notice—as, how should she?—property steps behind her, on which, at about her tenth curtsey, she suddenly sat down about two seconds before she could possibly realise that there was any chance of sitting down. But JEAN LAUNCELOT DE RESZKÉ was there, and rescued her! Good Knight! JEAN DE RESCUE! Then EDWARD, as Hermit, own brother to Friar Laurence, excellent. But so were they all, and the Opera will well repay several re-hearings.

Thursday.—Aïda. Generally considered rather a heavy Opera by VERDI. "But to-night," says WAGSTAFF, "the Verdi-ict quite t'other way." MAUREL excellent as Amonasro, and MAGGIE MACINTYRE looked, acted, and sang Maggie-nificently. Uncommonly good was GIULIA RAVOGLI as Amneris, Aïda's rival for the love of the small-sized Radamès Dimitresco, or Dimi-nutive-Tresco (comparatively speaking), to whom EDWARD DE RESZKÉ, being quite a Ned and shoulders taller, might spare some of his superfluous inches.

EDWARD uncommonly good as Ramfis, which name, considering the peculiar make-up, might be appropriately changed to Rum Phiz, and nobody be any the worse. BEVIGNANI conducted himself and the orchestra admirably; M. PLANÇON, in English Plain Song, did all well that as Il Re he had to do, looking every inch a Re, and not a bit Il. Mlle. BAUERMEISTER was Una Sacerdotissa, but she would be anything and do everything well. Signer RINALDINI was Un Messagiero. His costume might have been more effective had Sir AUGUSTUS brought him up to date as a Messenger Boy for the Telephonie-sol-fa Company. This can be amended. House good.

Friday.—Covent Garden, Elaine expected, but didn't appear. JOHN THE RISKY, the Launcelot of the Opera, unwell. "Not Launcelot, but another!" cried Sir DRURIOLANUS, only there wasn't another. So Carmen was played. "Not this Elaine," continued Sir AUGUSTUS, "but Drur-e-lane." So away! to hear the Trumpeter of the German Band. This Trompeter might be played as a trump in a small house, but 'tis trumpery for Drury Lane. One phrase of an old music-hall ditty, the words of which were, "She walked forward, I followed on, tra la la!" constantly recur. Who originated it? Unwonted excitement of going to two Operas told on shattered frame, so staggered to Maiden Lane, which, on account of its being the home for oysters, crabs, and lobsters, should be renamed Mer-maiden Lane. Behold! good Dr. BAYLIS "within the Rules" making up his evening prescriptions. "Quis supperabit?" asked the learned Dr. B. "Ego," replied I, like JEAMES, knowing the language. And "supper-a-bit" it was. "'84 wachterum unum pintum frigidum sumendum cum '92 chickeno," &c. "My benizon on thee!" said CRITICUS REDIVIVUS. "Dr. BAYLIS, I bay-liss thee!" with the accent on the "liss." So home. After all the chops and changes of this operatic life, I am with "chicken and champagne" content. Finis coronat opus.

MORE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ALCOHOLIC QUESTION.

(A few remarks on Dr. Robson Roose's Article in New Review.)

1. Inebriates should be shut up in Alcoholloway Prison.

"'Neat' Handed Phyllis."

"A contribution to the Alcohol Question."

2. "Food-accessory" is a very pretty name for drink. Henceforth let the butler go round as "the merry toast goes round." Let butlers and footmen, in dining-rooms and places where they have various liquors, be instructed to inquire of each and every guest "What food-accessory will you take, Sir?"

3. "The use of Alcohol dates from very early times." But it is not recommended by the faculty as a good thing to be taken at 7 A.M., or at any time in the morning immediately on awaking.

As to when any one has had enough "alcohol," the old test first put forward many years ago by Mr. Punch, still holds good. If you can say "British Constitution" distinctly, and without effort, so that it shall not be all in one composite word sounding like "Bri'sh-conshushun," then, perhaps, you may go up-stairs (if you can) and join the ladies.

4. "The liver is very prone to become affected." The question is, first, Is "an evil liver" or "a good liver" here intended? But, apart from this, any affectation in a liver, good or bad, is objectionable. It must be taken for granted, in a serious discussion on the subject, that "a slave to his liver" is a synonym for "a livery servant." The one objection to a livery servant lies in this very fact; for a slave to liver is rarely in a good humour, and is generally sulky, lazy, and disobliging.

5. "Wine comes in, rubs off the acerbities, and brings all down to the same level of good humour." The end of such a happy party is, of course, all under the table, smiling, but speechless.

Dr. ROBERTS, as quoted by his confrère, ROBSON ROOSETEM PASHA, appears to be a very sensible person. Dr. ROBERTS—he is not Dr. ARTHUR ROBERTS, we believe—recommends the liqueur to be judiciously taken at meal-times. And, by the way, as the knowledge of when to cry, "Hold, enough!" is most useful, here is another test of sobriety in this very word "judicious," which some, after a couple of glasses (or more) of fine old cognac, will pronounce as though 'twere spelt "seducious," and some will swear it ought to be "jusidious." When nobody can pronounce "judicious" correctly, the arbiter bibendi, if himself absolutely sober as a judge ought to be,—a man quite "above-board," i.e., not yet under it,—such a one may pronounce that the guests have had quite enough. It is a pity that so excellent a writer on temperance should have the singular disadvantage of a plural name. If, after dinner, a worthy convivialist observed, "I see ROBERTS," would not the question naturally be, "How many of 'em?" The Doctor can omit the "s," and, as perhaps he is already a little singular in his carefully-advanced theories, why should he not de-pluralise his surname? Do the Doctors R.R. and R. differ on this? Then we must decide. In the meantime, to show our approval of this particular article of Dr. ROBSON ROOSTEM PASHA's faith, we, as a jovial company, drink his health, and then depart for our annual Alcoholiday trip.

LAWN TENNIS INTELLIGENCE.—BADDELAY has taken the cake.

THINGS ONE WOULD RATHER HAVE EXPRESSED OTHERWISE.

(Lady Festus At Home—2 A.M.)
Hostess. "ONLY JUST COME, SIR GEORGE? HOW GOOD OF YOU TO COME SO LATE!"

OUT OF IT!

(The Lay of the Non-Elected.)

Bret Harte adapted.