50 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



then could lielp being. The fare between New- 

 castle and London, the lengthy halts on the way, 

 and the manner in which the passengers often 

 passed the long evenings at the towns where they 

 rested for the night — witnessing any theatrical 

 performance that offered — are extremely inter- 

 esting, as also is the curious sidelight thrown 

 upon the fact that actors— technically, in the 

 eyes of the laAV, " rogues and vagabonds " — Avere 

 then actually so regarded. How poorly considered 

 the theatrical profession then was, is, of course, 

 well known ; but it is curious thus to come upon 

 a reference to the fact that London theatres then 

 had long summer vacations, in which the actors 

 and actresses must starve if they could not 

 manage to pick up a meagre livelihood by barn- 

 storming in the country ; as here we see them 

 doing. 



So much by way of preface. Now let us see 

 w^hat our author has to say. 



To begin with, he, like many another before 

 and since, found it disagreeable to be wakened in 

 the morning. When a person is enjoying sweet 

 repose in his bed, to be suddenly awakened by the 

 rude, blustering voice of a vociferous ostler was 

 distinctly annoying. More annoying still, however, 

 to lose the coach ; and so there was no help for 

 it, provided the stage was to be caught. The 

 morning Avas very fine Avhen the passengers, 

 thus untimely roused, entered the coach. Nature 

 smiled around them, Avho only yaAvned in her face 

 in return. Pity, thought our author, that they Avere 



