PALAIS ROYAL 475 



The performers are marionettes, from ten to twelve 

 inches high ; but for elegance of figure, flexibility of 

 joints, and clofe imitation of nature, they far exceed 

 every thing I have ever beheld of this kind. The 

 little fcenes they represent have at times much attic 

 fait and fpirit ; and I muft confefs that every time I 

 have been there I have laughed heartily, and never 

 found it tedious for a moment. The grave and folemn 

 airs of thefe little beings, which they never lay afide 

 in all their ftrokes of humour, and Tallies of wit, has 

 the drollefr. effect imaginable. The whole of the 

 matter is this, that, in their reprefentations, the ima- 

 gination of the fpeclator is kept in continual play. It 

 was the firft theatre fet up in the Palais Royal. 



It fucceeded fo well, that it was foon followed by 

 two other marionette-theatres. The one of italian 

 Fantoccini, the other gave its puppets the name of 

 Pygmees francois. They were both foon dropped ; 

 making way for a third, that attempted fomething 

 higher. It was likewife Fantoccini, which reprefented 

 the bell operas of Anfofii, Pailiella, &c. and had a 

 capital orcheftra. But of this too the public foon 

 grew tired. 



Befides thefe, here was for a long time la Mufee des 

 en fans. This was a reprefentation of little fcenes by 

 children, interfperfed with lectures in natural philoso- 

 phy, hiftory, geography, he, and parents, who came 

 hither as fpeclator s with their children, could let the 

 latter engage in a competition with the little actors. 

 There is now no longer any trace of it to be feen. 



Thus it fared likewife with the theatre des Menus- 

 plaints du Palais Royal, a puppet-fhew for children 

 and nurfes. 



When 



