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A DRAMATIC CRITIC
of rare and novel privilege in respect of
his pronouns ;
no need here to periphrase
with neuters and passives, or to masquerade
in the mock ermine of the editorial " we,"
since there is no reason why every one of
his pages should not be as full of /'s be-
fore and behind as any Apocalyptic Beast.
I must forewarn my readers, however,
that I can furnish them with few of those
intimate details concerning actors, au-
thors, and managers, which are relished
sefnper^ ubique, et ab omnibus^ even the
cultivated and fastidious. My narrative
will be reduced in value by reason of this
deficiency. After gossip has been allowed
to stand for a few years, it usually rids it-
self of its pernicious bacteria, and becomes
a wholesome as well as sprightly bever-
age. The qualities of Master Samuel Pepys
which made him a dangerous neighbor in
1670 make him a valuable historian in
1 90 1. But it has seemed best to me,
partly because actors are a very sensitive
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