke, that he only restrained his
tears by a strong physical exertion, which resulted in his giving HARRY
a kick on the shins underneath the table. For this, being a boy of
generous disposition, he had the good-breeding and courtesy to
apologise, in time to avert the severe damage which his head would have
received at the hands of his friend HARRY; and, in order to propitiate
the justly-aroused anger of MR. BARLOW, MASTER TOMMY offered to treat
HARRY SANDFORD and their worthy preceptor to the play that very night; a
proposal which, after some show of reluctance, both MR. BARLOW and HARRY
SANDFORD cordially accepted.
* * * * *
At DRURY LANE.--On their arrival in the lobby of the Dress Circle, a
kindly-spoken gentleman insisted upon relieving the party of their
coats, and gave them a programme of the performance, for which they
returned him their most sincere thanks; MR. BARLOW, moreover, promised
him a gratuity on his leaving the theatre. This promise was accompanied
by a significant look at HARRY, who fully appreciated his worthy
preceptor's conduct. As to TOMMY, he was too full of wonder and
admiration of all he saw to notice this transaction, and, indeed, the
questions which arose to his lips during the evening were so numerous,
that, with a discretion beyond his years, he determined to reserve them
for a future occasion.
The Pantomime was _Tom Thumb_.
_Harry._ The VOKES'S are very comical people with their legs.
_Mr. Barlow._ Yes, truly; and, being so, it is a thousand pities any of
them should attempt to sing. Their dancing is highly amusing.
TOMMY was here very much alarmed by the appearance of a Giant's head
over the castle wall. His fears were not allayed when the Giant ate _Tom
Thumb_, who, on his re-appearance from the Giant's mouth, was taken up
in the claws of a huge bird. This made TOMMY cry; and it was not until
MR. BARLOW had explained to him that the object of the Pantomime was to
make little boys and girls laugh, that he at all recovered his wonted
spirits. However, on seeing that HARRY was smiling, and that MR. BARLOW
was composing himself to sleep, he was reassured by their demeanour, and
became deeply interested in the stage representation.
At the Scene of Dresden China Watteauesque figures, TOMMY'S delight
declared itself in loud applause.
_Tommy._ Are _those_ the Clowns? I thought you said, Sir, that there was
only _one_ Clown!
_Mr. Barlow._ To the eye of the rightly constituted mind there can be
but one Clown; and our mental vision is only disturbed and confused by
this multiplication of drolls.
MR. BARLOW further explained that the Clown is human like ourselves;
whereat TOMMY expressed himself dissatisfied.
_Mr. Barlow._ As the comic scenes appear to depress you, HARRY, and as
TOMMY is evidently becoming tired and cross withal, it were best to
leave.
_Harry._ Indeed, Sir, this Pantomime reminds me of what you told me
about the shape of the earth.
_Mr. Barlow._ I do not see, HARRY, how you connect the two subjects.
There is a vast difference between this planet and a Pantomime.
_Harry._ Indeed, Sir, there is; for our planet is entirely round, and
this Pantomime is remarkably flat.
_Mr. Barlow._ Beware of such wholesale condemnations, my dear HARRY;
this Pantomime has already given delight to some twenty thousand
persons, every one, it may be, as good as yourself.
TOMMY was much pleased, however, at HARRY'S application of a scientific
fact, and expressed his determination of learning Astronomy at once, in
order that he might be as ready as HARRY on any suitable occasion.
On quitting the theatre, MR. BARLOW promised the box-keeper a sixpence,
whereat the poor man could scarcely refrain from embracing his
benefactor. So they left.
* * * * *
NEXT NIGHT--COVENT GARDEN.--Here they saw the Pantomime of _Blue Beard_.
As each new Scene presented itself to their view, they were vehemently
enraptured, and thought that no expression of praise could suffice to
express their pleasure.
_Mr. Barlow._ Certainly the scenery is very beautiful.
_Harry._ The ladies are indeed lovely!
_Mr. Barlow._ They are mortal.
_Tommy._ O, here is _Blue Beard's_ procession! I know the story! And
here are the Camels, and--O!--a White Elephant!
_Mr. Barlow._ The Camel, my dear TOMMY, is found chiefly in burning
climates. In his temper he is gentle and tractable, and his patience in
being----
_Audience._ Hush! Order! Turn him out!
_Harry._ Indeed, Sir, they are alluding to you! Would it not be better
to remain silent, and watch a Scene which gives everyone so much
gratification?
MR. BARLOW perceived the sense of this remark, and confined himself to
explaining to TOMMY, in an undertone, that MR. MACDERMOTT, who played
_Blue Beard_, had been, till lately, an actor at the Grecian Theatre,
where he was considered "funny;" but that here his humour seemed to be
limited to an imitation of one MR. CLARKE, an actor of burlesque parts
most favourably known to playgoers; and, indeed, the audience seemed to
be largely of MR. BARLOW'S mind, for it was not until _Mr. Blue Beard_
danced, which he did cleverly, that they testified their approbation of
his drolleries.
_Mr. Barlow._ This Scene of the Amazons' Encampment will attract the
whole town. It is indeed a magnificent spectacle.
_Tommy._ There must be thousands on the stage!
MR. BARLOW smiled at this, and was about to demonstrate, mathematically,
the improbability of more than three hundred of the _corps de ballet_
being on the scene at once, when his attention was attracted to the
Grand Transformation Scene by vociferous applause, in which he was
conscientiously able to join. On their quitting the theatre, at eleven
o'clock, the boys were loud in their praises of what they had seen.
_Harry._ How diverting were those French dancers! and the Shadows!
_Tommy._ And the Clown with the two boys! and their fiddles and musical
bells!
_Mr. Barlow._ You are right. With the comic scenes and the Clown came
the fun peculiar to this species of amusement, of which there was, amid
all the glitter and splendour, a lack. And perhaps this is as it should
be; for why term the Harlequinade "the Comic Scenes," unless they are so
by comparison with the previous portion of the Pantomime?
_Harry._ Your observation, Sir, reminds me of the entertaining story of
_Sophronius_ and _Kydaspes_, which TOMMY has not yet heard.
HARRY was about to commence the tale without further parley, when it was
discovered that TOMMY had slipped out of the room, and had, it was
supposed, retired to bed. MR. BARLOW therefore intimated that, as _he_
had heard the story before, it would be better if they both followed
their young friend's example.
HARRY submitted to this arrangement; and when the two boys were assured
that their worthy preceptor was asleep, they took his latchkey, and
sallied forth to enjoy themselves at EVANS'S supper-rooms.
* * * * *