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they dazzle one's eyes with tinsel and gold leaf； not because they
present to us； once again； the well…beloved chalked faces； and
goggle eyes of our childhood； not even because； like Christmas…day；
and Twelfth…night； and Shrove…Tuesday； and one's own birthday； they
come to us but once a year； … our attachment is founded on a graver
and a very different reason。 A pantomime is to us； a mirror of
life； nay； more； we maintain that it is so to audiences generally；
although they are not aware of it； and that this very circumstance
is the secret cause of their amusement and delight。
Let us take a slight example。 The scene is a street： an elderly
gentleman； with a large face and strongly marked features； appears。
His countenance beams with a sunny smile； and a perpetual dimple is
on his broad； red cheek。 He is evidently an opulent elderly
gentleman； comfortable in circumstances； and well…to…do in the
world。 He is not unmindful of the adornment of his person； for he
is richly； not to say gaudily； dressed； and that he indulges to a
reasonable extent in the pleasures of the table may be inferred
from the joyous and oily manner in which he rubs his stomach； by
way of informing the audience that he is going home to dinner。 In
the fulness of his heart； in the fancied security of wealth； in the
possession and enjoyment of all the good things of life； the
elderly gentleman suddenly loses his footing； and stumbles。 How
the audience roar！ He is set upon by a noisy and officious crowd；
who buffet and cuff him unmercifully。 They scream with delight！
Every time the elderly gentleman struggles to get up； his
relentless persecutors knock him down again。 The spectators are
convulsed with merriment！ And when at last the elderly gentleman
does get up； and staggers away； despoiled of hat； wig； and
clothing； himself battered to pieces； and his watch and money gone；
they are exhausted with laughter； and express their merriment and
admiration in rounds of applause。
Is this like life？ Change the scene to any real street； … to the
Stock Exchange； or the City banker's； the merchant's counting…
house； or even the tradesman's shop。 See any one of these men
fall； … the more suddenly； and the nearer the zenith of his pride
and riches； the better。 What a wild hallo is raised over his
prostrate carcase by the shouting mob； how they whoop and yell as
he lies humbled beneath them！ Mark how eagerly they set upon him
when he is down； and how they mock and deride him as he slinks
away。 Why； it is the pantomime to the very letter。
Of all the pantomimic DRAMATIS PERSONAE； we consider the pantaloon
the most worthless and debauched。 Independent of the dislike one
naturally feels at seeing a gentleman of his years engaged in
pursuits highly unbecoming his gravity and time of life； we cannot
conceal from ourselves the fact that he is a treacherous； worldly…
minded old villain； constantly enticing his younger companion； the
clown； into acts of fraud or petty larceny； and generally standing
aside to watch the result of the enterprise。 If it be successful；
he never forgets to return for his share of the spoil； but if it
turn out a failure； he generally retires with remarkable caution
and expedition； and keeps carefully aloof until the affair has
blown over。 His amorous propensities； too； are eminently
disagreeable； and his mode of addressing ladies in the open street
at noon…day is down…right improper； being usually neither more nor
less than a perceptible tickling of the aforesaid ladies in the
waist； after committing which； he starts back； manifestly ashamed
（as well he may be） of his own indecorum and temerity； continuing；
nevertheless； to ogle and beckon to them from a distance in a very
unpleasant and immoral manner。
Is there any man who cannot count a dozen pantaloons in his own
social circle？ Is there any man who has not seen them swarming at
the west end of the town on a sunshiny day or a summer's evening；
going through the last…named pantomimic feats with as much
liquorish energy； and as total an absence of reserve； as if they
were on the very stage itself？ We can tell upon our fingers a
dozen pantaloons of our acquaintance at this moment … capital
pantaloons； who have been performing all kinds of strange freaks；
to the great amusement of their friends and acquaintance； for years
past； and who to this day are making such comical and ineffectual
attempts to be young and dissolute； that all beholders are like to
die with laughter。
Take that old gentleman who has just emerged from the CAFE DE
L'EUROPE in the Haymarket； where he has been dining at the expense
of the young man upon town with whom he shakes hands as they part
at the door of the tavern。 The affected warmth of that shake of
the hand； the courteous nod； the obvious recollection of the
dinner； the savoury flavour of which still hangs upon his lips； are
all characteristics of his great prototype。 He hobbles away
humming an opera tune； and twirling his cane to and fro； with
affected carelessness。 Suddenly he stops … 'tis at the milliner's
window。 He peeps through one of the large panes of glass； and； his
view of the ladies within being obstructed by the India shawls；
directs his attentions to the young girl with the band…box in her
hand； who is gazing in at the window also。 See！ he draws beside
her。 He coughs； she turns away from him。 He draws near her again；
she disregards him。 He gleefully chucks her under the chin； and；
retreating a few steps； nods and beckons with fantastic grimaces；
while the girl bestows a contemptuous and supercilious look upon
his wrinkled visage。 She turns away with a flounce； and the old
gentleman trots after her with a toothless chuckle。 The pantaloon
to the life！
But the close resemblance which the clowns of the stage bear to
those of every…day life is perfectly extraordinary。 Some people
talk with a sigh of the decline of pantomime； and murmur in low and
dismal tones the name of Grimaldi。 We mean no disparagement to the
worthy and excellent old man when we say that this is downright
nonsense。 Clowns that beat Grimaldi all to nothing turn up every
day； and nobody patronizes them … more's the pity！
'I know who you mean；' says some dirty…faced patron of Mr。
Osbaldistone's； laying down the Miscellany when he has got thus
far； and bestowing upon vacancy a most knowing glance； 'you mean C。
J。 Smith as did Guy Fawkes； and George Barnwell at the Garden。'
The dirty…faced gentleman has hardly uttered the words； when he is
interrupted by a young gentleman in no shirt…collar and a Petersham
coat。 'No； no；' says the young gentleman； 'he means Brown； King；
and Gibson； at the 'Delphi。' Now； with great deference both to the
first…named gentleman with the dirty face； and the last…named
gentleman in the non…existing shirt…collar； we do NOT mean either
the performer who so grotesquely burlesqued the Popish conspirator；
or