Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

280 MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH GKIMAXDI.

Two days after his great henefit, Grimaldi travelled over to
Preston, to fulfil his engagement with Mr. Howard, the manager,
hut was very much dispirited by the number of Quakers whom
he saw walking about the streets, and whose presence in such
numbers caused him. to entertain great doubts of the success of
this trip. The manager, however, was more sanguine, and, as
it afterwards appeared, with good reason. He played Acres and
Scaramouch to full houses, the receipts on the first night being
•84Z., and on the second 87Z. 16s. His share of the joint
receipts was 861., with which sura, as it far exceeded his ex-
pectations, he was well contented.

On the second day after Grimaldi's arrival in Preston, a little
circumstance occurred, which amused him so much, that he
intended to have introduced it in one of his pantomime scenes,
although he never did so. He was walking along the street by
the market-place, when, observing a barber's pole projecting
over the pavement, and recollecting that he wanted shaving, he
opened the shop-door, from above which hung the pole, and
looking into the shop, saw a pretty little girl, about sixteen
years of age, who was sitting at needlework. She rose to receive
Trim, and he inquired if the master was within.

"No, sir," said the girl; "butI expect him, directly."

" Very good," replied Grimaldi: " I want to look about me a
Tittle; I'll call again."

After strolling through the market-place a little while, he
called again, but the barber had not come home. Grimaldi was
walking down the street after this second unsuccessful call,
when he encountered Mr. Howard, the manager, with whom he
fell into conversation, and they walked up and down the street
talking together. As he was going to the theatre, and wished
Ghrimaldi to accompany him, they turned in that direction, and
passing the barber's shop, again looked in. The girl was still
sitting at work; but she laid it aside when the visitors entered,
and said she really was very sorry, but her father had not
come in yet.e Wild Man, in the Aquatic Melo-Dramatic Bomance of " The