132 Ellist07i- Eccentricities. [August, 



wand, collected all these personages around him, ■without seeming to have 

 an idea of providing for their exit, luckily thought that the easiest way 

 to dismiss them, without derogation to his dignity, would be to make an 

 exit himself J beckoning, therefore, to the actor, for whose especial be- 

 nefit this display of authority was got up, he said, in a slow and magi- 

 sterial tone, " Follow me ;" then, in the most dignified manner, he retired 

 to his room, leaving the minions of his power to guess at his Avill. 



A clever dramatic author once so far offended the manager, that, for- 

 getting his dignity, he kicked him out of the room. This little effer- 

 vescence of Mr. EUiston of course produced a coolness on the part of the 

 other J till the talents of the latter were so much in request by the 

 manager, that he condescended to apologize. Still, however, the wound 

 was hardly healed, and w^as alluded to indignantly by the injured poet. 

 " Come, come, my good friend," said EUiston, " you think too much of 

 it, many would have rejoiced, and with good cause; for at all events it 

 will make you popular I" 



If ever an actor obtained credit for identifying himself with the cha- 

 racter he represented, it was certainly due to JMr. EUiston more than to 

 any man on the stage ; for it is a well known fact that, during the cele- 

 brated representation of the Coronation at Drury-lane, IMr. EUiston was 

 so carried away by the enthusiasm of his profession, that he verily be- 

 lieved himself to be the royal personage he represented. When the 

 mimic but gorgeous pageant left the stage, the acclamations of a crowded 

 house were long and deafening ; until EUiston, forgetting that he was 

 only the puppet of royalty, overcome with emotion, burst into tears, and 

 stretching forth his hands, exclaimed in an almost inarticulate voice, — 

 " Bless you, bless you, mi/ people !" 



But amidst a great deal of apparent frivolity, EUiston had a deep 

 knowledge of human nature. A strange instance of this was related to 

 me by a party concerned, and shews the singular tact of which he was 

 master, to beguile a man into the most extravagant adventure, by excit- 

 ing his feelings of curiosity and self-interest. A gentleman who has 

 been long celebrated as a dramatic author, and who was also an inti- 

 mate friend of EUiston, had at one time a situation of some responsibility 

 at the Coburg Theatre. Repairing to his duties rather late one evening, 

 he was walking quickly along the road, when a coach drove rapidly after 

 him, and he heard a voice calling him to stop. On turning round he 

 saw his friend EUiston with his head out of the coach window, and with 

 great earnestness beckoning him to come — " Ah ! my dear fellow," said 

 EUiston, " you are the man I most desired to see ; I was driving to the 

 Coburg in quest of you — just step in here, and as we drive along I 

 have something to communicate." " Then let it be brief," said the 

 author, getting into the coach ; " as they are waiting for me at the theatre." 

 " It is better tliat they should wait for a time," said the other, " than 

 that you should lose the advantage of what I am about to say." " What 

 is it ? " inquired the first ; " tell me in a few minutes." " A few 

 minutes is not sufficient ; what I have to say requires time and thought, 



and " " IMy good Sir," said the author, anxiously, " remember how 



I am situated. Tell me where I can meet you in an hour." " I can 

 only say," returned the other, " that I am going by the mail into the 

 country ; it is now nearly eight o'clock, and 1 have a secret proposal to 

 make to you of the .iitmost consequence to both. — Now will you throw 

 away the pearl at your foot or return?" The situation was embar- 



