gorously flourish once more.

CHAPTER XIV.

Introduction of Pantomimes to the English Stage--Weaver's "History of
the Mimes and Pantomimes"--Weaver's Pantomimes--The prejudice against
Pantomimes--Booth's counsel.

The year 1702 marks the appearance of the first Pantomime introduced to
the English stage, written by John Weaver, a friend of Addison and
Steele's, and entitled "Tavern Bilkers." It was produced at Drury Lane.

The author was by profession a dancing-master; his name is not to be
found in any biographical dictionary, yet, it is evident that the
"little dapper, cheerful man" had brains in his head as well as talent
in his heels.

John Weaver was the son of a Mr. Weaver, whom the Duke of Ormond, the
Chancellor of Oxford, licensed in 1676 to exercise the profession of a
dancing-master within the university. The date of his birth is unknown,
but we first hear of him as stage-managing the production of his own
Pantomime at Drury Lane, 1702, an entertainment which he described as
one of "dancing, action, and motion." The latter would appear to have
been a failure, as in his "History of the Mimes and Pantomimes,"
published in 1728, Weaver states that his next attempt on similar lines
did not take place until many years afterwards--not until the year 1716,
in fact. In 1716 Weaver was back in London producing two burlesque
Pantomimes, "The Loves of Mars and Venus," and "Perseus and Andromeda."
At Drury Lane, in the following year, "Orpheus and Eurydice," and
"Harlequin Turn'd Judge," was produced, and "Cupid and Bacchus" in 1719.
Weaver also wrote many treatises on dancing, some of which were highly
commended by Steele.

Another Pantomime of Weaver's was "The Judgment of Paris"--date
uncertain--performed by the author's pupils "in the great room over the
Market-house," Shrewsbury--in which town he had taken up his
residence--in the year 1750. John Weaver died September 28th, 1760, and
was buried at St. Chads, Shrewsbury.

The mention above of "Perseus and Andromeda" calls to mind that there
were several pieces of this name. One of them was severely commented on
in "The Grub-Street Journal" of April 8, 1731. Its title was:--"Perseus
and Andromeda; or the Flying Lovers, in five Interludes, three serious
and two comic. The serious composed by Monsieur Roger, the comic by John
Weaver, dancing-masters."

It is only just to assign to Weaver the entire credit of being the first
to introduce Pantomimes on the