stage, and took to selling fancy snuffs and scented cigars, in a small nest of a shop in Collins Street, and it was afteryvards said that she had m a d e a conquest of a rather conceited and superficial swell, connected with one of the Melbourne newspapers. Toyvards the end of the year a Miss Vincent joined the theatre company, and was advertised as a great acquisition ; but the critics did not take kindly to her, and one of them (an Irishman himself) coolly recommended her not only to study, but to accomplish the impossibility of "getting rid of her brogue," which sounded strangely to English ears. This Miss Vincent yvas for some time connected yvith Melbourne theatricials, and, though a mediocrity, yvas a very passable and useful one.
" ENTR'ACTE " AMUSEMENTS.
During almost the yvhole time that this wooden so-called theatre yvas open certain minor performances not in the bills were enacted before the curtain, yvhich provided m u c h more spicy entertainment than the regular programme; and the majority of the playgoers enjoyed such interludes yvith more relish than the legitimate pieces put upon the stage. T h e boxes, or, as they yvere occasionally designated, the " reserved seats " or " dress circle," yvere placed so loyv and contiguous to the pit that their occupants by leaning over and depressing their hands, could " bonnet" those below them, and both male and female pittites yvould be " bonneted " frequently. T h e most consummate blackguards present were generally the three-quarter or yvholly-drunken syvells, yvho reeled in nightly from club or tavern, and so misbehaved by smoking, exploding crackers, or otherwise, that scenes of confusion ensued, often terminating infisticuffs,or the summoning of the police, and the removal of some ofthe offenders. T h o u g h smoking was nominally prohibited, the rule, yvhen not connived at, was openly defied ; and, after all, the old times must not be too severely censured by modern taste in this respect, for such a disgusting practice as the use of tobacco yvas once (presumedly) so prevalent even in the British House of C o m m o n s , that a " standing order " (still unrepealed) was made not simply against smoking, but " that no m e m b e r do take tobacco," from yvhich it m a y be inferred that the narcotic weed was not only smoked, but otherwise " taken " there, whatever the term m a y mean. In England there yvas a period when the pupils attending public schools yvere compelled to smoke as a specific against epidemics, and even at the present day the obnoxious habit of smoking cigars and cigarettes is getting into vogue at public dinners. However, the Pavilion would be at times turned into a smoking saloon, and even yvhen some of the more mannerly persons in the pit yvould take off their hats and place them on thefloor,the bell-topper, cabbage-tree, or pull-over, whichever it was, yvould be utilized as a spittoon for shots expectorated yvith sure aim from the dress circle. If any of the unhatted individuals happened to present a bald pate, the spot yvas regarded as a justifiable target for hitting at short range, and terrible yvould be the indignation with yvhich an unoffending spectator, somewhat sparse in hair, yvould find himself patted on the bald crown-piece yvith something analagous to a molluscous substance " shelled " at him from one of the side boxes. In hot weather or cold the moist application was an unpleasant sensation, and naturally resented. T h e person so "potted " would pull out his handkerchief, wipe his head, jump up, and " rush the batter," whence he would be probably repelled with a black eye or enlarged nose. T h e onslaught yvould on occasions be successful, and backed from others from befoyv, the fortress would be escaladed, and no quarter given or taken. Unless on particular occasions, few or no ladies yvould be in attendance, and seldom an evening passed without a row of some kind. T h e interruptions and insults to yvhich the performing company were subjected, were saturated with unmitigated ruffianism. They yvould be not only hissed and howled at, but pelted yvith oranges, apples, penny pieces, and even yvorse missiles; but, yvith one exception, no injuries were inflicted. During the progress of a part, or the singing of a song, exclamations would break forth of a nature unfit for publication, and the undisguised indelicacy of some of the expressions employed was such as to deprive them of even the slightest pretension to be accepted as equivoque. A s a rule the upper boxes and pit exhibited m u c h more regard for the ordinary decencies of society than the " dress" tier, though the reverse might be expected. Contused faces and eclipsed optics were of weekly, if not nightly, occurrence. Still few complaints were carried to the police office, for the authorities of the house exerted all their influence to " square " the consequences of the skirmishes out of
