247 
COMEDY OF THE “ HAPPY DESPATCH.” 
up in lier arms, and clasped him to her breast. 
Her agony was admirably expressed; and the 
better to enable the spectators to observe the play 
of her features, a man crawled about in front of 
the stage with a long pole, bearing at the end a 
lio-ht with which he illumined the countenance of 
the actress. 
In the next act, which did not appear to have 
any reference to the foregoing, we Avere astonished 
to see the frightful ceremony of the Hara-Kiri 
turned into ridicule. The chief actor in this 
comedy of the by-no-means-to-be-laughed-at “ happy 
despatch ” or honourable suicide, Avas a Avell- 
dressed noble of portly bearing, Avith a rubi- 
cund and jolly countenance. For some olFence, to 
us unknoAvn, he had been ordered by the Tycoon 
to kill himself. Surrounded by his sorrowing 
V 
friends and relatiA^es, and, as is usual, his dearest 
friend ready Avith his SAVord to strike off his head, 
he prepares for the fearful act ; but no sooner does 
he feel the sharp edge of his sAVord than he shrinks 
from the contemplation of the suicidal act, making 
