182 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



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with as influential in fashioning and stereotyping gesture is tradition 

 and convention. To ilhistrate — the actor who took the role of Lord 

 Dundreary in the first performance of the play of the same name 

 accidentally made a fantastic misstep while crossing the stage. The 

 audience was amused, and the actor, quick to avail himself of any 

 open door, followed the lead thus hinted at. The result is that he 

 won great applause and gave birth to a" mannerism which has well- 

 nigh become a staae i-ouvention. 



