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A WOODEN GLASS GOBLET.--The first night of the “Stratford Jubilee” in
Dublin, Robert Mahon had to sing the song of the “Mulberry Tree,” the
music composed by C. Dibdin senior, the words of which begin with
“Behold, this fair goblet was carved from the tree
Which, oh! my sweet Shakespeare, was planted by thee.”
He walked on, and began the song, holding out in his hand a fine
cut-glass rummer. The other performers, who were also on, looked at
him and his fair _glass_ goblet “carved from a tree” with wonder. The
audience took the absurdity, and much mirth and loud hissing followed.
The play over, Mahon had the folly to insist upon it he was right: “’Tis
true,” he said, “the property-man did stand at the wing with a wooden
cup in his hand, which he wanted to thrust into mine; but could I appear
before the audience with such a rascally vulgar wooden mether?--no; I
insisted he should that instant go and fetch me an elegant glass rummer,
and here it is!”--_O’Keefe’s Recollections._