equal-by the actors or participators in such scenes. Within a short period, our literature has been enriched by two works illustrating the life of the common sailor -Dana's Two Years Before the Mast, and Melville's Typee and Omoo; and it is not enough to say, that they Daguerreotype the forecastle in a way different from such as Smollett or Cooper, but they also transcend such nautical authors as Marryatt and Chamier, whose maritime knowledge admits of no dispute; and this for the simple reason, that all these belonged to the quarter-deck, and the others to the common deck-a difference as broad as that subsisting between the parlour and the kitchen.

We have stumbled on the Autobiography of a Showman (published by Mr Wilson, Leeds), a work which, although not written with the talent either of a Dana or a Melville, is, nevertheless, the composition of one who tells his story naturally and effectively, and whose history abounds with interest and amusement.

David Prince Miller was born in London; when, he does not tell us, and the omission is of no consequence. Like thousands of other young men, he had, in early life, an irrepressible taste for theatricals; and after a short commercial career, duly marked by spouting and grimace, at seasons convenient and inconvenient, he was launched on the ocean of professional life in this wise:-He was carrying home L.18 to his father one day, when a strectshow, opposite Astley's, attracted his attention; and he dropped a shilling into the proffered hat. The showmen, observing that he was a lad that might be rendered useful, decoyed him into a public-house; a treat followed. He was put to bed, and on awakening next morning, he was ashamed to leave the wretched company into which he had unfortunately got. In a word, by an act of folly, he cast himself aloof from respectable society; and in keeping up his father's money, he may be said to have begun the world dishonestly as well as heedlessly. Wanting the courage to go home and confess his fault, he remained with the show-people, by whom he was civilly used so long as his money lasted. When it was gone, so

anon.

was courtesy, and he was at last left to shift for himself. His first engagement in professional life was as spokesman in the establishment of one Mr Richardson, of whom more For standing outside and bawling out: 'Walk up, ladies and gentlemen; recollect this is Richardson's company,' with such additional reflections as fancy might suggest, he was rewarded at the rate of 7s. per diem; but after the large fairs were over, Mr Richardson curtailed his staff, and our author being amongst the dismissed, he had to look out for a new appointment. In his subsequent career, he personated a giantess, acted as a conjurer, performed as an equestrian, trod in barns as a stroller, and even exhibited as a pugilist.

Our autobiographer is copious on the impostures of beggars; and shews, very conclusively, that however helpless the maimed and the halt may appear in thoroughfares, there is no safety in giving alms to streetbeggars. Pavement caligraphers, Spitalfield - weavers, sailors with sore arms-all are cheats. As regards the last, we are told that chewed tobacco rubbed over a coat of tallow simulates skin disease of the most horrible kind. He is also cunning in the exposition of rouge et noir, thimble-rig, lotteries, &c.; and we would advise those who are inclined to try their luck at these games, to consult Mr Miller in the first instance, who will undoubtedly tell them 'something to their advantage.'

We leave these deceptions, and turn to the more pleasant topic of showmen's illusions. We regard them as comparatively light offences, more amusing than vicious; and we do so on the authority of Mr Miller, who remarks, that he 'considers the extravagant tales told by the showmen regarding their exhibitions, as the most amusing thing about them; and that there are few persons who enter these places, but make up their minds to be humbugged, and many would feel disappointed

were it not so.'

At one establishment where the author was doorsman, the wonders consisted of a giantess, nearly eight feet high; a dwarf, thirty-six inches in height; and a lady with white

hair. The dwarf was a little decrepit old woman, yet in the bills she was depicted as symmetry itself. The whitehaired lady was certainly a curiosity, although now no great novelty, for there are few fairs at which a whitehaired lady may not be seen. And the giantess, who was exhibited as nearly eight feet five feet ten.

high, was in reality about

"Those who have seen those tall ladies exhibited must have observed, that the dress always concealed the feet, although, when sitting, they display their foot and shoe, to convince the spectator, as they say, that there is no deception. When they walk down the caravan, it is upon tiptoe; and when standing, a small stool upon rollers, concealed by the length of the dress, and which is pushed out of sight by the giantess's foot, when the level is shewn, and upon which the lady stands when displaying her amazing stature.

6 After travelling some months, we arrived at Leeds, in Yorkshire, where a rival showman, by offering a higher rate of wages, deprived my employer of his exhibition. The giantess, the dwarf, and white-haired lady all left, and my manager had nothing to produce.

'Some years previous to this, he had had a black giantess, who, owing to her getting married, left his concern. He still retained her dress, and proposed that I should personate the black giantess, who, he said, was about my size. I at first refused, but he became so importunate that I consented, for he was not a bad sort of a man, notwithstanding his present attempt at imposition, which I considered harmless, and almost excusable under his peculiar circumstances; for as he was also very short of money, the loss of the fair might altogether ruin him. I consequently was attired in a fantastic sort of dress, which was composed of feathers, beads, &c.; and was exhibited as the great black giantess, nearly eight feet high; of course, my face had to undergo the operation of being blackened with burned cork and grease. We had a very good fair. A number expressed their doubts as to my being what was alleged. Sometimes a drunken fellow

would attempt to take liberties with me, when my ladyship would most indignantly repel the insult by giving the fellow a sound thump on the head; indeed, I was compelled to be very violent, for too close an inspection would have exposed the whole affair.

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The crowd retired from the caravan, expressing their contempt at the exhibition; but, amidst the noisy din of drums and trumpets, nobody heard them; the proprietor at the same time bawling through a speaking-trumpet: "Hear what they say of the black giantess; never saw such a sight before: hear them! They say it's worth a shilling apiece. Come on-only a penny!" And another crowd would rush in to see the tall, black Indian queen, as I was denominated.

'As a matter of course, I was totally unacquainted with the English language, and had only been in this country a few weeks; that I was brought over by Captain Somebody, at a tremendous expense, and only permitted to be exhibited for a limited period, previous to my return to my own country. A conversation was held between me and my proprietor, in a language which neither of us could understand, nor any one else comprehend, but which he interpreted to the audience?

On one occasion, Mr Miller was concerned in shewing that famous personage, the 'Pig-faced Lady. Her ladyship, as he tells us, 'was nothing more nor less than a shaved bear! The poor animal was strapped in a chair, and was compelled to retain such a position as a female would do when sitting. She was represented on the outside as a well-dressed female, of course, with a pig's face; and the man who invited the people to pay a visit to see this extraordinary woman, would represent her to be a most amiable creature. "She eats," says he, "out of a silver trough. I do not wish," he continues, "to impose upon you, ladies and gentlemen, by stating that the lady is gifted with speech, but she will convince you of her superior intellect by answering any question in writing; she writes a most beautiful hand, and plays in the most scientific and tasteful style upon the pianoforte; at times, she favours

the company with grunting in the most harmonious manner, accompanying herself upon the instrument. Again, ladies and gentlemen, I cannot think of imposing upon you by asserting that she actually sings songs; she cannot do anything of the kind, but a person with a good ear for music may easily distinguish the air the lady is grunting." . . . . The only time the lady grunts is when she receives a sly probe with some sharp instrument, which experiment is frequently inflicted upon the poor animal, when they wish the audience to believe she is answering questions.'

All visitors at shows have witnessed the gastronomic experiment of making pancakes in a hat. This is done with the aid of a tin dish, slyly slipped into the bottom of the hat. Miller was a proficient at this trick, but on one occasion the tin was unfortunately forgot to be inserted. 'I commenced,' says he, 'breaking the eggs, &c. into the jar, and with all the assurance the conjuring fraternity generally assume, poured it into, as I supposed, the tin dish within the hat. It was never my system to look into the hat, for fear of exciting suspicion, and I never doubted but the dish was inserted within; but what was my consternation when I did look into the hat, to find that the uncooked pancake was spread all over the lining my attendant having forgotten to slip the dish in. The fact was, a curious old gentleman had so bothered me and my assistant, that he forgot to put it in. I looked very spooney for a few seconds, but I considered the loss of a hat nothing to them, and I acknowledged the mistake that had been made, exposed how the trick should have been done, and laid the blame upon the shoulders of the old gentleman, who really was the cause. As I expected, they were more delighted at this than they were at the most successful of my experi ments. After the performance, I was most hospitably entertained, and was provided with a conveyance back to Kelso the same evening.'

Another well-known feat is the Walking Shilling.

'To make a shilling walk requires a little preparation,