The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-30 00:00:00

OLD MANAGER.

(From Anson's Dramatic Almanack for 1869.) •
On the 26th of November, 1761, there died in
he neighbourhood of Covent-garden one John
Rich ; he was at that time manager of the theatre
bearing that name. Perhaps, at Christmas time,
few names ought to be more remembered than
that of the man who gave Pantomime existence ;
and, although more than a century has parsed, the
creation of his brain and the child of his fancy still
delights and pleases thousands.
John Rich was the son of Christopher Rich, the
patentee of Drury-lane Theatre, and was born in
the year 1691. Old Christopher's sole idea of ac-
quiring wealth, as a manager, was by the engage-
ment of French dancers, Italian singers, and any
other exotic exhibition, than by any skill of an
united company of actors.
John Rich inherited the same taste as his father,
though he is said to have imbibed from his youth a
di like of the people with whom he was destined to
live and converse.
Afttr the death of his father, Rich, in conjunc-
tion with his brother, carried on the theatre in
Lincoln's-iun-fields, and there tried his talent for
acting, making his appearance in the Fart of the
Earl of Essex, but after many trials he abandoned
speaking parts, and devoted himself entirely to
pantomimical representations.
The theatre being at that time at a very low ebb,
Rich, to retrieve its fortunes, imported a species of
dramatic composition into this country, which he
called a pantomime. It consisted of two parts, of e
serious and the other c.nuie. P,y the help of gay
scenes, fine habits, grand dances, and appropriate
music, and other decorations, he exhibited a story
from " Ovid's Metamorphosis," or sonic other fabu-
lous writer. .13,,tween the harts or acts of this
swim's representation be introduced a comic fable,
con isting of Harlequin and Columbine, with a
variety of surprising a:lre:l:tires and tricks which
were brought about by the magic wand of Harle-
quin.

The pantou,i.no that drew such crowds a century
ago wa3 a very different affair to the one that thou-
&mai flock Si eagerly to see o,i Boxing Night, an 1
which managers look upon as their " Goose with
the Gulden Eggs." The pantomime of that day
ran thus :

The opening scene generally was a farm yard
with a large barley mow in th-.: background. The
clodhoppers were seen going to work singing a
chorus, a scaffolding was raised against the farm,
which, at the magic wand of the harlequin, entirely
disappeared; sometimes harlequin was disguised as
an old woman, and, as in the pantomime of the pre-
sent day, the police were brought in in the sha:e
of village constables, and just as they were about
to seize him they were tripped up and buffeted, and
ran away in great confusion. Another trick was
harlequin disguising himself as an ostrich, and his
pecking at the various characters brought d )wn
great applause. Then harlequin would ride on a
broom two witches, and a trai.sforniation
took place, which would appear Low of a
very humble order, viz., a garden wall
changing into one covered with prints, ballads,
broadsides, &c., and harlequin, disguised as an old
woman,selling them, and generally the last scene was
a glittering temple with cascades of water, varied
at times by harlequin being carried off, like Don
Juan, to the regions below, amidst a blaze of fire-
works and demons. This was some famous harle-
quin sorcerer which always had a great run. The
music was generally of a very high order, being
composed by Dr. Arne.

Rich improved very much upon the tricks, and
the sudden changes by the aid of his magic wand of
temples and palaces into cottages and huts, men
and women into wheelbarrows, trees into houses.
It was under the name of Lunn that Rich played
harlequin, and which performance was said
to be marvelously great in grace and
dignity. He commenced these performances in
1717. Iu 1733 he removed his company to
Covent-garden, and went on a career of prosperity
until his death, as recorded previously. lie was
excessively ignorant, and often offended his
company with his excessive vulgarisms—one habit
he had was that of calling everybody "Mister,"
which offended the great mimic Foote so much
that upon being so addressed he asked Rich the
reason he was not addressed by his name ?
" Don't be angry," rejoined Rich, " for I some-
times forget my own name."
" Indeed," said Foote, " that is very extra-
ordinary. I knew you could not write your own
name, but I did not suppose you could forget it."
Quin and Rich had more than one quarrel in their
time, and the former having a wish to leave Bath
for London, wrote thus to Rich :

" I ani at Bath.—Yours, JAMES QuI.NN."
Rich laconically answered thus
" Stay there and be damned.--yours, JOUN
RICH."

Notwithstanding the many squabbles that Rich
had in his managerial capacity, and his dislike of

actors as long as he lived, be was extremely chari-
table to the unfortunate and distressed in that pro-
fession. He had a long list of theatrical pensioners
both male and female, and he never upon any pre-
tence diminished their income, and it is said that in
his dying moments the recollection of his benevo-

Lent acts afforded hi►u great consolation.

He was continually at warfare with David Gar-
rick. Rich never allowed au opportunity to pass
without ridiculing his rival, and a vast many ludi-
crous parodies were floating about town, which
caused great mirth among the frequenters of the
theatre.

In the church of St. Paul's, Covent-garden, lies
buried

The Father of Pantomime.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.J

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Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video Jan. 4.
Ditto, by French packet J n. 22.
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China, l'enzng, and Singtpure, via Southampton—Jan. 2.
ibra I tar, via bOU ;tux ovum
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deuthaul tou

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Ditto, by Canadian packet Jan 1
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Ditto ditt t (tialtinaoro

It is rutuoured that Captain W. C. Harris, now
Assistant-Commissioner of Police, is to be Sir Richard
Mayne's successor as Chief Conituis.lioner. It is also stated
that Colonel E wart, of the Guards,
will:succeed,Captain
Minis as Assistant-Commissioner.