printed, and the title of one of the pieces may give some notion of the species of entertainment.

neath a sort of cloak as if grasping a pistol in his hand.) Stranger. Why my good friends, if the truth must be told, I'm quite as destitute of brains as of money. I've got none of either.

Ned. Come, old fellow, no gammon with us. If you don't fork out the yellow boys (sovereigns) presently I'll send a ball through your carcase which will make a passage large enough to let a coach and six be driven through

with ease.

Stranger. You don't mean that?

Ned. We do indeed.

Here the appearance of some persons puts an end to the dialogue, and the three thieves take to their heels. Shortly afterwards they reappear on the stage in a jocular mood, and converse on various subjects as follows:

Tom. They say the cholera is coming to wisit the

town.

Finch. Vell, and vat about it?

Ned. Vy should they let it come into the town?
Tom. But how can they keep it out?

Ned. Vy, by giving the toll-keeper strict orders not to let it pass the turnpike gate on any account," &c.

The actors, however, for the most part say and do what they like in these pieces. Thrusting and stabbing in the tragic pieces, slapping one another's faces, and pulling one another's caps over the eyes in the farces, form the usual accompaniments.

"On Thursday next will be performed at
Smith's Grand Theatre,

THE RED-NOSED MONSTER"

ar

The Tyrant of the Mountain.

Characters,

The Red-nosed Monster.

The Assassin.

The Ruffian of the Hut.

The Villain of the Valley.

Wife of the Red-nosed Monster.
Daughter of the Assassin.

To conclude with

The "BLOOD STAINED HANDKERCHIEF"

or

The Murder in the Cottage.

The Characters by the Company.

In some parts of London these houses, which are of course unlicensed, have been put down as nuisances; but a large number remain, some of them of considerable size. One, in Paddington, is calculated to hold two thousand persons. "The audience of these places," says a spectator, consists almost exclusively of the youthful part of the community. . . . Youths from eight to sixteen years of age are the great features of

such places. There is a tolerable sprinkling of girls, but usually the boys considerably preponderate.

"No one who has not visited these establishments could have the faintest conception of the intense interest with which boys in the poorer neighbourhoods of London regard them. With thousands the desire of witnessing the representations at the Penny Theatres amounts to an absolute passion. There can be no question that these places are no better than so many nurseries of juvenile thieves * .. plans for

...

* The following instances taken from the Report of the Inspector of Prisons, farther show the temptations to which children and youths of the lowest classes in London are exposed. J. H. aged eighteen. “I had just entered the fifth year of my apprenticeship, and was to receive seven shillings a week, which had been raised from half-a-crown. I read 'Jack Sheppard' about five months before I began the robberies. I saw Jack Sheppard' played twice; it excited in my mind an inclination to imitate him. The part was well acted at the play. I read how he got into places, and I had a wish to do the same. The play made the greatest impression on my mind. A few weeks after I saw the play, I committed the first robbery."

J. C. seventeen. "The first beginning of my bad con duct was seeing a play acted at the theatre.... the play was about a highwayman, so we thought we would

thieving, and robbing houses and shops, are there formed, and speedily executed."

"The number of children frequenting low theatres is almost incredible;" says one of the Inspectors of prisons, "the streets in front, and the avenues leading to them may be seen, in the nights of performance, occupied by crowds of boys who have not been able to possess themselves of the few pence required to obtain admission. I will describe as a sample, one place of amusement, called the 'Penny Hop,' to which the admission is one penny, and where two or three series of performances take place the same evening. It consists of a spacious room, fitted up in the rudest manner, with a stage, and seats on an inclined plane, the access to it is through a dark passage, and up a ladder staircase. one occasion I was present, and found the audience to consist almost exclusively of boys and girls of the very lowest description, many without shoes or stockings, and to the number of 150. I pointed out to the superintendant of

On

try to do as he did." Another lad says "I noticed them picking one another's pockets upon the stage. It gave me a great insight into how to do it." Among ninety boys examined, most of them declared that they had stolen money to see " Jack Sheppard" performed.

Police (who accompanied me) a well-dressed youth among the number, who proved to be the son of a respectable tradesman, and he was delivered over to his parents. I had some conversation with the persons in the interior, who appeared to have the management, and they stated, in answer to my queries, that the theatre was almost always filled, and with boys; that they had attempted to play 'Jack Sheppard,' but in consequence of the frequent interruptions from the audience (who seemed all to wish to take a part in the performance) they were obliged to give it up."* The report goes on to observe, "the flaunting exterior of these shows attract crowds of children about them in the evenings, and must be added to the already too numerous temptations in the markets and streets. Nor are the objects represented of that innocent and elevating character which should mark the amusements of those of younger years. If they do not directly corrupt the mind, they tend to its vitiation, by familiarizing it with scenes of grossness, crime, and blood, all represented with a revolting coarseness. The murder of Maria in the Red Barn by Corder, of Hannah Brown

* Sixth Report of Prisons, p. 123.

D