The Life of Mrs Catherine Clive - 1888 Author:Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER V. " Lady Riot." Specimens of Bow China. Dispute with Garrick.Foote as " Othello," and Clive as "Portia." "Bayes in Petticoats." The Rosciad.L... more »ady Bab. The Clandestine Marriage. / J E of Olive's important characters, and always associated with her name, in which she took her farewell of the stage, was Lady Riot, the "fine lady" in "Lethe." This was an old farce of his own which he refitted entirely, introducing new characters, an old nobleman, Lord Chalkstone, afflicted with gout, a "fine gentleman" for Woodward, and this "fine lady" for Clive. Evidence of the popularity of these two characters Garrick was a failure is found in the exquisite little figures of Bow china which were issued at the time, and have now become the rarest specimen of that manufacture. They are modelled with a charming grace and spirit. " Kitty " is shown in a monstrous petticoat, laces, and furbelows ; while Woodward struts gaily, his enormous hat "cocked" the very quintessence of a Town Beau. The pair of figures display much dramatic action, and are full of interest; and good specimens sell for nearly £30 a piece. Human infirmities should never be brought on the stage ; indeed Elia has laid down that even the grosser failings of character, such as misers, u- , are to be ezclnded. When Dickens' " Christmas Carol " was in rehearsal, a realistic stage manager was for ordering a set of " irons " for Tiny Tim ; but the amiable author took him aside, " No," he said, " there may be parents in the audience to whom it would, be painful." The bringing out of this piece was attended by an unpleasant dispute with the manager. He had good- naturedly chosen it for her benefit, but the first deep offence was the mode of announcement in the bills. For here was 'to be seen only,...« less