118 COOKE. 



principal characters. Their inimitable re- 

 presentations put all other pretenders in the 

 shade, while the dramatic hemisphere was 

 illumined by the splendour of their talents. 

 I remember about this time to have 

 met, more than once or twice, the great 

 George Frederick Cooke (for great he 

 was in his profession), at a dinner-party 

 in London, in company with my parents,* 

 and had an opportunity of observing in 

 private, the most prominent characteris- 

 tics of that deservedly popular, though 

 somewhat eccentric, actor. In person he 

 was inclined to be tall and athletic (on 

 the stage his figure was majestic), with a 

 countenance not handsome, at the same 

 time not unpleasing, for there was a 

 good-natured smile lurking at each cor- 

 ner of his mouth ; while his large, dilat- 

 ing eye sparkled with hilarity, even in 

 his most sober moments; but which ex- 



* See "Memoirs of George Frederick Cooke," by Dunlop, 

 first published in the United States. 



