The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-06-07

She was a neglected waif, and as a mere
child was sent to hawk oranges in the pi
of Drury Lane, where her pretty ways anG
bright sayings always attracted a crowd
Her personal popularity among the habitues
OF the playhouse won the attention of the
manager, and as a natural transition by his
aid, she passed from in front of the foot
lights to behind them. The old diarist,
Pepys, has left clearer indications of her
style than any one else, and his testimony,
as well az all criticisms of her which have
been able to CLEAN, points concusively to
the supposition that Nell Gwynne was an
actress much of the Lolita type-a gay,
lively creature, full of dash and spirit in
comic parts, but who failed altogether in
sentiment, and in heroic tragedy was aboms
Unable. PepYs notes that he twas most in
fnitely displeased with her ~ which she
does most basely.H Dryden took her
measure well, probably, when he wrote the
following lines for her to speak after the
burlesque business" of having stabbed
herself and then come to life again
4" come, kind gentlemen, strange news to tell We
am the ghost Of pOlr departed Nelly.
sweet ladies be not frightened; I'll be civil;
I'm what was-a little harmless devil
10 tell you true | walk because | die
Out OF my calling in tragedy.
But in farclcal characters she must have
been bewitching. Pepys writes, when speak
ing of Drydens play called 1.-The Maiden
Queen" There is a comical part done by
Nell, which is Florimel, that / never can
hope ever to see the like done by man or
woman. The king and the Duke of York
were at the play. But SO great perform
ance of comical part was never, ! believe.
IN the world before as Nell does this, both
as a mad girl, then, most and hest of all
When she comes like young gallant, and
hath the motions aud carriage of a spark
Ihe most that ever | saw a man have. 1t
makes me- confess, admire her =
Kissed her, and so did my wife and a ,
mighty pretty soul she Is.
Talent SC decided and personal attraction >
so marked would win the admiration Of !
any audience, ancient or modern. and Nelly 4
was always devisiug Some new grotesdue- y
ness in costume to add to the fun. In one !,
OF her parts she came on the stage, unex- {
pectedly, wearing a hat as large round as a a
cart wheel, and which almost entirely hid a
her. This was done as a 'fake off, on h
some pastoral play which was being per a.
formed at the rival theatre, exactly as in 6,
our theatres to-day Lolita burlesques Mod 81
it1h"' 4 atal or fortunate, as one looks at "
!. rom inc moral or the worldly point of 81
view was Nelly's famous hat ASSUMPTION. | q,
her success that night with her eniaptured IN
audience exceeded any she had hitherto 81
achleyed, yet this was her last appearance n
upon the stage. When the curtain fell the h.
tlng went behind the scenes and asked for n
Nellie. Her stage thereafter was al Wind m
ior Castle, her auditors the court. "a
London to~day is dotted with monuuJepts. mi
n the shape Of hospitals, relief rooms. and an
'ther places Of succor for the poor, which M,
we're founded by the munifcence Of Nell TT,
iwynne. Naturally the poor people were a
ond OF her, and from all the scom and m
age which were lavished on the hcentiOus sc
curt Of Charles the Second little Nelly was 50
yer exempt. m,