NINE YEARS OF AN ACTOTl's LIFE. 121 



agreed to be shared amongst them. Out of each night's receipts 

 the expense of rent, printing, and lighting is first taken ; and the 

 remainder is divided in equal shares, six of which go to the liquida- 

 tion of the stock debt FOUR to the manager and one each to the 

 company. This stock debt, incurred for the original outlay, is never 

 acknowledged to be paid by the manager, as in fact it constitutes 

 his authority ; for a contumacious actor is made obedient when the 

 stock debt is advanced as a justifiable reason for withholding the 

 supplies. Everything is shared after the performance; the very 

 candle ends are objects of competition ; and many a luckless wight 

 has gone ' in darkness' to bed, when a long exhibition has burnt 

 down the candles to a wick, and the share of profits has not given a 

 sufficiency to buy a t farthing rush-light.' v 



There are many interesting observations and anec- 

 dotes concerning distinguished actors, of which the 

 following are samples taken at random. 



COUNTESS OF HARRINGTON. " Miss Foote gave great eclat to our 

 three first nights in Taunton, the receipts averaging 70. per night ! 

 This being my first meeting with the lady since her notoriety with 

 Pea-green Hayne, I felt curious to see what time had done for the 

 playmate of my wife's childhood, whom I recollected as the ' Hero' 

 of * Much ado about Nothing/ on her last night of innocence in the 

 Plymouth old theatre. She appeared before me, beautiful indeed, 

 with every charm increased by the adventitious aid of splendid dress 

 and decoration ; but I saw not one gleam of genius throughout her 

 acting. She did every thing well, but not greatly she looked arch- 

 ly spoke with point and in all things went correctly through the 

 business of the scene ; but the look, the point, the business, all 

 wanted originality ; and I had no hesitation in believing her mother, 

 when she said ' I, Sir, taught her all she knows? Subsequently, I 

 played with her in Worcester, Shrewsbury, &c. and every succeeding 

 performance strengthened my opinion, that her ability had no share 

 in producing her popularity. Two days before my first visit to 

 Derby she married the Earl of Harrington, adding another to the list 

 of actresses, by ' love-sick lore's' made honourable. No doubt her 

 beauty and elegance will give lustre to a coronet ; and the barely 

 respectable actress may make an excellent Countess." 



MRS. WOOD. "The Paton, protected by her then noble husband, 



Lord Lennox, drew overflowing houses for two nights ; and charmed 



me as much by her simplicity, as the melody of her voice. How 



equally are the gifts of nature apportioned to frail humanity. There 



VOL. in. 1834. R 



