Marionettes

Marionettes, little jointed puppets of wood or cardboard, representing men, women, and animals, and moved by means of cords or springs by a concealed agent. They are exhibited in what are called marionette theatres, the exhibiter varying his voice, so that a sort of dramatic performance is accomplished. This entertainment was known to the Greeks, and from them passed to the Romans. In modern times it has chiefly prevailed in Italy, where it was known as Fantoccino, and has there reached a very respectable degree of artistic perfection. It was carried to France under Charles IX. by an Italian named Marion, whence it passed quickly to England, where it became known as a motion, or motion of puppets, or puppets only. The favourite resort of puppet-plays in London seems to have been Bartholomew Fair, and in Elizabethan times they appear to have played set pieces. We find allusions so frequent as to prove wide popularity in Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Pepys's Diary, Pope, Swift, and the Essayists. Marionettes are still exhibited occasionally, but the only very familiar marionette-play we have is the Punch and Judy of our streets. A marionette Faust had for many generations been played in Germany, and Goethe tells us that it gave him the first suggestion of his greatest work. In the East the players are very frequently Gypsies, and it is a striking fact that Gypsies still show marionettes in Germany, and already are spoken of as actors in Scotland in the 16th century.