Pantaloon has been, at various times, husband, father, and widower.  Sometimes he is rich, then poor, and occasionally a spendthrift.  The dress that he wore consisted of tight red breeches, rather short, a long black robe, red stockings and waistcoat, a little woollen skull-cap and slippers.

When the Venetian republic lost Negropont mourning generally was adopted, and Pantaloon adopted it with the rest, and on the Continent mourning has, I believe, formed a component part of Pantaloon’s dress ever since.

In 1750 Darbes, in Italy, was one of the best Pantaloons.  Darbes, on one occasion, ventured to play this character in one of Goldoni characters, without a mask, and which, we are told, was a failure.  A similar attempt was made on the English stage, which I have previously referred to.

Mention has been previously made of females appearing on the stage during the Grecian and Roman periods.  From this, however, there arose on the Italian stage, in after years, the Servetta or Fantesca, a kind of waiting maid, or “accomplished companion” part, and called later, in France, Soubrette, and the origin of which, in all probability, can be traced to the Mimas of Pantomimus.

In the sixteenth century mention is made of a troupe of performers known as Amorosos or Innamortos, appearing in Italy.  Those who only appeared in the female parts were known as Colombina, Oliva, Fianetta, Pasquella, and Nespella.  Columbina’s part, the “accomplished companion,” like the Vita of the Indian Drama, was sometimes that of mistress, and sometimes that of maid.  Up to 1560 women were unknown on the Italian stage.  In England just one hundred years later.

Three generations of the family of Biancolelli, the Harlequin, grandmother, grand-daughter, and great grand-daughter appeared as Columbines in France.  The most talented was Catherine, the daughter of Dominique, and she made her debut in 1683, in “Arlequin Protee,” with great success.

About 1695, Columbine appeared in a parti-coloured gown like a female Harlequin, and in the piece “Le Retour de la foie de Besons,” acted at the Comedie Italiene.  As the innovation was much liked, the part of Columbine came to be dressed like the Harlequin.  The Columbine dressed in short muslin skirts is a creation of modern times.  In the French Comedies Columbine was often Harlequin’s wife, but she never had the powers of a magical wand.

In the old form of Pantomime there were many other personages in these dumb shows which we never had in the English Pantomimes.  To note a few of them:—­The Captain, a bragging swash-buckler; the Apothecary, a half-starved individual with a red nose; and a female soubrette, who acted for her mistress, Columbine, similar duties as what Clown performed as valet for his master.  The Doctor brought at first on the stage in 1560, was supposed to be a lawyer or a physician.