Note 87 — VOLUME V. (continued 6)

“Padmanaba,” viz., in a pantomime called Harlequin in Padmanaba. This elephant, some years afterwards, was exhibited over Exeter ’Change, where it was found necessary to destroy the poor animal by discharges of musketry. When he made his entrance in the pantomime above-mentioned, Johnson, the machinist of the rival house exclaimed, “I should be very sorry if I could not make a better elephant than that!” Johnson was right: we go to the theatre to be pleased with the skill of the imitator, and not to look at the reality.