Colman, however, proved a very tyrant--a consummate Jack-in-office.

As a gentleman of rather unbridled habits of life, and the author of "Broad Grins" and other works certainly paying small heed to the respectabilities, it had been hoped that he would deal leniently with his brother playwrights.

But he carried to fanatic extravagance his devotion to the purity of the stage.

Warned by earlier example, few dramas which could possibly be considered of a political complexion were now submitted for examination.

Still the diction of the stage demanded a measure of liberty.