Music and the Drama.

Otago Witness, Issue 1583, 25 March 1882, Page 19

Music and the Drama.

For I am nothing, if not critical. The man that hath not music in himself,

Let no such man be trustod.

— SIIAItKSVKABW.

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL KOTiIS.

By Puck.

[Contributions from the Profession chronicling their movements and doings are respectfully invited.]

Interprovinoial.

I regret to find that R. W. Cary has been obliged to join the majority. Bad business lately and largo cxponsos have driven him into *ho Ba»kruptcy Court. I bol'evo it is tho flrnt time such ill-luck has overtaken him durinir his colonial experionco. His debts arc purely lo( al. There a»-o a good many peoplo who will sympathise with tho " Pirate King," and hope to see him on his feet again, leading a compact and strong organisation. If ho ovor soos hifl way cloar to rewime management I strongly advise him to (live tho South Island a littlo more of hi* attention. Ho is sure if a welcome in Dunodin at all evonls.

Tiio following in last week's Canterbury Time* bears on ils faeo tho authority of Sisrnor Do Vivo hiin>elf : - " Mr Max Strakcch, tho celebrated American improssario, ih now travelling a company, of which Madame F.telka Gcrster in the prima donna, thriuu'h tho larger cities of the United States, and w.ll be in San Francisco most probably next month. Aflora season in that city ho will, acting on tho advice of Signor Do Vivo, send Madame Gorster and a quartette party of Ih'iit caw voca'Mts to Australia and New Zealand. Tlicv will proceod direct to Melbourne opening thore in July or August noxt under tho management of Si"Mor De Vivo, who will act at Mr Stnikosch's representative during tho tour of Australia and New ZeaW. IT. W., of the Canterbury Times, pays that Mr Fred Maishall has postponed his visit to this Colony sine die, which was to bo expired when we hoard of the earaot 'Unary s-icccts of his Mrlbonrno season. Tho Mastodon Minstrels', at pre-ent pcrfoiming in Wi'llmp, ton, appear nrxt in Dunodin, and i:<> thence overland to C'hrNtchiirch, expecting feo jeaeh that city about tlu cud ol Apiil. 'i he conclusion of tho Williamson dramatic seaHon was roaikeU by a. J^tle festivity at Wellim#on pn the

16th inst., the affair being thus recorded by one of the local papers next day :-" Yesterday was a red-letter day in the annals of all who were present. The entire tour of the present company has been Jocularly designated among tho membors as Mrs Wilnamnon * Picnic Party, and the acme of enjoyment was reached yoßterdayin their experience of ono of tho most doHtrht'ul rural rot<-onts that all New Zealand can afford. Tho fame of M'Nab's Gardens at the Ilutt will be spread far and wido by yesterdiiy's visitors on their return to Australia. During the day a pleasing little ceremony took place— Mr Williamson presenting Ins stage manager, Mr 11. 11. Vincent, with a handsome gold chain and locket, as a testimony of friendliness and high approval of h's professional ability." Harry Power and his company are still in the Southland district, and appear to be doing bettor business lately. The Southland Time?, in a lengthy notice, pays:— "Tho name under which tho company travels is misleading, inasmuch aB aosthoticism is only assumed at raro intervals ; but as novelty is all tho rage the company have done woll to nelcct an uncommon name. When the curtain rose, a very prettilyappointed stage was disulosed, though it was only on a par with the dresros of tho lady performors, which were really beautiful, and attracted no little attention during the evening. Tho piece selected for representation was 'BustJo and Bounce,' a well-arranged little sketch in which Mdllo. Lolo de Glorian, Miss Amy Leslie, and Messrs Power and Lmgtrey were afforded plenty of scope for the display of their marked abilities The plot was simple enough in all conscience, its feature being love-making, with tho most ridiculous interruptions consequent upon rapid changes of character. But for thorough versatility, Mr Harry Power carried off tho palm. Whether as a comedian, an eccentric waiter, an sosthetic poet, a Chine°e ambassador, a policeman, a deaf old cenileman, or ns an operatic manager, he was equally successful, and kept tho audience in a chronic stato of laughter. His efforts were ably seconded by Mdlle. de Glorian, who alno assumed quito a number of characters in a vory pleasing manner. Her appearance with Mr Powor, rosthetically dressed and carding tho proverbial sunflower, causodgreatamusemont; and the song of those " too-beautiful-to-bo-raortal " beings, ' Quite too Utterly Utter,' met with a most enthusiastic reception. In tho character of a Chineso ambassador Mr Powor was again vory successful, his make-up being immense." Tha Montague-Turner concerts at Invorcargill were fairly successful.

11 Pinafore " has drawn two capital houses at the Princess, Dunodin. There is a consensus of opinion that the opera was never bo well mounted in New Zealaud, and that Mrs Williamson is far and away the best Buttercup we have had.

Denton lectured to moderate audiences at the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, last week. Mr Jookyns is iv Christchurch, arranging for tho opera seaeon there.

Signor Do Vivo will manage Mr Turnei'a opera fcOiison in Melbourne.

My Auckland correspondent wires :— " Mr Harkins concluded a successful Beason on Saturday ni n 'htin the Theatre Royal as Shylock. On Monday night a benefit was given to Mr DeLias by tho members of the company. There was a good house.— Mr Robson has boon giving roadings in tho suburbs of Auckland, under tho patronage of the bishop. On Tuesday ho appoared in tho Theat. o Royal, undor tho patrona>;o of the mayor and city council ; and loft for Sydney on Wednesday.— Ada Ward is expected here shortly.— Jim Mace gives a statuesque exhibition at the Theatre Royal on Thursday night. — The Opera House is making good progress towards completion."

Australian. According to the Adolaide papers Miss Roland Philips, daughter of Watta Philips, tho well-known dramatist, is about to settlo in the colonies. The young lady has appoared with great success at the Lyceum and Jolly Theatres, at which latter she played during the whole of the run of Byron's comedy "The Upper Crust" as Kate Vennimore, Lord Hesk eta's niece, She has also appeared at all the principal provincial theatres with creat aucces". Wilson's circus is about to shift from Melbourne.

The musical peoplo in Melbourne are organising a complimentary benefit to the Mendelssohn Quintette Club.

Holloway, Hoskins, and Kennedy are going to appear in " The Comedy of Errors " in Melbourne. Bland Holt has just coucluded a highly-successful fortnight at Ballarat with "The Worli " and "New Babylon." He opens with <« The World "at Sydney on April Bth. Montagu Browne has rejoined him as manager.

George Musgrove'a company have done capital businosß at Adelaide with " Madame Favarfc." My Melbourne budgot camo to h»nd too late to be of service this week.

Fred ilervin told his Sydney friends that' if ho regained his voice ho would come out to the colonies with an opera company of his own getting together, and show the people how grateful he was for their support and sympathy.

Home and Foreign.

MUs Lilian la Rue, the new contralto of tho Carl Rosa opera company, has made a promising debut iv London.

An authority speaking of the difficulties authors find in getting thoir playtt read by managers, says :— " Mr Tom Robertson had many difficulties with his pieces. It was only by accident that ' Society ' was produced »t the Princ* of Wales' Theatre, Liverpool. For six months after that it lay on the shelf which Mr Buckstone reserved at tho Ha.vmarket for unread plays. Then it was rejected 'Wnr to the Knife' had failed at the Prince of Wales' Theatre, and the management there was its wits' end for a new piece. In order to fllll up the gap 'Socloty' was produced, and of course, to tho intense astonishmnnt of the management, was a ereat success. • The Two Roses ' was accepted by Mr Montague with the promise that he would open tho Vaudeville Theatre with it. He had not the courago to do so, and he accopted a trashy piece from another author, which vas a dead failure. He was in search of another drama, when Mr Albery's agent insisted upon the production of ' The Two Hoses,' and threatened to appeal to the Court of Chancery. To avoid litigation and get ri I of his responsibility, Mr Montaguo, under compulsion, produced ' The Two Roses," after threo days' rehearsal. Not a single yard of scenery had been painted for it, and, again to the astonishment of the inanaeemont, the comedy was an enormous success. It was not until af tor the first night that the company s%w the importance of seriuus rehearsal, and that the scenic artists set to work. Therefore, if it had not been for an • accident ' wo micht never have heard of Mr Albery and ' The Two Roses.' "

" School for hcandal," as played last month at tho London Vaudeville, would be worth travelling many a mile to fee. Here's a cast :— Sir Peter, Mr William Farren ; Charles burface, Mr Henry Neville ; Joseph Surface, Mr Frank Archer ; Sir Oliver Surface, Mr John Maclean ; Moses, Mr Edward Eighton ; Sir Harry Bumper, Mr Wilford Morgan ; Snake, Mr G. Canningo ; Sir Benjamin Backbite, Mr Lin Kayno ; Rowloy, Mr A. ltoberts ; Lady Teazle, Misn Ada Cavendish ; Mrs Candour, Mrs Arthur Stirling ; Lady Sneerwell, Mrs G. Canninge ; Maria, Miss Alma Murray. It is roported that Air Tennyaon wai so satisfied with tho receipts of " Tho Cup " at tho Lyceum that he has written two more short plays of a similar character.

Some of tho papers have roported by mistake the death of Taglioni, the once famous dancer. Private letters from Mart-ciHca my that the lady, Vicomtes«e dcs Voisina, is living in that city with her son and in good health. It is a relative, Madame la Comtesse dcs Vohins, who is dead, and tho similarity of names is doubtless tho cause of the error. Madam* Taglioni ii in exco'lent health, notwithstanding hor advanced age. The Carl Roia Company inaugurated their London season with " Lohengrin." ilcrr Scott again filled the titlo role, »nd receives cordial praise all round. Jladaine Vallcria is now a niemborof the troupo. Sarah Bernhardt is to got £200 a night lor six performances at Milan.

Yon Bulow, the famous pianist, has written:—" if I stop practice for ono day I notice it in my pla.ring- ; if I stop two days my friend nolicoß it ; if I atop three days the public notice it. It is rfifTcront with tho young man who practises down tha streor. If h# stops for one day the whole neighbourhood notices it, and feels like paying him 500 dollars never to bogin again. If he doesn't stop for two days, tho neighbours ask tho police to n tic. it as ;i nuisance, and if ho doesn't stop for threo dajs,thpv get down their shot-guvs and g'3 gunning for him." V. R. Chatterton's management of Sadler's Wells, London, hat had an abrupt termination. Mr William Farren, jun., is fast making: his way to a very prominent placo in his profession, and worthily maintaining the histrionic reputation of his name. At New Orleans, where he lias been acting with Miss Goneviuvo Ward, he has not only won golden opinions by his pui fornniiice of the old beau in "Foi'»ct-me-Nofc," but on "the /a«hional>lo French night" ho Tided M. Inconnu in " l/i Pluie efc la Beau Tomp 3 " The Now Orleans Times wiyt. : "Mr Wiiliiun Faviui: v. oh a surprise, and i up' moil fresh honou.d." At tho eiiil of tru 1 I'lnimt'lK-rU Mifl iMidiriice y.'n'o h'm ft lii'urhy roi cption, und Alias Ueiioviovo Ward cdiij^iatuUtoil him. Aifchur Pineio'a comedy, " The Sijujre," ia a, bwim-

min? success. Its plot is as follows :— As the owner of the Court at Prior's Mesne, with its few remaining and not too productive acres, Kate Verity accepts and wears wiih pride the title of the Squire, which has always been associated with possession of the estate. Her claim to this title is, however, open to dispute, eince sho is privately married to Lioutenant Thorndyko, a young officer whose regiment is quartered a few mile High a« has stood h«r reputation among the pJm >le folk who havo known her since childhood, it ig b) {inning to be undermined, the secret visits of hoi hu (band having been detected. A resolution is acer) di i r\y adopted by the married couple to make public tl elt Widding, although heavy pecuniary loss is likflly f <•■ re .ult from so doing. While awaiting her husband 1 1 n s 'ht, however, Kate receives startling and terrible nte.ligence. A previous wife of the lieutenant, of Wh ise existence she hns never heard, has arrived at thj villago, and the Squire finds her marriage invaUuated at tne very moment when she discovers she is about to bo a mother. Her supposed husband is guiltless of any offence worse than the concealment of his first marriage. He is tho victim of a deliberate piece of treachery and cruelty on tho part of a woman whose purpose, but too successfully accomplished, hus been to blight his life. It is needless to describe the successive steps of shame and degradation the heroine is compelled to tread, or to indicate the manner in which a happy issue is ultimately reached. In tho sufferings of a woman who, guiltless of any offence beyond the t connlvanco at a temporary secrecy concerning her marriage, has to face a terrible ordeal of (iisclosuro, the opportunities of an actress are afforded. In tho manner in which the powerful situations are developed from the position obtained the skill of tbe dramatist asserts itself. Three or four scenes as touching *s anything in domestic drama are successively exhibited, and the interest of the spectator is maintained at fever heat until the denouement is reached. Mrs Kendal (pays an English paper), whose recent performances have displayed power and intensity altogether unrivalled upon our stage, haa found in Kate Vority a character altogether suited to her talon ts. In her hands Kate Verity is an absoluto creation.

My American correspondent informs me inter alia that George Darrell hag left the Fanny Davenport Company, and that Mr W. B. Shoridan, tragedian, goes out to Australia and New Zealand by the March mail steamer.— Concerning professional doings in New York he writes that Sardou's latest work, " Odette," was produced at the New York Rookery, and waa a failure. The piece is a clumsy adaptation by Daly, a son-in-law of Duff, the boss of the theatre, and the leading woman (A<ia Rehan) is wholly without claim to the permanont position ehe occupies. The other parts wore well ca-«t and played. At the Thalia the Gorman troupe haveputon "Divorcons"in fine style.—Haverley's " Patience " Company are back at his Fourteenth street Tho-tro. Emma Ilowson is Patience, and is supported by Seymour as Bunthorne ; C. M. Pyke, at »*i oveßnor ; James, as the Colonoi ; Golden, as tho Major ; Alonzo Hatch, as the Duke ; and Gertrude Orme, as Lady Jane. Business as good as ever. — At the Fifth street Avenue the Comley-Barton Company are giving Farnie's version of Lecocq'i latest, " Manola, or Blonde and Brunotte." For costumes and scenery it rivals anything ever attempted at this house, and the cast includes Catherine Lewis, Marie Jansen, John Howeon, Frederick Leslie, Rose Chappell, and the tenor, Charles J. Campbell.—" Patience" at the Standard Theatre shows no signs of losing popularity, whilst the "Lights o1o 1 London," at the Union Square, turns away money nightly.— After all Maplesou'a gush to tho contrary, Manager Abbey has secured tbe Pattl for opera. She is to give seventy performances at the Gormania Theatre ; admission seventy dollars for the lot. The repertoire is "Traviata," "Trovatore," "Faust," "Lucia/ "Barber of Seville."— J. E. Fulton, of Sydney, is , in this city trying to organise a company for the Colonies.— Osmond Searle goes across the pond to fulfil several lucrative egagements In Scotland, and returns next year.— George Fawcett Kowe meditites a return to Australia.— Selina Dolaro Intends to abandon the operatic Btage and take to comedy. She is to to have an important part in "Foggarty's Fairy."— Patti netted 17,000 dollars by three concerts in St. Louis.- Rachel Sanger goes to England.— Mining specs, nearly broke him, and are the cause of John E. Owen's joining the Madison Square Stock Company for three years.— Maude Granger is in tho Divorce Court. —May Anderson did enormous business for a fortnight at Booth's and tho Grand Opera House, Naw York.— At Wallack'a "The Money -Spinner " is to give place to "Youth."— The M'Caull and Emilio Melville Companies have amalgamated.—Miss Geistinger, German tragedienne, goes out to Australia aftrr doing 'Frisco.— W. J. Florence has had a severe illnessand been compelled to disband his company.— D'Oy ley Carte'» " Patience" Company, at the Stand «rd, New York, have been averaging £1600 a week— about the same as the Savoy in London. . Sam Colville is tho purchaser of tho American right of "Taken from Life."— Rose Stella has given an emphatic denial to the statement that she issuing for a divorce.

Catherine Lewis, while playing " Madame Favart" in New York, was thus addressed in the course of , the piece by Fred. Leslie, as Favart : "Favart. Oh, Justine ! would that you were !" Madame Favart : " Here." Favart : " And already undressed — I mean dressed, for the part." Then there was an unrehearsed scene, and the prima donna shed copious tears. Lesli-3 approached her (says one report) and seemed to bo whispering something in her ear, but Catherine only shuddered, shrank fearfully away, and pulled the sleeve of her dress pathetically down so as to covor her vaccination. Then she made her exit, and from the wlngß those in front counted three distinct Clara Morriaian nobs. . . . Sho faltered through tho concerted music that ends the opera, and the final curtain fell on a picture which showed a stage husband ineffectually trying to embrace a reoellant wife, wnile principal?, chorus, and auxiliaries made frantic effor'.s to conceal their mirth. The incident having been magnified in some quarters, to the prejudice of the lady, sho unburdened herself to an interviewer, and certainly appears to hava spoken her mind pretty freely to htm : " I cried, and I am not a9hamed to say it, because I broke down from vexation. It was the first night I had worn tho dresH referred to. . I don't know what is the cause of Mr Loslie's animosity. The fact is he is an insufferable cid. He is extremoly conceited, and apparently ignorant of that courtesy which is usually extended by one professional to another on tho Btage." Leslie's version of the affair is that tho lady was fearfully jealous of his success, and this business was a pure bit of shamming. Tho so-called objectionable gag was introduced in London, and was used by him full 30 times bo had previously played with Miss Lewis in the opera. The lady told the papers that shG wouldn't play with the company any more, but at latest dates she was with them, therefore it must bo assumed that differences have been healed up.

On a recent afternoon Mr H. Ingram, of the Illustrated London Nows, bore the entire cost of rogaling 4000 London waifs, and of their witnessing a performance of tho Covcnt Uardoii pantomime.

Mrs Langtry was a failure in " Ours," according to to the Kra, which unscathingly denounces the worship of beauty and sacrifice of art practised by some of the leading metropolitan journals. I select a fow passages from its notice :— " Who shall blame Mr Bancroft for engaging Mrs Langtry, the ' pro'ess'onal beauty,' and for paying her an enormous salary ? Art has nothing to do with the transaction ; it is purely a matter of business. To fill tho theatre, and to show a handsome balance in tho treasury— these are the reasons for the engagement. Mrs Langtr.v is hired to play Blanche Hayo .at tho Ha> market just as 'poor Sir Roger,' when he comes out of tho keeping of her Majesty's Government may b3 hired to play Fa'staff, or aa the tatoocd Greek nobleman may bo hired to ropresent the Moor of Venico; not because they can act, but because they can draw the money. . . . Now come wo to tho fashion&blo professional beauty. And what of hor Blanche Hayo? the reading is asking. Our answer is that it fell immeasurably short of any rendering of tho pvt wo have scon before, anil that there arc scores of modest and unpretending ladies, even on tho amateur stugo, who would have done moro justice to tho character. We hod here a B'anche iiaye without a bit of pathos in her composition. 'Jhu 'beauty' had mastered tho toxfc; aho never ncodcil tho assistance of tho prompter, and she manifested abundant confidence. Thcro our praise must end. The delicious scone between Angus M'Alistcr and Blanche Hayo beneath the wide-spreading tree in the first act waa spoiled because it was so manifest that t' is Blanche wa3 anxious about her appearance in the Scotchman's coat, and about the duo arra-igoment of her back hair. Jn tho second act, listening to the reading of tho letter by Lady Sundry n, Mi\» Langlry seemed to fancy sho was sitting for another photograph, and therefore, like all sitters fur photographs, ahu looked stiff and angular. Mra Langtry had no pathos,— not one spark of n'cnuino feeling. Sho was cold, hard, monotonous and unsympathetic. Mrs Langtry had another chance in the third act, whore Blanche rushes into the hut overwhelmed with anxiety and dread, crjirg, 'Alary, he's fighting, he'd lisrhtinir,' for she lias heard that her lo\.ir L uiiyujrcd in the conflict with the ioe. Thp tiuo /nu v..iii not, ihciv, and no niotv cfk.'t wasprodnc(tl than wnilil have como if Bl.aiuhc lir.it tusri'ly bud to biiy * He Ji.'.j k'oiu; for l,hu iiuiJi.,' ar ' llt-'rf coming home! to diimor.' All this niiiy appear very ungallant, but gallantry must b' ive wa y *° truth, and we

tell only the truth when we gay that Mrs Langtry'4 Blanche Haye was unworthy the comedy, unworthy the theatre, and unworthy the support given to other parts. That she was cheered will readily be believed, for her flatterers were present in strong force." In an article in a lato number of Theatre, Mr Fltz« gerald makes the discovery that the groundwork of "The Colonel" and "Patience" has a close resemblance to a piece known to our forefathers. "It Is curious," writes our author, " that the tide of fatuity has not even the merit of novelty. Some seventy years ago there was a German extravagance rife based on the «sthetic school, not only as absurd as our own craze, but actually of the same family." Canning, and other merry men of the anti-Jacobins, get themselves to heartily ridicule this nonsense in excellent nonsense of their own ; and, as with Mr Burnand's " Colonel," readapted from an adaptation, and Mr Gilbert's " Putience," a piece was written from this view, and produced at the Haymarkot, which caused much laughter. It was introduced by a prologue, delivered by Mr Elliston : Oh, fine false feeling, hail ! Thou bad'st non-natural nature to prevail. Through thee, soft supersentiment, arose Musk to the mind, like civet to a nose ; Till fainting taste, as invalids do wrong, Sniff'd the rich perf umo and grew weakly strong. As Polonius might say. supersentiment "is good," and these lines happily describe our own follies. The piece was tho well-known " The Rovers ; or, The Double Arrangement"— another happy and suitable phrase. The scene is one betwoen Matilda and Cecilia, and might have been written by Mr W. S. Gilbert. The Btage directions enjoin : Scene represents a room at an inn at Weimar. On one side of the stage the bar-room, with jellies, lemons in nets, syllabubs, md part of a cold roast fowl, &c. ; on the opposite Bide, a window looking into the street, through which persons (inhabitants of Weimar) are seen 'passing to and fro In apparent »gitation. Matilda appears in a greatcoat and riding-habit, seated at tho corner of a dinner table, which is covered with a clean huckaback cloth; plates and napkins, with buckhorn-haudled knives and forks, are laid on as if for four persons. Matilda solemnly asks, "Can I have dinner soon?' and the 1 landlady tells her she must wait for the Brunswick ' waggon. On which says,

Matilda.— ls it possible that I can have dinner sooner?

Landlady.— Madam, the Brunswick post-waggon has notyetcomein; and the ordinary is never before 2 o'clock.

Matilda (with a look of disappointment, but immediately recomposiner herself) — Well, then, I must have patience.— (Exit Landlady).— Oh, Casimeie ! How olten have the thoughts of thee served to amuse these momenta of expectation ! What a difference, alas ! Dinner— it is taken away as soon as over, and we regret it not I It returns again with tho return of appetite. The beef of to-morrow will succeed to tha mutton of to-day, as the mutton of to-day succeeded to the veal of yesterday. But when once the hearfc l has been occupied by a beloved object, in vain would we attempt to supply the charm by another. , How, , easily are our desires transferred from one dish to another! Love only— dear, delusive lore— restrains ' our wandering appetites, and confines them to •a ' par« ' ticular gratification ! •

(Post-horn blows. Re-enter Landlady.) Landlady.— Madam, the poet-waggon is just odine In, with only a single gentlewoman. Matilda.— Then show her up, and let us havo dinner instantly-(Landlady going)— and remember-(after a moment's hesitation, and with great earnestness)— remember the toasted cheese.— (Exit Landlady.) (Cecilia enters, in a brown riding-dress, as if Just

alighted from the post-waggon.)

Matilda.-Madam, you seem to have had an unpleasant journey, if I may judge from the dust on your riding-habit. • • s, Cecilia. —The way was dusty, madam, but the weather was delightful. It recalled to me those blissful momenta when the rays of desire first vibrated through my soul.

Matilda (aside).— Thank Heaven ! I have at last found a heart which is in unison with my own —(To ' Cecilia.)— Yes ; I understand you. The first pulsation of sentiment — the silver tones upon the yet unsounded harp

Cecilia.— The dawn of life— when this blossom— (putting her hand to her heart)— first expanded ita petals to the penetrating dart of Love ! Matilda.— Yes, the time, the golden time, when the first beams of the morning meet and embrace o'"e another ! The blooming blue upon tho yet unplucked plum.Cecilia.— Your countonance growß animated, my dear madam.

Matilda.— And yours, too, is glowing with illumination.

Cecilia.— l had lonsr been looking for a congenial spirit. My heart was withered, but the beams of yours has rekindled it.

Matilda.~A sudden thought strikes me. Let us swear an eternal friendship. Cecilia. — Let us agree to live together. Matilda.— Willingly.— {With rapidity and oarnost ness.) Cecilia. — Let us embrace. — (They embrace.) Matilda.— Ye* ; I, too, have lov'd ! You, too, like me, have been forsaken ?— (Doubtingly, and as if with a desire to bo informed.) Cecilia.— Too true !

Both.— Ah, those men ! These men ! (Landlady enters, and places a leg of mutton on tho table, with sour Icrout and pruin sauce ; then a email dish of black puddings. Cecilia and Matilda appear to take no notice of her.) Matilda.— Oh, Casimore ! Cecilia.— Casimere I That name ! Oh, my heart— how it is distracted with anxiety ! Matilda.— Heavens ! Madam, you turn pale. Cecilia.— Nothing ; a Blight megrim. With your leave I will retire.

Matilda —I will attend you.— (Exount Matilda and Cecilia.)

This cceno will surely roca l ! Ralph Rackstraw's declaration of love aboard H.M.S. Pinafore, and his mystifying illustration of " the ganglion."