218 Reminiscences of 



the play to which we were invited was the Yeomen of 

 the Guard, and on the second time I was more inter- 

 ested in Grossmith's acting than before. A week or 

 two after we were again invited to a dinner with theatre 

 after, and to our surprise the play was again the Yeomen 

 of the Gurad. I was more pleased than ever with Gros- 

 smith's faithful rendering, and after reaching home at 

 the hotel we were staying at, I said to my wife, "Was 

 not that acting fine of Grossmith ? " in which she agreed, 

 and I sat down, upon the impulse, and wrote him a let- 

 ter expressing my admiration. This, as I can remem- 

 ber, was something as follows : 



DEAR MR. GROSSMITH: 



By singular coincidence of events, I have witnessed three 

 times with my wife your faithful acting in the Yeoman of the 

 Guard; and, while I am not partial to witnessing a repetition of 

 plays I have freshly seen before, I will confess to you that I am 

 sure I have experienced more satisfaction from seeing your 

 second and third appearance, than from the first. It is easy to 

 play the fool when the character is a natural gift, but when a 

 man of sense plays the fool as well as you do, it has called for 

 a wit and cleverness which I admire, and I express it. I am a 

 stranger to you, and you may not care for this, but you cannot 

 deny me the satisfaction I give myself in writing you as I do, 

 and let it pass. 



Very truly yours, 



I went to the seashore the following day for a week, 

 and the matter passed from my mind. Upon my re- 

 turn to my hotel I found among some letters waiting 

 my return one from Mr. Grossmith, saying : 



DEAR SIR: 



But I do care for your letter, more perhaps than you can 

 believe, for I received it at a moment when I was unusually 



