class="sc">Wales and the Princess, and the Princesses their daughters, there in a box, pretty to see. Druriolanus Operaticus et Counticouncillarius mightily pleased at what I hear is the biggest subscription to this class of entertainment ever known. Many fine faces here to-day. The sight of the ladies exceeding noble.

"Harmony in Black and White."

A new wench, Mlle. Nuovina, to sing for the first time, taking the part of Marguérite in the Opera of Faust, which she did prettily and quietly. Curious to see a Marguérite with jet-black hair and a white face; yet comely and with much grace.

Everyone extraordinarily content with Mons. Jean de Reszké, the best Faust that did ever sing and play this part. But vexed to see one M. Orme Darrall act Mephistopheles in the room of Edouard de Reszké, who, poor man, is sick. The scenes and the chorus all very fine indeed. All of us pretty merry at the droll mimicry of Mlle. Bauermeister as Martha, who makes this part go most rarely.

Pleased to see Madame Scalchi dressed as a boy for the part of Siebel. The house mightily content, and wishing her to sing one song twice over, which she would not. In which matter she did wisely, as also the others.

Went out before the last Act began, to find it raining heavily, and, good lack! not a Commissionnaire to be met with for a quarter of an hour. Whereat mightily troubled to get a coach, till one did fetch me a four-wheeler, which I entered, in great disorder, after much strife and contention. Cost me sixpence. To Rule's, in Maiden Lane, being mighty thirsty, where had supper on excellent lobster and fresh salad, with eggs of the plover, and a draught of the best stout, which did much content me. Comes young Silligrew, who makes merry about "sticking to Rules for supper and no exception," or some such nonsense, which I have forgot, though we laughed heartily at his manner of saying it. Drank to the success of the Italian Opera and of Druriolanus. After paying the reckoning, took cab, and so home to bed.

From Note-book of Mr. Pips Junior.—Tuesday.—Pips Senior doesn't go to Opera to-night. Pips Junior does. Think Pips Senior, as an Admiralty official, will be at the Court Ball with Madame Pips. Glad, therefore, to take his stall at the Opera. Carmen always delightful. Tuneful, melodious, and bright. Good Bizet-ness. Mlle. Zélie de Lussan as Carmen mighty difficult to beat, and she sings and plays the part with all the diabolical waywardness of this impudent Spanish baggage, as Pips Senior would call her. Pity that Maggie McIntyre is indisposed to play Michaela; she used to do it so prettily and so innocently that she shone out as just the very contrast intended by the author. Instead of Maggie, Mlle. Colombati sings the part to-night. She is very graciously received, as is also Signor Fernando Valero (from several Opera Houses abroad) who makes his début here as that vacillating tenor, Don José. Clever Mlle. Bauermeister as frisky Frasquita, and Mlle. Longhi as Mercedes, both excellent Bohemian Girls. To see them going nap was a treat! Which wins? One excellent Irish-Italian, Dan Drady, as the Toréador, first-rate. What a song it is! Encores refused all round, of course. In spite of State Ball, House very nearly as full as on first night. Brilliant effect of some ladies who are "going on," and who can't of course "go on anyhow," but are obliged to appear in their diamonds.

Pretty to see little Mlle. Palladino dancing. Very short life and a merry one has the première danseuse in this Opera. Just a few steps, and then she "steps it," and is not seen again. There is too little of Palladino at any time, and in this case, as she only comes on for five minutes at the commencement of Act II., and then "bon soir!" she may be described as "Small and Early."

Thursday.—Rentrée of Mlle. Ella Russell as Leila in Bizet's I Pescatori di Perle, another version of The Diversions of Purley, a work now more or less forgotten. Signor Valero better as Nadir (isn't this the name of a well-known photographer?) than as Don José. Not unlike the lamented Gayarre. The more like he can become to that tenor the better. M. Dufriche came from Madrid to play Zurga. A long journey; almost sorry he gave himself the trouble, but there's more than this for him to do. Lovely finish to First Act, but after that the Opera is not a stirring one, the story being so idiotically undramatic. Ella fresher than ever.

Friday.—Lohengrin. Wagnerian worshippers in their thousands. What shall she do who comes after Albani in the part of Elsa? That is the question, and Maggie McIntyre supplies the answer, which is Uncommonly well. A sweet picture in a gentle frame of mind, so Macintirely pure and simple. A trying, very trying, part. How grand are the De Reszkés—Jean and Edouard—or more familiarly as we come to know them better, Jack and Ned. Ned looking well, and singing so too, in spite of recent chill. Warmth of reception to-night would thaw any chill. But what a couple of bores are the characters of Ortruda and Telramondo, even when superbly played as to-night, by Madame Fursch-Madi—(the real Mahdi at last!)—and Signor Dan Drady, bedad! Fortunately the Opera is considerably curtailed, or we should never hear the last of it.

Saturday.—Il Trovatore. Great night for "the big, big D",—that is, for "the high D," on which the new tenor, M. Rawner, alights with a sudden bound that electrifies the house. His "high D" is quite an Eiffel tour de force. Henceforth M. Rawner must be known as "the High D-iddle-diddle" tenor, and His Highness will be expected to sustain his high reputation. Vocal effort almost eclipsed by wonderful physical force, which enables him to burst through the prison walls and bow to audience, who are enthusiastically applauding the Miserere. Unfortunately M. Rawner, being a stranger in these parts, cannot find his way back again, and so is unavoidably prevented from being present at his own execution, which, in his absence, takes place without him. Madame Tetrazzina—her first appearance here—not so great, perhaps, as she is good and graceful. Dan Drady and Madame Scalchi as "per usual," which is the highest praise. End of first week. General satisfaction.

THE PLEASURE-SEEKER'S VADE MECUM.

Q. I trust you have had a delightful time recently?

A. Indeed I have, with the assistance of Private Views, Special Performances,