The result of my own experience leads me to recommend all those who do not possess time and the requisite energies for personal inquiries, to place the means they wish to devote to charity in the hands of some sensible and kind-hearted magistrate.
I have been present, in the course of my life, at many cases brought before our London police magistrates. They possess an immense power of doing good—a power of making the law respected, not by its punishments, but by their own kindliness of manner and thoughtful consideration for the feelings of those brought into close contact with them.
Plain common sense, a kind heart, and, above all, the feelings of a thorough gentleman, are invaluable qualities in a magistrate. They give dignity to the court over which he presides, as well as an example which will be insensibly followed by all its officers. I have seen cases from which my own avocations have imperatively called me away, when I would gladly have remained to admire the kindness and the tact with which entangled questions have been gradually brought to a humane and just conclusion.
CHAPTER XX. THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE.
The Philosopher in a Tableau at the Feet of Beauty — Tableau encored — Philosopher at the Opera of ‘Don Juan’ — Visits the Water-works above and the dark expanse below the Stage — Seized by two Devils on their way up to fetch Juan — Cheated the Devils by springing off to a beam at an infinite distance, just as his head appeared to the Audience through the trap-door — The Philosopher writes a Ballet — Its rehearsal — Its high moral tone — Its rejection on the ground of the probable combustion of the Opera-house.
I WAS never particularly devoted to theatrical representations. Tragedy I disliked, and comedy, which I enjoyed, frequently excited my feelings more than the dignity of the philosophic character sanctioned. In fact, I could not stand the reconciliation scenes.
I did, however, occasionally, in one or two rare instances, assist in a tableau. I still remember my delight when personating a dead body, with my head towards the audience, I lay motionless at the feet of three angels, entranced by their beauty, and whose charms still fascinate my imagination, and still retain their wonted power over my own sex.
We enacted the scene so admirably that our performance was twice encored. But though thus “thrice slain,” the near proximity of beauty speedily revived the ‘caput mortuum’ at its feet.
On one occasion having joined a party of friends in their box at the opera of ‘Don Juan,’ I escaped, by half a second, {252} a marvellous adventure. Somewhat fatigued with the opera, I went behind the scenes to look at the mechanism. One of the scene-shifters of whom I had made an inquiry, found out that I, like himself, was a workman. He immediately offered to take me all over the theatre, and show me every part.
〈ADVENTURE AT THE OPERA.〉