A PANTOMIME TRICK.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 650, 17 November 1874, Page 3

A PANTOMIME TRICK.

In the concoction of his pantomimes, Elli&ton, the actor, w&s used to become once again a buy ; he always would have a finger in the Christmas pie, suggesting some comic scene, or giving a bint for a trick, &c. &c. It was while musing over these matters of motley, that a pantomime scene once really occurred to himse-f, which the narrator has often beard him relate with great glee, and will repeat.

On Christmas, while occupied tn producing the pantomime usual to that festive season, at Drury Lane IVeatre, business led him iv his way to Newgate street, to past the sylvan regions of I'ield Lane at the bottom of Holborn HiH, celebrated for its translated understaudiugs — that is, second band shoes, orphan fugles (stolen handkerchiefs), and lost property of evtry description, retailed under the especial superintendence of a select tribe of the chosen people.

Pushing his way through this precious Babel, forgetting a while his pantomime, and deaf to the voice of the barkers casting furtive glances on each side as he weut, in the hope of discovering some " uucontiidered trifle, '• Eiiiston proceeded onwards, till an article hanging outside the front of the dingy depot of one of the Israelitish bandana merchants (as the receivers of the pickings of many pockets are termed) attracting his attention, he made a pause. Jn a moment the owner of the emporium darted out like a spider from a corner of its web, hastening to seize a new caught blue-bottle, and seizing him by the butionh'ole, exclaimed, %i Vane a good vipe or a fogle, my dear ? Can let you have von vorth your monish, peuersh don new, all Injee, real darners aud no mistake."

" 1 cercaiuly do want a bandanna, my friend, if that's what you mean," said Eiiiflton, smiling at the Jew's mistake. •' There w one I see hanging up there — that one with the coli-red squares, like a harlequin's jacket, I mean. I should like to look at that, it has taken my fancy."

*' Of COU'B9 ie has, my dear,'' replied Moses ; "it would take anybody's fancy, dat vould. Dats a regular beauty, dat is. Only feel it," taking it down. " Don't be atV ared on it, my dear ; take it in . your hand and veigh it. Vhy, it veighs more dan all the monish dat I charges for it."

" And how much is that, my friend ?" asked Elliston.

'' Tree and sixpence, every farden, and it cost me four shillings from the manufacturer ; besides vhich, hark ye my dear," whispering in his ear, " its a smuggled von, and of course vorth double the monish "

" Well, Well," said Elliston, to whom the recommendation of its being a smug gled one bad an irresistible charm, "as it gives me an idea for a trick, say three shillings* and its a bargain."

" I couldn't, my dear ; it eoßt me more. Here, Rachel, my love," calling to his daughter, *• can I take three shillings for [ dis here handkerchief vot the gentleman vonts to make a arlekin'a jacket on ? Vid a few spangles, it vil do beautiful." A very good looking, black eyed daughter of Judah here suddenly made her appearance from the back premises — Robert William could not in theobaeurity discover how, or from where. To her the comedian, as was usual with him, gave one of his irresistible looks, which elicited a pleased giggle 'in return, and after examining the handkerchief she pronounced it as her opinion that her father could take the money. * "Veil, veil, my dear," said the Jew, "you does just vot you likes vid me. Dere you see, sir, just exactly as it comes from de wessel— never vos marked — take care on it." " Ah, ah," said Elliston, " musn't have any tricks upon travellers .with this, though it is a pantomime fogle, as you call it.' 1 Here he laughed at his own conceit. "Oh, no, in course not," returned Moses, Bignificantjly joining in the manager's risibility ; "I sees you are up to «n off, my dear." Safely depositing the handkerchief in his coat pocket, ElUfton proceeded, to re*

trace his steps into Holborn ; but before he had reached the top, a sudd«n titilla tion of his nasal organ reminded him ot his new purchase; but what was hie astonishment when, on putting his band into bis pocket to task its services, btfound it gone. "Ah V said he, in the 'word^rof Othello, his mind misgiving him, "it's lost, itp, gone? The handkerchief! the hand kerchief!"

What could have become of it ! He must have left it behind him on the Jew* counter — the thing was clear, and he hurried back, thinking he might posstb'v secure it, *re the Jew perhaps bad seen it. Taking two steps for one, he speedily regained the domicile of the man of bandanas.

" I left my handkerchief behind me," he said.

v Vot ?" said the Jew.

" I left my handkerchief behind me, I tell you — the handkerchief I bought of

you." " Did you ?" inquired Moses ; " vhere is it then ? it isn't here." They looked about everywhere, it was not to be seen. " Very odd," said Elliston. " Then I must have lost it! 'That handkerchief did an Egyptian to my mother give. To lose or give't away were such perdition as nothing; else could match.'" '• Only tink of dat now, but I shouldn't wonder as you says — there is not a doubt of it. Here, Rachel, my dear, the gentleman's lost his vipe;' again calling to his daughter. " I shouldn't so much have minded," said E liston, disconcerted, " but I'd set my heart upon that handkerchief; I wouldn't have lost it for double the money." " Vouldn't you ?" said the Jew. " Ob, den I dare say we can find you anoder, de fellow to it. Dere's dat on dere," pointing to the place from whence he had taken the other.

Eiiiston looked up, and to his great surprise saw what appeared to be the apparition of the very identical handkerchief he had just loft, hanging up in the very same place that had neen occupied by his former purchase. " Tou can have dat, if you likes it," said Moses, " and for de very same money too," taking it down.

"The same money," said Elliaton, examining it ; " why, it's the same handkerchief! '

*' Is it ! Yell, dat is curious," said the Jew ; *• bufc now you jfiention it", hang me if" I didn't thiuk so yen I bought it, and dats vot made me give the chap as sold it to me a bender more for it den I Bhould have done. 'I'm a Christian,' said I ' if I don't think it's the wery same handkerchief as I sould the gentleman just now ;' but as the chap vot I bought it of vos an old customer, I didn't like to hurt his honor by axing any questions. Here, Rachel, my dear, it's the very same handkerchief as I sould the gentleman, vot I bought just now.— l told you, you know, my dear" (to Eiiiston), t% to take care it didu't pby you any tricks, it being a Arlikeu one."

v There's you money," said Elliston, somewhat disconcerted, tbougb he could not help smiling at the cool cunning of the fellow. '■ I'll take care how I lose it a second time. It shan't make its way from my pocket to your shop-window in a hurry again, if I know it ; but as it is I shan t quite lose my money, for it has given me an idea I wnuid willingly have paid a guinea for, so I Bhall have bought a bargain after all !" The result of this experience of Elliston in the pantomime tricks of Field Lane, was the well known clothes shop scene in the pantomime of that year, wherein the clown and pantaloon, to their great stultification, purchased the same handkerchiefs at least half-a-dozen times over, the said handkerchiefs each time, at a wave of the harlequin's wand, flying from their pockets to the place from whence they had been taken, in front of the clothes sh op: and when the motley worthies subsequently, in a rage, drag out the Hebrew to wreak their vengeance on him for his double dealing, they find him to their horror come to pieces in the scuffle, literally turning out to be a bundle of old clothes !