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A DRAMATIC CRITIC
and the best of his sort worked was of
genuine gold, though as thin, perhaps, as
the petal of the cotton blossoin, or that
the negro minstrel drolleries sometiines
had a contagious jollity and a rich unction
which were all their own.
This was the period, also, of the first
prevalence of the "variety show;" the
Howard Athenaeum, which had had an
experience of more variety than any other
piece of inasonry in the city of Boston,
being appropriately dedicated to the new
programme. This " show " was the foun-
tain head — or rather, the beginning — of
all that kind of theatrical entertainment
which now goes by the trebly absurd and
grossly misdescriptive name of " vaude-
ville." Indeed, there is neither distinction
nor difference between the entertainments
with the two titles. " Vaudeville " is only
" variety " " writ large " and grown fashion-
able. The later show has merely a bigger
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