Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

anaioras CXF JOSEPH GBIMATJU. 207

on the following Saturday; Bradbury sustaining1 the part of
the Clown, for the first three scenes in the pantomime, then
Gfrimaldi taking it for the next three scenes, and Bradbury
coming in again to close the piece. Grimaldi was so much
dissatisfied witih. these arrangements, that, on the morning of
the day fixed, he told his friend Richard Lawrence (now or
lately the Surrey treasurer) that he was certain it was " all up
with him," and that Bradbury had thrown Mm completely out
of favour with the public.

The result, however, was not what he anticipated. The
moment he appeared, he was received with the most tremendous
applause. Animated by tMs encouraging reception, he redoubled
Ms exertions, and went through Ms three scenes amidst the
loudest and most enthusiastic plaudits. TMs reception rather
vexed and confused the other who had to follow, and who,
striving to outdo his predecessor, made such a complete failure,
that, although it was Ms own benefit, and he might reasonably
be supposed to have a good many friends in the house, he was
actually Mssed, and ran off the stage in great disorder.
Grimaldi finished the pantomime for Mm, and the brilliant
manner in wMch it went off sufficiently testified to Mm that
all the fears and doubts to which he had previously given way
were utterly groundless. Indeed, when the performances were
over, Bradbury frankly admitted that he was the best Clown he
had ever seen, and that, if he had been aware of Ms abilities, he
would not have suffered himself to be put in compeiation with
Mm on any account whatever.

TMs Bradbury was a clever actor in Ms way, and a very good
Clown, but of so different a character from Grimaldi, that it was
hardly fair to either, to attempt instituting a comparison between
them. He was a tumbling Clown rather than a humorous one,
and would perform many wonderful and dangerous feats. He
would jump from the flies—that is, from the curtains above the
stage—down on to the stage itself, and do many other thingstruth, denied.r him. Application was, how-to prove an alibi most satisfae-the kindness of the audience with so much gen-