R,CHARD MONCKTON MILNES was born in the year - OUDL Home

The Theatre in the 'Seventies 155read Cyril's Success, and the impression left upon me isthat it has so many faults that it would not be possiblefor a smaller number of acts to contain them. The storyconcerns a successful young dramatic author—CyrilCuthbert—his estrangement from his wife as a consequenceof his popularity, and their ultimate reconciliation.There is a villain in the piece who, detected in payingillicit attentions to Mrs Cuthbert, fights a duel with Cyriland, having been wounded to the point of death, on hisrecovery duly repents and, in his own words, becomesanother and a better man. And there are many othercharacters of the regulation stock pattern, including ascion of the aristocracy—the Honourable FrederickTiteboy—described as 'a dapper youth, dressed in thebest taste', which character was acted, as was the customof the time, by an extremely shapely young lady. Now,many a worse story than this has made a good play; butlet me give you, very briefly, a specimen of Byron'smethod of telling it. At the rise of the curtain on thefirst act, Pepper, a manservant—Cyril's success has beenso great that he has already set up a manservant—Pepperis discovered alone, seated in his master's armchair. Hereads aloud, for the instruction of the audience, a report ina newspaper chronicling Cyril's latest achievement. ' ByJove,' says Pepper, 'master's a-going it—another success—nothing but success—well, he deserves it—I'm proudof him—he's a gentleman. No meanness about him—noniggardly ways, or prying into parties' perquisites or interferingwith his servants. Let's read the article oncemore.' Presently he is joined by Perkins, Mrs Cuthbert'smaid, and together they discuss, for the further enlightenmentof the audience, their employers' affairs. MrsCuthbert then enters, the servants withdraw—Pepperexclaiming' Missus!'—and the wife indulges in a soliloquya page-and-a-half long in which she obligingly informs