Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
wives and his son , J . S . Grimaldi , he finally departed this stage of his existence , aged 58 . " " It was his custom , " says a correspondent of a morning paper , " during his hey-day , to raise the wind by pledging himself , and for this purpose he would proceed , at about six in the evening , with his creditor or a bailiff to the shop of Mr . Crouch , a pawnbroker , in Ray Street , Clerkenwell , state the sum required , which was immediately paid , wait with the
greatest patience till a messenger from Sadler ' s AVeils , who always knew where to find him , made his appearance to redeem him , and then proceeded to delight an audience , who had threatened to pull the house down if he did not appear . That he never forgot this friend on interest , the following will certify . About six or seven years ago , the daughter of Mr . Crouch recognised the veteran pantomimist trudging , nearly doubleon the other side of the street . She saluted him ; he returned
, it , crossed over , and begged her name , as he had but a faint recollection of her . She made herself known to him , on which he cordially shook her by the hand , exclaiming , ' Well , well , I care not who knows it , your father was the best friend I had in the world . '" AVe ourselves knew Brother JOE GRIMALDI , and , in our youth were , like our correspondent , a passionate admirer of his talent ; we had also reason to esteem him as a manOur intimacy was of the closest—in
. the bed-chamber , and at the table . AVell we remember the mime when sick—really so—yet obliged to p lay the Clown , as a first piece , at Sadlers ' AA ells , ( such was the fashion then , reader , when early hours were the winning way to fame ) , after this we have known him to jump into a hackney coach , hasten to Covent Garden , and salute the audience , who ,
with roars of laughter ( not merely the boisterous , but the irrepressible , joyous laughter ) , little dreamt that he who thus acted the " merrye fool , " was sick at heart , and ill at ease . At a party once with Sheridan , Dr . Parr , Drs . Lettsom and Hawes , with one or two others—all now in their graves but the writer of this hasty article , Grimaldi was invited as a guest , at the request of Dr . Parr . The host , the most singular of the party , had for a servant , a lad from the ' ad
charity-school , whosebadge , cap , and accoutrements , were greatly - mired by all the wits ; but Grimaldi ' s humour was most cruelly but effectually p layed off upon the hapless member of the " Muffin Cap breed . " Grimaldi had eyes , so had Geoffry , but they used them differently . At one time , the open mouth of tins Ganymede , his wild staring eyes and breathless horror , was observed with silence by all , and without knowing the for Grimtook his advantagewatchingwith stealthy
cause ; , , , and cat-like vigilance , the very moment to prey upon his victim , who , having no power to escape , moved not from his position , while his torment or appeared to dine at his ease , and left the party without any idea of the share he had in the affair . Anon , the poor witless hul was giggling with a delight he could neither conceal nor control , handing the guests their plates with the most confused irregularity , until his master demanding tiie reasonthe boypointing to the causedeclared it was all
, , , Mr . Grimaldi ' s fault , who was rolling his eyes at him . Grimaldi was , in childhood , apprenticed to Dubois , the Clown of Covent Garden , who lived in Alneyard Gardens , Clerkenwell . Dubois profited well by his pupil , receiving a share of his engagement at Drury Lane after Grimaldi became the regular Clown . His first essay as Clown was in Harlequin Amulet , or the Magic of Mona , which did not run the usual time , owing to the want of scenic effect , and perhaps irom
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
wives and his son , J . S . Grimaldi , he finally departed this stage of his existence , aged 58 . " " It was his custom , " says a correspondent of a morning paper , " during his hey-day , to raise the wind by pledging himself , and for this purpose he would proceed , at about six in the evening , with his creditor or a bailiff to the shop of Mr . Crouch , a pawnbroker , in Ray Street , Clerkenwell , state the sum required , which was immediately paid , wait with the
greatest patience till a messenger from Sadler ' s AVeils , who always knew where to find him , made his appearance to redeem him , and then proceeded to delight an audience , who had threatened to pull the house down if he did not appear . That he never forgot this friend on interest , the following will certify . About six or seven years ago , the daughter of Mr . Crouch recognised the veteran pantomimist trudging , nearly doubleon the other side of the street . She saluted him ; he returned
, it , crossed over , and begged her name , as he had but a faint recollection of her . She made herself known to him , on which he cordially shook her by the hand , exclaiming , ' Well , well , I care not who knows it , your father was the best friend I had in the world . '" AVe ourselves knew Brother JOE GRIMALDI , and , in our youth were , like our correspondent , a passionate admirer of his talent ; we had also reason to esteem him as a manOur intimacy was of the closest—in
. the bed-chamber , and at the table . AVell we remember the mime when sick—really so—yet obliged to p lay the Clown , as a first piece , at Sadlers ' AA ells , ( such was the fashion then , reader , when early hours were the winning way to fame ) , after this we have known him to jump into a hackney coach , hasten to Covent Garden , and salute the audience , who ,
with roars of laughter ( not merely the boisterous , but the irrepressible , joyous laughter ) , little dreamt that he who thus acted the " merrye fool , " was sick at heart , and ill at ease . At a party once with Sheridan , Dr . Parr , Drs . Lettsom and Hawes , with one or two others—all now in their graves but the writer of this hasty article , Grimaldi was invited as a guest , at the request of Dr . Parr . The host , the most singular of the party , had for a servant , a lad from the ' ad
charity-school , whosebadge , cap , and accoutrements , were greatly - mired by all the wits ; but Grimaldi ' s humour was most cruelly but effectually p layed off upon the hapless member of the " Muffin Cap breed . " Grimaldi had eyes , so had Geoffry , but they used them differently . At one time , the open mouth of tins Ganymede , his wild staring eyes and breathless horror , was observed with silence by all , and without knowing the for Grimtook his advantagewatchingwith stealthy
cause ; , , , and cat-like vigilance , the very moment to prey upon his victim , who , having no power to escape , moved not from his position , while his torment or appeared to dine at his ease , and left the party without any idea of the share he had in the affair . Anon , the poor witless hul was giggling with a delight he could neither conceal nor control , handing the guests their plates with the most confused irregularity , until his master demanding tiie reasonthe boypointing to the causedeclared it was all
, , , Mr . Grimaldi ' s fault , who was rolling his eyes at him . Grimaldi was , in childhood , apprenticed to Dubois , the Clown of Covent Garden , who lived in Alneyard Gardens , Clerkenwell . Dubois profited well by his pupil , receiving a share of his engagement at Drury Lane after Grimaldi became the regular Clown . His first essay as Clown was in Harlequin Amulet , or the Magic of Mona , which did not run the usual time , owing to the want of scenic effect , and perhaps irom