Punch: Punch (75.1878)

ON THE MEND.

Master Tom {who has been from home). "Well, Simmons, how are you getting on? All bight?"
Simmonds. "Yes, Sir-. But this Fox-hound Puppy has been and Killed a lot o' Chickens."
Master Tom. ". I am glad to heab that. I thought he was going to die of Distemper."

of the Black Mail {Friday). Ending with a, pas de deux. Pianner,
Picturs, and comic duologue.

I hadn't seen the Moore and Burgess Minstrels for years. The
place was crammed, and the peculiar singing peculiarly good. Mr.
Moore was very funny. But what delights me is the serious interest
taken by the gentlemanly nigger, in the centre, in the adventures of
Messrs. Tambourine and Bones, the corner men, as related by them-
selves. It is delightful! The Bones (Mr. Moore) has not the
slightest respect for any sentiment, or for any singer. "Whenever it
occurs to him that a note is too long, or that a song is beginning to
be a trifle monotonous, he at once relieves the dulness with some
utter absurdity done in the quietest possible manner.

The first part of the entertainment, the genuine Christy Glee part,
is the best; and this is really unique of its kind, and well worth a
visit. But oh! what execrably bad taste on the part of Your Repre-
sentative, Sir, to prefer the London Blacks to the genuine Central
African produce, quietly resting on Stanley's platform. Well, 1
can't help it. Exclaim, if you will, " 0 tempora.' 0 31ores /" and
I will reply, " O tempora ! O Burgess and Moore's .' "

And now, to finish up geographically, let us study the Globe and
what is going on there.

It speaks well for the future of Light Operatic Entertainment that
such excellent houses should still be the rule at the Globe, where
the Cloches de Corneville is given, and at the Opera Comique, where
H.M.S. Pinafore is still at the height of its thoroughly well-
deserved popularity.

Les Cloches is put on the stage far and away better than it was in
Paris, and the acting of the Chorus-girls, all pretty and attractive,
is superior to that of their Parisian originals at the FoliesPramatiques.

Mr. Paulton as the BaiUie is capital. The business'of the letter-
reading, in Act II., is the funniest thing I 've seen for a long while;
and in this portion of the dialogue the Authors, Messrs. Farnte and
Reece, are at their best.

Mr. Shiel Barry was excellently made up, except in hands, which
did not correspond with his sickly face and decrepit state; his
acting is very good in the First Act; but, in the Second, where the
original Oaspard, Milher, was strongest, Mr. Shtel Barry is disap-
pointing. This may be partly owing to the stage arrangement,
which cramps his action. But for all that, I still think that, out of

Opera, he could fairly represent Robson's great part of Daddy
Hardacre.

Miss Cora Stuart is an acquisition, but must beware of monotony
of action. She has been, it seems, trained in the One Action School.

The performance altogether thoroughly deserves the support it has
obtained and is obtaining, and what it lacks in brilliancy of tone in
the vocal part, is made up by the brilliancy of the mise-en-scene,
costumes, and the pretty bright faces. We have not yet got the
executants, among the men at least, for French Comic Opera of this
lighter sort, but in Pinafore the right men are in the right place ;
at least so ventures to say Your Representative.

A VERY NATURAL INFERENCE.

It is impossible not to feel the force of the Commander-in-Chief's
pathetic deprecation in his speech on Army Administration at the
Haberdashers' Company:—

" I assure you, Gentlemen, that in these matters there are a variety of con-
siderations on both sides, and these considerations are not lost sight of by
those who are intrusted with the administration of the Army. We may not
be quite as wise as other people, but I submit to you that it may be a mistake
to put down all officials as fools."

Not all officials, your Royal Highness—only all Army officials.
Remembering Crimean and Cyprus blundering, and the usual fate
of military undertakings, in their first stages at least, till those
responsible for them have had the benefit ;of that experience which
as the old saw says "makes fools wise," is the popular inference to
be wondered at ?

turning night into day.

They have been playing foot-ball by the electric light at Sheffield.
They will be playing cricket next. Night, not twilight, will soon
be the time for the bat.

the asian reform syllogism.

Minor premiss—Sultan's promise. Major premiss—Pasha's per-
formance. Conclusion—Remains to be seen.