1831.] [ 131 ] 



ELLISTON-ECCENTRiCITIES. 



It was not without emotion that I heard of the death of Mr. Elliston. 

 He had been one of my earlier associates, and the recollections of our 

 former intimacy rapidly suggested themselves to ray mind, when the 

 subject of them had passed from the scene for ever ! The little circum- 

 stances in which he bore a part, once merely considered as the amuse- 

 ment of the hour, as they passed in revision before me, seemed to 

 acquire an importance which would be undue, did they not serve par- 

 tially to illustrate the character of one who, from his situation and inter- 

 course in life, as well as individual excellence in his profession, must 

 occupy a distinguished niche in the dramatic temple of fame. 



I will not pretend, in this short notice, to assume anything like detail. 

 Pens are already busily engaged, which, doubtless, will do their subject 

 ample justice. I do not set forward as Mr. Elliston's eulogist or bio- 

 grapher — but merely choose a few anecdotes, which will serve to exhibit, 

 in an amusing, though I trust not unamiable, point of view, the pecu- 

 liarities of this admirable actor — an actor in every sense of the word. 



The ruling passion of Elliston's mind, I should say, was vanity, or 

 perhaps we may ennoble it by the term of ambition. I do not mean 

 mere personal vanity, or desire of extravagant praise, in the exercise of 

 his profession — I believe in this particular he was exceeded by many 

 of his brethren ; but it was his management he delighted to honour. 

 It was an overweening desire to impress on the minds of his associates 

 and dependants an exaggei-ated idea of his own importance — to impart 

 a false consequence to the rule of his little dominion — a prerogative he 

 had succeeded in persuading himself was equal to royalty itself. Here 

 is an instance.* A gentleman of considerable merit as a provincial actor, 

 once called, by appointment, at Drury-lane Theatre. He found Mr. Ellis- 

 ton, who had then the management, giving some directions on the stage, 

 and was welcomed by him with great politeness. The manager, how- 

 ever, thinking from the slight conversation which had passed, the gen- 

 tleman in question did not seem sufficiently impressed with the greatness 

 of the individual whom he had the honour for the first time of addressing, 

 took an odd method of displaying his power and consequence. " Yes, 

 Sir," said Mr. Elliston, continuing the conversation previously com- 

 menced, with a slow and solemn enunciation, — " the drama — is now — at 

 its lowest ebb ; and — " then suddenly breaking off, in a loud emphatic 

 voice he called " First night watchman." — The man instantly stepped up, 

 and making his bow stood for orders. — " And," resuming to the actor, 

 " and unless — a material — change — " again breaking off, he called, 

 " Other night watchman," with peculiar emphasis. The call was obeyed 

 as before — " a material change — I say — takes place, — as Juvenal justly 

 — " " Mr. Prompter." — The prompter came—-" as Juvenal justly ob- 

 serves — " " Box-kccper, dress circle, right hand." — The man joined the 

 group, — " but. Sir, a reaction must take place, when — " " Other Box- 

 keepers." — The other box-keepers came up. — " Sir, I say there must be 

 a — " " Copyist." — Copyist arrives, — " must be a — " " First scene shifter." 

 The man comes. — " Sir, I say it, a convulsion, which will overturn — " 

 " Other. scene shifter." They all flock round — " and eventually crush 

 even the — " " Call boy." Mr. Elliston having now, by the power of his 



* This story has been pleasantly told in the Tatter; I tell it as I heard it. 



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