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Friday 4 January 2013

Our Fireside Pantomime ("Or, What you Will")

Prelude

"It happened that the undersigned spent the last Christmas season in a foreign city where there were many English children.

In that city, if you wanted to give a child's party, you could not even get a magic lantern or buy Twelfth-Night characters -- those funny painted pictures of the King, the Queen, the Lover, the Lady, the Dandy, the Captain, and so on -- with which our young ones are wont to recreate themselves at this festive time.

My friend, Miss Bunch, who was governess of a large family, that lived in the Piano Nobile of the house inhabited by myself and my young charges (it was the Palazzo Poniatowski at Rome, and Messrs. Spillmann, two of the best pastry-cooks in Christendom, have their shop on the ground-floor);  Miss Bunch I say, begged me to draw a set of Twelfth-Night characters for the amusement of our young people.

She is a lady of great fancy and droll imagination, and having looked at the characters, she and I composed a history about them, which was recited to the little folks at night, and served as OUR FIRESIDE PANTOMIME .

Our juvenile audience was amused by the adventures of Giglio and Bulbo, Rosalba and Angelica.  I am bound to say the fate of the Hall Porter created a considerable sensation and the wrath of Countess Gruffanuff was received with extreme pleasure.

If these children are pleased, thought I, why should not others be amused also?  In a few days Dr. Birch's young friends will be expected to re-assemble at Rodwell Regis, where they will learn everything that is useful, and under the eyes of careful ushers continue the business of their little lives.

But, in the meanwhile, and for a brief holiday, let us be as pleasant as we can.  And you older folks -- a little joking, and dancing, and fooling will do even you no harm,  The author wishes you a merry Christmas, and welcomes you to the Fire-side Pantomime."
M. A. TITMARSH   DECEMBER, 1854

The  Rose and the Ring   William Makepeace Thackeray



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