, it was
upholstery. Mrs. Charles Mathews herself informed me that she had paid
between L60 and L70 for gold tissue for the dresses of the
Supernumeraries alone." I wonder what Mrs. Mathews would say if she
could now visit this terrestrial sphere of ours?

All this love of spectacular display soon began to supersede the good
old-fashioned Christmas Pantomimes.

In his work, "Behind the Scenes," Mr. Fitzgerald very graphically
describes the Transformation scene of later days, and now becoming
nearly as obsolete as the Harlequinade. All will recall in some
elaborate transformation scene how quietly and gradually it is evoked.
First the gauzes lift slowly one behind the other--perhaps the most
pleasing of all scenic effects--giving glimpses of the Realms of Bliss
seen beyond in a tantalising fashion. Then is revealed a kind of half
glorified country, clouds and banks evidently concealing much. Always a
sort of pathetic, and, at the same time, exultant strain rises, and is
repeated as the changes go on; now we hear the faint tinkle--signal to
those aloft on the "bridges" to open more glories. Now some of the banks
begin to part slowly, showing realms of light with a few divine
beings--fairies--rising slowly here and there. More breaks beyond, and
more fairies rising with a pyramid of these ladies beginning to mount
slowly in the centre. Thus it goes on, the lights streaming on full in
every colour and from every quarter in the richest effulgence. In some
of the more daring efforts the _femmes suspendues_ seem to float in the
air or rest on the frail support of sprays or branches of trees. While,
finally, at the back of all the most glorious paradise of all will open,
revealing the pure empyrean itself, and some fair spirit aloft in a
cloud among the stars; the apex of all. Then all motion ceases; the work
is complete; the fumes of crimson, red, and blue fire begin to rise at
the wings; the music bursts into a crash of exultation; and, possibly to
the general disenchantment, a burly man, in a black frock coat, steps
out from the side and bows awkwardly. Then, to a shrill whistle, the
first scene of the Harlequinade closes in, and shuts out the brilliant
vision.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Pantomimic Families--Giuseppe Grimaldi--James Byrne, the Harlequin and
Inventor of the modern Harlequin's dress--Joseph Grimaldi, Junior--The
Bologna Family--Tom Ellar--The Ridgways--The Bradburys--The
Montgomerys---The Paynes--The Marshall