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Passage Illustrated: Crummles Farewell to the Boards of England

The better to settle this question he referred to the bill again, and finding that there was a Baron in the first piece, and that Roberto (his son) was enacted by one Master Crummles, and Spaletro (his nephew) by one Master Percy Crummles — their last appearances — and that, incidental to the piece, was a characteristic dance by the characters, and a castanet pas seul by the Infant Phenomenon—her last appearance — he no longer entertained any doubt; and presenting himself at the stage-door, and sending in a scrap of paper with ‘Mr. Johnson’ written thereon in pencil, was presently conducted by a Robber, with a very large belt and buckle round his waist, and very large leather gauntlets on his hands, into the presence of his former manager.

Mr. Crummles was unfeignedly glad to see him, and starting up from before a small dressing-glass, with one very bushy eyebrow stuck on crooked over his left eye, and the fellow eyebrow and the calf of one of his legs in his hand, embraced him cordially; at the same time observing, that it would do Mrs. Crummles’s heart good to bid him goodbye before they went.

"You were always a favourite of hers, Johnson," said Crummles, "always were from the first. I was quite easy in my mind about you from that first day you dined with us. One that Mrs. Crummles took a fancy to, was sure to turn out right. Ah! Johnson, what a woman that is!"

"I am sincerely obliged to her for her kindness in this and all other respects," said Nicholas. "But where are you going, that you talk about bidding goodbye?"

"Haven’t you seen it in the papers?" said Crummles, with some dignity.

"No," replied Nicholas.

"I wonder at that," said the manager. "It was among the varieties. I had the paragraph here somewhere — but I don’t know — oh, yes, here it is."

So saying, Mr. Crummles, after pretending that he thought he must have lost it, produced a square inch of newspaper from the pocket of the pantaloons he wore in private life (which, together with the plain clothes of several other gentlemen, lay scattered about on a kind of dresser in the room), and gave it to Nicholas to read [Chapter XLVIII, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Vincent Crummles, and positively his last Appearance on this Stage," 640]

Commentary: Context of "The Last Appearance of Vincent Crummles"

As he is strolling by a minor theatre in London, Nicholas Inotices a playbill advertising a forthcoming benefit performance. Prominent among the names of the actors and actresses was a familiar name: "Positively the last appearance of Mr. Vincent Crummles of Provincial Celebrity!!!"

When he presented himself at the stage door and sent in a note signed Johnson, he was shortly conducted by an actor accoutered in leather garments as a European robber. His former manager was heartily glad to see again the handsome, young who had been such a favourite with Portsmouth audiences months before. This is a farewell as Crummles is taking his troupe on an American tour. The actual "Crummles" (T. D. Davenport) often used bills advertising "the last performance" of his troupe as a promotional strategy, but here Crummles's intention to undertake an American tour appears genuine.

A Note on the American Tour of the Crummleses (Davenports)

• Thomas and Jean Davenport: The Originals of Crummles and Daughter in Nicholas Nickleby (1838)

The British Household Edition's Handling of the Last of Vincent Crummles (1875)

Above: Fred Barnard's Household Edition handling of the same scene: Was presently conducted by a robber, with a very large belt and buckle round his waist, and very large leather gauntlets on his hands, into the presence of the former manager (1875).

Related material, including front matter and sketches, by other illustrators

• Nicholas Nickleby (homepage)
• Phiz's 38 monthly illustrations for the novel, April 1838-October 1839.
• Cover for monthly parts
• Charles Dickens by Daniel Maclise, engraved by Finden
• "Hush!" said Nicholas, laying his hand upon his shoulder. (Vol. 1, 1861)
• The Rehearsal (Vol. 2, 1861)
• "My son, sir, little Wackford. What do you think of him, sir?" (Vol. 3, 1861)
• Newman had caught up by the nozzle an old pair of bellows . . . (Vol. 4, 1861).
• Sol Eytinge, Jr.'s 16 illustrations for The Diamond Edition (1867)
• C. S. Reinhart's 52 Illustrations for the American Household Edution (1875)
• Fred Barnard's 59 Illustrations for the Household Edution (1877)
• Kyd's four Player's Cigarette Cards (1910).

Bibliography

Barnard, J. "Fred" (illustrator). Charles Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, with fifty-eight illustrations. The Works of Charles Dickens: The Household Edition. 22 vols. London: Chapman and Hall, 1875. Volume 15. Rpt. 1890.

Bentley, Nicolas, Michael Slater, and Nina Burgis. The Dickens Index. Oxford and New York: Oxford U. P., 1988.

Davis, Paul. Charles Dickens A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Work. New York: Facts On File, 1998.

Dickens, Charles. The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. With fifty-two illustrations by C. S. Reinhart. The Household Edition. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1872. I.

__________. Nicholas Nickleby. With 39 illustrations by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"). London: Chapman & Hall, 1839.

__________. Nicholas Nickleby. Illustrated by Harry Furniss. The Charles Dickens Library Edition. 18 vols. London: Educational Book, 1910. IV.

__________. "Nicholas Nickleby." Scenes and Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens, being eight hundred and sixty-six drawings by Fred Barnard et al.. Household Edition. London: Chapman and Hall, 1908.

Schweitzer, Maria. "Jean Margaret Davenport." Ambassadors of Empire: Child Performers and Anglo-American Audiences, 1800s-1880s. Accessed 19 April 2021. Posted 7 January 2015. .

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Created 30 April 2021

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