no professional theatricals.  The demand for this kind of entertainment was filled by the Calcutta Amateur Theatrical Society, which used to give about six productions during the cold weather season.  People who flock to the theatres nowadays, especially in the cold weather, and see companies with full choruses will probably be surprised to hear that in our amateur performances there were no actresses.  All the ladies’ parts were taken by young boys, and I remember well in my younger days dressing up as a girl.  I used to take the role of the leading lady, and I remember two of our most successful efforts were “London Assurance” and scenes from “Twelfth Night,” in the former of which I took the part of Lady Gay Spanker and Viola in the latter.

At first our performances were given on the ground floor of where the Saturday Club now is, but after a time this was not found satisfactory.  Then one of our most enthusiastic members, “Jimmy” Brown, who was a partner in a firm of jewellers, carried through a scheme for building a theatre of our own, and this was erected in Circular Road at the corner of Hungerford Street.  Here we carried on until in the great cyclone of 1864 the roof was blown off and the building seriously damaged.  We had, therefore, to move again, and went to where Peliti’s is now, which was then occupied as a shop.  After one season there, we were temporarily located in a theatre built in the old Tivoli Gardens, opposite La Martiniere.  The “CATS,” as we used to be designated, was a very old institution, and had been in existence some time before I joined up.  They were very ably and energetically managed by Mr. G.H.  Cable, assisted by Mrs. Cable, the father and mother of the present Sir Ernest Cable.  They were affectionately and familiarly known among us all as the “Old Party and the Mem Sahib.”  He used to cast all the characters and coach us up in our parts, attend rehearsals, and on the nights of the performance was always on the spot to give us confidence and encouragement when we went on the stage, while Mrs. Cable was invaluable, more particularly to the “ladies” of the company.  She chose the material for the gowns, designed the style and cut, tried them on, and saw that we were properly and immaculately turned out to the smallest detail.  On performance nights I never had any thing before going on, and assisted by the aid of tight lacing I could generally manage to squeeze my waist within the compass of 24 inches.  I recollect one evening when I was rather more than usually tightened up, I had in the course of the piece to sit on a couch that was particularly low-seated.  I did not notice this for the moment, but when I tried to rise I found myself in considerable difficulty.  I made several unsuccessful efforts, which the audience were only too quick to notice, and when I heard a titter running through the house, my feelings can be more easily imagined than described.  However, after a last despairing effort I managed to extricate myself from the difficulty