A Society Clown

nobbish

little list.

arrick one day, at lunch, gave

dulge in it very badly. I mean writing: 'May 14th.-Dined at the Duke of A--'s: present, Lord and Lady B--, Count C--, Marquis of D

! I have met Royal Princes in their palaces, and Republicans in their republic houses. I am personally acquainted with Bishops and Bradlaugh. I have shaken hands with Sarah Bernhardt and Miss Bessie Bellwood. I have been visited by millionaires who are nobodies, and by beggars who are somebodies

tly as the autumn of 1887, and was asked to meet him in June, 1888. It is a pleasure to converse with him, or, rather, to hear him converse with you. At the former party, a lady said to me, "If that horrid man comes here, I shall walk through that window on to the lawn. I would not stay under the same roof with him." She evidently thought there was

ill, I must plead guilty to pasting in a book, or keeping in my desk, every letter addressed to me personally that has a good name attached. When I say every letter, I do not include letters addressed to me professionally or purely on business matters: those are merely of passing va

d, in the most remarkable fashion; nor do we advertise our evening parties in the Morning Post, nor publicly announce that we have removed

most interesting to me, perhaps, as it turned the tide of my professional life-is the letter from Arthur Sullivan, asking me to go on the stage, which has alread

teristic of J. R. Planc

6 Ro

Che

5th

is agreeable to you. I estimate highly your talent, and am flattered by your frien

Be

Very si

J.

tering, and so is the

truly modest man, I

64 Sey

Por

talised "Nobody knows as I know" for me, my humble pen has always been at her disposal-in fact, I have composed a couple of operas

wn for many a long day, I could not help suggesting your name to Miss Santley, telling her that, if yo

Yours ve

FRE

ors from mine, and as I passed to and fro of a morning I used to see him writing hard at his desk in front of the open window, and invariably greeted him with "Good-morning, Freddy; do you want any of your harmonies corrected?"-"Shall I score the drum parts for you?"-or some such nonsense. It will be remembered that he was seized with a serious illness after the production of the piece at the Alhambra. I

ma

g for him; and I was very pleased at the thought of giving a sketch at the very piano on whi

is song, "Mrs. Roseleaf's Evening Party." You said you would be pleased to have it. The little

ompliments

Sincer

PRI

ery Catching, an excellent little piece by F. C. Burnand, and music by Molloy. In this, both Mrs. German Reed and Arthur Cecil played. I had to sing a sentimental duet with Miss Fanny Holland, "O'er the stones go tripping," during which she had to rest on my shoulder as I led her from stone to stone. But the

te Duchess of Westminster and Lady Diana Hud

spare, there is nothing I can th

Believe me, de

Your

CONSTANCE

Wellington Wells, the part in The

a professional spiritualist, and

spirits, but has them up there and then. I fear W-- lets his ghosties give themselves airs

Yours ve

DI.

lly Corney Grain proposed me. I think Frank Burnand is the most amusing man to meet. He is brimful of good humour. He will fire off joke after joke, and chaff you out of your life if he gets a chance. His chaff is always good-tempered. No one minds being chaffed by Burnand. I will

meron was immensely amused. Eventually a "sweet" was handed round, consisting of little hard cakes of something resembling dark-brown toffee or hardbake, with cream piled on. Mrs. Cameron said to me, "You must n

blance of reality to the performance, arranged with Mr. Charles Reddie to preside at the piano; and, chaos or no chaos, he was to go steadily on. Frederic H. Cowen was the violoncello; the first violins were played by Mr. Samuel Heilbut, a capital amateur violinist, and by my bro

le in the crowded drawing-room; and, in order that there should be no jumble at

layed the next andante movement with sublime expression and perfectly correctly, with the exception of Barrington's piccolo, which was here more terribly conspi

Heilbut stuck to it. Fred. Cowen, Weedon Grossmith, and myself put down our instruments and stared up at the ceiling, as if we had a few bars' rest. Barringt

n, and was about to bang it on the back of a chair. Weedon had a genuine fight to recover his fiddle, and had to remind Toole that it was not one of his own "properties." Reddie and Heilbut still seriously stuck to the piano and violin. Gr

Rosina Vokes) took part. It was great fun for audience and performers, and Miss Vokes was excellent. At the final tableau, Fred. Leslie and myself struck two matches to represent colour

"Entre Nous" entertainment, described her as "of pleasant appearance, with bright, frank features, somewhat massively moulded, unaffected manners, and with a carriage reminding one of the stately motion of one of those noble vessels of which the glorious old Captain loved to write." The same

int. I therefore print a letter of his (dated 1878, when I knew him only slightly) in full, with the as

Beef

King Wi

m so delighted to hear

Grosvenor Hous

s, and only regretted I could not stop to suggest the things that I consider you

Yo

ARTHU

ogramme, and when my turn came their Royal Highnesses had not arrived. Arthur Cecil, who was

suggestion on his pa

Then comes a letter from Thomas Thorne, which is interesting because it is an invitation to dine with him to celebrate the thousandth night of Our Boys. Then follow Robert Reece (he persuaded me to set to music one of his songs, "A Peculiar Man," which he need not have done, for he is a most excellent musician

I am sure some of the neighbours wished us at the North Pole. . . . I have sent to America for

torical Tell's Platte;" a most flattering letter from Sir Julius Benedict, which modesty, &c., will not permit of my reproducing; Jacques Blumenthal (he simply had "a message to send me" inviting me to dine) and Henry J. Byron. I knew Byron when I was a boy, and I loved him because he was no

might have the song gratis, and posted t

Yours ev

H

was also the worst. I heard him make this observation at Mar

charming letter from Clement Scott, asking me for a contribution to a collection of theatrical stories; Sir Algernon Borthwick, D

m Cresce

was at the Savoy on

d delighted we were

d Madame are well, a

Ever you

MARY

-

y New Road

15th or 18th of this month, in the house of Lord Denbigh. I am going to play a little French piece with M. Berton, and I asked some artists to play and sing. I hope you will frankly tell me if you can do it

remain, always

HELEN

Mr. T. Thorne would

k, Countess of Kenmare

enry Labouchere, Mis

nd esteemed friend o

pp

resting to me, coming

tainer of his day. Hi

Boys, Cheer," "The Iv

will be eve

Hanover

Nov.

of the great talent you possess; and all I can say is, that if you want to confer a favour on me, you will, without hesitation, jump on board the Boulogne boat, and, after two hours of "a life on the ocean wave,

Y RU

-

Stockholm, Ju

We left London on the 6th, and since then have visited Hamburg and Copenhagen. To-night we start for Christiania o

Mrs. and self to

Yours

EDW

g is from Ne

Gaiety The

erday's performance on the 23rd o

E

milton Aide, Duke of A

he popular American co

"Nancy Lee" still hau

e, and J. McNiel Whist

an ex

ais je ne tu savois p

oy, H

at "I knew you amazing!-but I did

h

well-known "but

ebhart, Viscountess F

ing collections of p

go will not be easil

oyle, Manville Fenn,

, Lady Chesham, G. H.

tts Lindsay, Earl and

dyship

ind friends would come and help dig them. Have you and Mrs. Grossmith any sharp spuds, and would you like to race me in a drill? (I don't know if turnips are planted

lotta Leclercq, Viscou

Sir Morell Mackenzie,

to my severe illness

best clown in my time

Meyer Lutz, Ea

., writes, in reply to my e

this year-which does not count water-colour

ord Hay of Kinfaun

15th,

forward with great pleasure t

to you

Yo

DOUGL

-

oad, W. 20th

ds, and among them I was gratified to have yours; for we have known each other a long time, and I believe with cor

I am, sinc

L

d myself to see the Jubilee procession), Paul Rajon (the French etcher), E. Gib

nce to a small theatre work of mine which I had

s me to send you a list o

-class railway compartment (I believe the trombone-player has to play lying down), the "orchestra" is limited to th

rnet and side-dr

Yours

HAMIL

-

33 Lon

Ear

De

come back from Paris, and your letter had been sent there and back here after me, o

Yo

E

lovely Chri

all naturally look for

cial interest), Emily

estminster (the prese

Marius, Wilford Morg

Bottesini, H.S.H.

k Leight

Wh

Ric

you. I trust Ko-Ko and yourself to be in the best of spirits. I must go to the Savoy aga

Yours

-

33 Unter

hat Mrs. Grossmith and you will dine with h

Yo

H. TYRW

the Gaiety,-a promise which I failed to keep. U had a good "intention,

14 Bucki

Ma

u cannot come and bow your acknowledgments at night, you might as well come and do so in the morning; and what better morning than Thursday, the 20th

Your old

D

ley, Fred. Barnard (with humorous sketch), Jo

Lyce

16th Fe

arty congratulations on your recov

Sincer

H

orable performance at Cromwell House. The musical tri

... ... ... Mr

... ... ... Mr.

r... ... ... Mr

. ... Mr. AL

. ... Sir AR

ittle theatre to ourselves; but suddenly two elderly and very prim ladies came and sat in the front row and watched us. There is nothing so disconcerting to actors as to watched at the preliminary rehearsal. I cannot bear it even at the dress rehearsal. In the present instance

now what to do? I wish Johnnie were

Royal Prince

March

" If that will do, I am ready to help you; unless it should be the date on

Faithf

WIL

(informing me of the breaking off of the engagement between herself and Lord Garmoyle, now Earl Cairns), John Clayton, Lady

re is an extract from one of his letters. I had been suffering from sore throat, and could not fulfil a certain

e entirely at your service from March 21st till the 6th April, when I hope, barring accidents, to be a

s letters ter

ll my trim-

From tha

R. CO

Marshall P. Wilder (t

John Millais, John H

eto

morous singer, volunteered to prompt me. The effect was most ludicrous; for Lord Hopetoun had really to sing quickly the whole of the song about one bar ahead of me. After this, Arthu

ening at Sir Arthur Sullivan's. We had been previously to a dinner-party and subsequent reception at Lady Seb

residing. We stayed very late-much later than I would dare stay up now. I left with Alfred Cellier, and he asked me if I could drop him in Park Lane, as he had another party to go to. There was every excuse for

Cellier; "in fact, I w

early ca

houted to the cabman, who was passing the door, to stop. I gave up my coat and walked into the drawing-room, being announced in the usual way. I found, however, that a ball was in full swing. I could not discover my host or hostess, although I met many people I knew. I soon ascertained that I had come to the wr

ght to be at the ball at Sir William D--'s. I couldn't understand how it was the

ave been to Sir William D--'s by mis

king me to play "Paul Pry" at the Crystal Palace), Earl of Desart, who, in k

ace called Vi

in Victor

I'll tell yo

y policeman

untess of Wilton, Mi

Bracy, Kat

Marlbo

Pall

June

By direction of the

accompanying pin, whic

t as a small souven

e on the evening

Believe me

D.

-

Cour

Sloane

ur kind letter. The play, so far,

Yo

JOH

-

ley Str

by people right and left; but put my

Yours

MAD

-

Street, Warwic

her to repeat the "Thank you." The two joined make the words bear t

Yours

CLIFF

-

will (D.V.) be there o

Yours

M.

-

quare, March

ask you to. I chuckled over this week's Very Trying, No. VIII. Capital. I've written to Committee, and told 'em Weedon is a mu

Y

F.

-

eet, 24th

your note and the photos sent with it. My daughter wil

one of my photographs in return fo

many

Very

-

14

Claremont, on Friday next, before the concert. A train leaves Waterloo for Esher at 12.15, by which I ho

Be

Yours v

-

Sain

Upper

Jun

h with us, I want you to volunteer a song on the occasion. . . . You mustn't ridicule the idea of my giving a housewarming at my time of life, for on the 27th inst. I shall have achieved my 70th year

Be

My dear Geo

Fait

T

ous clown, the legitimate successo

51 Upper

Octo

to have seen you. Pray give me a call next time you visit Brighton. God bless my dear, kind, good old friend, John L. To

So

Very fait

TO

of age Octobe

istakes, my

ketched, in coloured crayons, a tiny representa

ic Lewis, Lord Garmoy

rivale, Kyrle Bellew,

n Reed, Lady Fanny F

tt (Lady Jane in Pati

(Jo), Carlotta Addiso

ough (asking me to si

time of his dreadful a

vi

m doors, and announced "Lord Pembroke and Mr. George Grossmith." As I am only five-feet-five in height and comic in appearance, and his lordship is six-feet-six and rather serious, it is not to be wondered at that those already assembled indulged in a titter. The next announcement by the servant was "The Earl of Whar

er is apropos of m

mi

The

10 Adelphi

Decemb

he good notices about you. I shall hope to hear you soon; because when at "The Globe" I shall cut a h

self, and all good wishes for your

Yours

the pleasure of being associated with him in business, having composed the music for Mr. Guf

task to drum a song, or especially duet, into his head. In The Great Tay-kins there was a "one-line-each" duet between him and Mr. E. D.

ma

w Toole fi

ma

rsals of these few

y seriously until he got it. He was then as pleased as Punch, and insi

ernon Borthwick, who was my p

t, February

unanimously, but with warmest expressions of welcome and g

Sincer

ALGERNO

-

29th

you are not too tire

come up and see my

efore they go to the R

business

Yours

F

-

From Mrs

23 Gordon

July 1

shown through the entire affair. I can only say if at any time I can do anything for you, you will confer a favour on me by asking it. Your dear little wife cheered m

Your fai

MAT

has reference to the death of "Chang," the enormous dog which he possesse

New Gr

Hamps

ave thought possible in the case of an animal. His bones have gone to the museum of the College of Surgeons, and his skin is coming back to me. He was so big that, having no groom or manservant t

-

12 T

Kenningto

Octo

t occasion I want all the friendly support I can obtain. May I ask the favour of

Yours

WM.

-

House, May

indly sending her that prettily-bound collection of your songs. H.R.H

Believe me

CHARL

van, to whom I shall ever feel grateful for their many kindnesses and the

19 Harring

South

24th F

rnoon. If so, pray don't trouble to come down to the theatre, as I know your busi

Yours

W.

his was one of the bright days during an anxious time. But to see Gilbert at his best, is to see him at one of his juvenile parties. Though he has no children of his own, he loves them, and th

on, my brother, and I were to act at Sir Arthur's on an occasion when he was enter

sions, Victor

time? If so, we might run through the "melos" here, or I could me

send her a separate invitation, as I shall always be delighted to see her whenever you co

Yours

ARTHU

-

Hote

M

28th F

I am that you are all right again-for both our sakes. Don't get ill again, but take care of yourself. We are all ca

Yours

ARTHU

e good feeling that has always exi

1 Queen'

Victoria

15th J

ands, not only of artists, but of friends like yourself, who bring something more than a mere professional interest to bear on their work. I have had a very sharp and s

Yours

ARTHU

de with a letter from myself to t

feel myself more than repaid for my trouble. If I have bored or disappoin

ur grateful and

GEORG

Dorset

July

NI

nd