ate father, and a warm friend. During my first season a
play was produced called the '_Students of Salamanca_.' The author
was Mr. JAMIESON, a member of the bar, who had been particularly
successful in several light pieces produced at the Haymarket. Mr.
JONES and myself were 'The Students,' and it occurred to me in my
character to say, 'My danger was imminent.' These words had
scarcely passed my lips, when a dark and lowering look dimmed the
countenance of the manager. I saw that something was wrong, but
was quite at a loss to guess the cause. At the end of the scene,
unwilling to mortify me in the presence of the company, he
beckoned me aside, and said: 'Young man, do you know what you
said?' I changed color, feeling that something fearful had
occurred. I replied, very much agitated, that I was not aware of
any error. 'I thought so! Do you know where you are? You are in
_London_, not in Bath!' The fact was so self-evident that I did
not attempt to disprove it. 'You will be delivered up to scorn and
contempt; the critics will immolate you; the eyes of this great
metropolis are fixed upon you. I thought you were a well-educated
young man, but I have been deceived--grossly deceived!' The effect
of this tirade may be more easily conceived than described. My
face flushed, my heart beat, and I at length mustered courage to
say, 'For heaven's sake, Sir, pray tell me; I am extremely
sorry--deeply regret--but pray tell me!' The kindness of his
disposition got the better of his pedantry, and seeing the
agitation under which I was really suffering, he replied: 'Do you
remember that you said your danger was _imminent_'? Now, Sir,
there is no such word in the English language: it is _eminent!!_'
Need I mention the unbounded relief this explanation gave me? I
quietly suggested the difference of their significations, and was
never after troubled with any corrections. He was a man of
sterling qualities, somewhat like a melon, as his friend COLMAN
said; 'rough without, smooth within.''

In the way of a hoax, we remember nothing more cleverly performed, than
the rather cruel one whose execution is pleasantly recorded below:

'THERE was a lady attached to the Worthing Theatre, (mark me,
reader, I did not say attached to _me_,) who was very eccentric,
and who was, 'small blame to her,' as the Irishman sa