46

Eleven and a 'alf to three quarters to two against Kitty. What Saturday-Faust. "House full." The Princess and Princesses har the Wild Waves say-hay-ing?" Two Kitties to three Dare-present. MELBA'S "Jewel song" a gem. M. PLANÇON, whose devils against a bloomin' goat-chaise! On the Baymouth Durby name, Britishly pronounced, suggests "Mr. PLAIN-SONG," rather I'm bettin'! ecclesiastical than diabolical, a highly-coloured but generally effective Mephistopheles. Mdlle. BRAZZI appears to-night as "the new in the part of Siebel. "She rouses enthusiasm," quoth WAGSTAFF, no Siebel-lation." Exeunt omnes.

AT THE CLOSE OF THE LAST RACE.

Three horses have started; the favourite has led to the turn and then bolted up the shingle, but, as the tide has come in and almost covered the course, and the other two horses by declining to face the water have let him in again, he wins after an exciting finish, up to the girths in sea-water; and such bookmakers as have succeeded in obtaining patronage are paying up with as much cheerfulness as they can command.

woman

66

THE DISCOVERY OF LONDON. Interviewer. As a keen student of your fascinating works, permit me to render to you my respectful homage.

First Bookmaker (to eager backer). Wait a bit, my boy, wait a bit, the number hasn't gone up yet, my son. Where's your ticket-forty-speak the French of the capital with fluency. two? (His clerk refers to book.) That's Squibbs. I pay over winners-not losers. (To the public.) Come along and fetch your money, the bullion's 'ere! (To another backer.) What was yours -threes ("Fours I've got," from his clerk.) Why don't yer arst for what you're entitled to, instead o' makin' me arst my clurk what your bet was? There's your money-take it and go!

Distinguished Foreigner in London. Certainly. I observe that you Int. You flatter me. I am only an ordinary journalist. Possibly you prefer to converse in our local language?

[The backer departs wealthier but abashed. Second B. I'm payin' over that 'ard-run race, gentlemen, men and 'orses exhorsted! I'm payin' over Susan-dear ole Suseyhanner! who wants their money? The Bank o' England's 'ere, gentlemen, Mr. FRANKIE FAIRPRICE and his ole friend, who's always by his side and never looses 'im!

Third B. (who has had to borrow largely from his brethren to meet his engagements). Are you all done now? (To the crowd.) Then I'll wish yer good afternoon, thank ye all for yer comp'ny, but you've bin bloomin' bad fun to-day, and you don't ketch me playin' Patience on a monument at any more o' yer blanky sand'oppin' 'andicaps, that's all!

[However, the local newspaper reports next day that " A number of the sporting fraternity were in attendance to do business, and apparently carried on a brisk and profitable trade". which only shows how difficult it is for the casual observer to form an accurate opinion.

OPERATIC NOTES.

D. F. On the contrary, I have only recently acquired the English word, "Yes." Curiously enough, this is my first voyage of discovery to your shores. I had, of course, often heard of England, and your literature is not unfamiliar to me. My secretary reads to me the works of your popular poet, ROBERT BROWNING.

Int. Do you not, with your-er-limited knowledge, if I may so say, of our language, find that writer's meaning somewhat obscure?

D. F. Oh no; for my secretary translates him into idiomatic French verse at sight. Int. M. ZOLA has also only recently discovered us. How do your novelists find the necessary models for their English types? D. F. Nothing simpler. Tradition, voilà tout. The Englishwoman, with her large feet, projecting teeth, and execrable Frenchwe know her because we have always known her. It is not necessary to have seen her in the flesh. Indeed, it is only a marvel to me that I find the type so rare in its own country.

Int. Might I dare to ascribe such traditional views to the prejudice of ignorance? Your Press, I believe, does not educate itself by foreign travel.

D. F. I cannot speak for others, but personally, if I do not offend the laws of courtesy by saying this in the city whose hospitality I now enjoy, I detest your race. I regard you as insular.

Monday.-Crowded house: all charmed with everything and everybody in Fra Diavolo. Somebody in grand tier so ecstatically pleased, that, unable any longer to control impulsive movement, he (or she) hurls into the air leather lorgnette case, which, descending Int. We cannot, of course, help being born on an island. But we at an angle, clears the Prince of WALES's elbow by a few inches, correct this defect by constant visits to the mainland, and from these and startles musical enthusiast who, seated at corner of third row we have learnt a profound respect for the tastes of our neighbours. of stalls, is at that moment wrapped up in the opera, and thus proD. F. I am greatly gratified by this. Nothing has impressed me tected against most external dangers. A thrill went through the 80 favourably here as your cordial appreciation of our people. house! is it a "B-o-m-b" bomb? BEVIGNANI, pausing, baton in I met a distinguished British novelist who was actually acquainted air, gives the horrorstruck singers and concealed with the literature of my own Provence !

D. F. I object to the size of its chest, and its manner of occuPying the pavement. I have seen a guardsman in Whitehall against whom, in the heyday of my youth, I should indubitably have projected my person.

orchestra (to whom pause is inexplicable) a few Int. May I ask what other features of our comparatively inacnotes rest. Then corner (stall) man picks up lorg-cessible island have attracted your notice ? nette case, fortunately empty; whereupon the Bold D. F. Above all things else, the sinister silence of your city. On BEVIGNANT'S bâton is once more in motion, and the Stock Exchange, down Cheapside, among vendors of journals, everyone is "as they were." ARIMONDI and PINI- you can hear a pin drop. Everywhere the taciturnity of the tomb. CORSI earn a big encore for duet and dance. Mr. Int. And what of our institutions and types? DAVID BISPHAM with Madame AMADI, as Milor' and D. F. Nothing has impressed me so deeply as the Great Wheel at Miladi, speaking English and queer Italian, do Earl's Court. It is a monument of national ardour and aspiration. good service. Fra Diavolo-Lucia excellent, and This, and Mr. STANLEY, and your guardsmen, and your way of Miss MARIE ENGLE (who naturally quite under-cooking meat, have left the most indelible impression upon my stood Milor' and Miladi when speaking Engelish) sentiment and constitution. I dislike the last two of them. a charming, sprightly Zerlina. Revival decided hit. Int. In cooking, we freely yield you the saucepan. But how has Wednesday.-VERDI'S opera, Falstaff. Some our military given you offence? charming music in it; otherwise dull opera. Impossible to put Falstaff himself, singing or speaking, on any stage. Actor or singer invariably over weighted. ZELIE DE LUSSAN, looking like Jessica, sings Anne Page's music charmingly. SHAKSInt. It would have been a rash and perhaps irreparable act. But PEARE created sweet ANNE PAGE" the daughter tell me more. Kindly hold up once again the veracious mirror, that of Mrs. Page. Why then, in the opera, is she put we may see ourselves as others see us. We are so apt to be blind to into the FORD family? I refer to the "Characters" in the book of the our own national defects, unless the impartial observer, like yourself, opera, where I find "Mistress Ford," and "Anne, her daughter." throws a flood of light upon our idiosyncrasies. GIULIA RAVOGLI a sprightly Dame Quickly; PAULINE JORAN a D. F. I should like a few more days in which to complete my lively Mistress Ford; and Signor DE LUCIA an amiable Fenton, while, let me refer you to M. GABRIEL MOUREY's new work-Passé study, and verify my anticipations, of your interesting city. Mean66 with a song." Friday. House not absolutely crowded to hear Carmen. Is le Détroit. The Ulysses of our century, he has gained a wide knowCarmen a bit "off"? Yet nothing better than performance of ZELIE DE LUSSAN as gay and wicked heroine. Little Don José de Lucia first-rate, and ANCONA winning encore for old friend Toréador. MARIE ENGLE excellent goody-goody contrast to bold, bad Carmen. Police-constable BEVIGNANI, bâton in hand, severe when on the beat. In honour of QUEEN's Birthday, Sir DRURIOLANUS troupe-ing Il Trovatore's operatic colours at Windsor Castle. It ought to have A TEETOTAL TIP.-How to Live Long-Never take "something been, appropriately, Falstaff. short."

ledge of your race, having been a fearless traveller in L' Underground, and seen some of your most typical fogs. You may learn much from him. He is read eagerly at home, where the thirst for books of romantic travel and exploration grows hourly. I wish you the good day. Yes.

L-BBY. "YOU AIN'T GOT MUCH OF A MOUNT, GUV'NOR!"

R-S-B-RY. "P'R'APS NOT,-BUT I'LL RIDE HIM FOR ALL HE'S, WORTH !"

SNAIN SE