CHAPTER VIII.
IN THE PIT.
There is something to be written about the rise and fall of the pit: its original humility, its possession for a while of great authority, and its forfeiture, of late years, of power in the theatre.

We all know Shakespeare's opinion of "the groundlings," and how he held them to be, "for the most part, capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb shows and noise." The great dramatist's contemporaries entertained similar views on this head.

They are to be found speaking with supreme contempt of the audience occupying the _yard_; describing them as "fools," and "scarecrows," and "understanding, grounded men." Our old theatres were of two classes, public and private.

The companies of the private theatres were more especially under the protection of some royal or noble personage.

The audiences they attracted were usually of a superior class, and certain of these were entitled to sit upon the stage during the representation.