“ A species of popular comedy among the ancients, in which scenes of common life were represented with imitative gestures and dancing, and with jocose dialogue more or less freely improvised. It was said to have been invented by Sophron of Syracuse, who wrote in the Doric-Greek dialect. Mimes were a favorite amusement of convivial parties, the guests themselves being commonly the performers. Among the Romans, the mime early appeared, though in a somewhat different character, and shared popular favor along with the primitive Latin Saturæ and Atellan farces. ”