ho
had been a castaway on the Island of Juan Fernandez. The first portion
of "Robinson Crusoe" appeared in "The Family Instructor," in 1719, of
which De Foe was the founder. It, at once, sprang into popularity, and
has left its author undying fame. De Foe was born about 1660 in the
parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate, died 26th April, 1731, and was buried
in Bunhill Fields.

CHAPTER XX.

Pantomime in America.

Pantomime, in America, had not a very long run, it being killed by the
farcical comedy. Mr. E.L. Blanchard supposes that "Mother Goose" was the
first Pantomime played in America, but this is an error, as it was not
until 1786, when Garrick's "Harlequin's Invasion," and R. Pocock's
"Robinson Crusoe" were played at the John Street Theatre, New York, that
Pantomime made its advent in America. "Mother Goose" was afterwards
played, but it did not suit the Yankee's taste. Rich's Harlequin, Gay of
"The Beggars Opera," produced at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, and which
it is said made "Rich Gay, and Gay Rich," also went to America, and
where, it is said, he became the Chief of an Indian tribe in the Far
West. In the South Sea Bubble Gay held some L20,000. His friends advised
him to sell, but he dreamed of greatness and splendour, and refused
their counsel. Ultimately, both the profit and the principal was lost,
and Gay sunk under the calamity so low that his life became in danger.

American Pantomimes consisted of a semi-pastoral "opening," performed
almost entirely in dumb show, and a big trick Harlequinade, and down to
the time of Pantomime's decease in America was it played like this.

George L. Fox made Pantomime highly popular in America. Born in May of
1825, he, as an actor and comedian in Yankee and Irish parts, held his
own in popularity with the great Joseph Jefferson.

Fox might be properly termed "The Grimaldi of America," as he was the
representative Clown of the land of the stars and stripes. His Clown's
parts he dressed like Grimaldi, and with the whitened face and bald head
of Pierrot, the French type of Clown.

The year that "Mother Goose" came to New York saw the introduction of a
French troupe of Pantomimists, known as the Ravels. In imitation of
these performers Fox introduced in the 'fifties ballet Pantomimes, and
several Ravelsque pieces like "The Red Gnome" and "The Schoolmaster"
with good results.

In 1862 Fox was at the Bowery Theatre, and, during his occupation of the
same, he did