The “Shakespeare” was the swell hall of the Saltmarket, and was forerunner of “Davie Brown’s” and the “Whitebait.” It was owned by Paddy McGowan, and there all the “stars” of the day appeared; The last proprietor was W. G. Ross, the Shakespearian comedian, whose favourite song was “The Lively Flea.” The chorus ran thus―

“Creeping where no life can be,
A rummy old dodger is the lively flea.”

Ross’s “Tragic address to the flea,” was always received with enthusiasm by the patrons of this hall. One of the verses read―

“Perdition catch thee!
Once the chance was thine;
Now it is mine;
Down! down! to Hades
And say I sent thee thither.”

It was there that Sam Cowal, the great London “star” appeared, and also Hughie Leggat, the loose-tongued comedian, whose descriptive song “The Poorhouse,” seldom failed to call forth hearty plaudits. Two of the lines ran―

“Heigh ho! and away we go
Into the poorhouse. Oh, dear, oh.”