16 MRS. JOSEPH PORTER, 6 OVER THE WAY." 



Mr. Sempronius Gattleton solus, and decked for Othello. After three 

 distinct rounds of applause, during which Mr. Sempronius applied 

 his right hand to his left breast, and bowed in the most approved 

 manner, the manager advanced, and said 



" Ladies and Gentlemen, I assure you it is with sincere regret, that 

 I regret to be compelled to inform you, that lago, who was to have 

 played Mr. Wilson I beg your pardon, Ladies and Gentlemen ; but 

 I am naturally somewhat agitated (applause) I mean, Mr. Wilson, 

 who was to have played lago, is that is, has been or, in other 

 words, Ladies and Gentlemen, the fact is, that I have just received a 

 note, in which I am informed that lago is unavoidably detained at 

 the Post-office this evening. Under these circumstances, I trust a 

 a amateur performance a another gentleman undertaken to 

 read the part request indulgence for a short time courtesy and 

 kindness of a British audience." (Overwhelming applause). Exit 

 Mr. Sempronius Gattleton, and curtain falls. 



The audience were, of course, exceedingly good humoured; the 

 whole business was a joke ; and accordingly they waited for an hour 

 with the utmost patience, being enlivened by an interlude of rout- 

 cakes and lemonade. It appeared by Mr. Sempronius's subsequent 

 explanation, that the delay would not have been so great, had it not 

 so happened that when the substitute lago had finished dressing, and 

 just as the play was on the point of commencing, the original lago 

 unexpectedly arrived. The former was, therefore, compelled to un- 

 dress, and the latter to dress for his part, which, as he found some 

 difficulty in getting into his clothes, occupied no inconsiderable time. 

 At last the tragedy began in earnest. It went off well enough, until 

 the third scene of the first act, in which Othello addresses the Senate, 

 the only remarkable circumstance being, that as lago could not get 

 on any of the stage boots, in consequence of his feet being violently 

 swelled with the heat and excitement, he was under the necessity ef 

 playing the part in a pair of common hessians, which contrasted rather 

 oddly with his richly embroidered pantaloons. When Othello started 

 with his address to the Senate (whose dignity was represented by, the 

 Duke, a carpenter; two men, engaged on the recommendation of the 

 gardener ; and a boy) ; Mrs. Porter found the opportunity she so 

 anxiously sought. 



Mr. Sempronius proceeded 



" ' Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, 

 My very noble and approved good masters, 

 That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, 

 It is most true ; rude am I in my speech ' " 



" Is that right?" whispered Mrs. Porter to Uncle Tom. 

 " No." 



" Tell him so, then." 



" I will. Sem !" called out Uncle Tom, "that's wrong, my boy." 

 " What's wrong, Uncle ?" demanded Othello, quite forgetting the 

 dignity of his situation. 



" You've left out something. f True I have married ' " 



" Oh, ah !" said Mr. Sempronius, endeavouring to hide his con- 



