Punch (78.1880)

April lo, 1880.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. • 159

Then Merlin loosed his hand from hers and said,
“ I never was less wise, however wise,

Than when I gave yon first a footing here ;

Tor, once allowed, I find yon like the gnat
That settles, beaten back, and, beaten back,
Settles, till I must yield for weariness.

Bnt since I will not yield to give 3ron place
In academic contests and degrees,

Why will yon never ask some easier boon,—
Private examination sans degree ?

Yea, by St. Scott, I trusted yon too much.”

And VrviEN, like the tenderest-hearted Miss
Tresh from the globes and Mangnall, thus replied:
“ Nay, Master, be not wrathful with your maid,
Who feels no heart to ask another boon ;

I think yon hardly know the tender rhyme
Of ‘ take ns all in all or not at all.’

I heard the People’s William sing it once,

And it shall answer for me. Listen to it.

“ ‘ In Arts, if once examiners be ours,

To take degrees we must have equal powers ;

The loss of these is as the loss of all:

“ ‘ It is the little rift within the lute,

That soon will leave the Girton lecturer mute ;
And, slowly emptying, silence Newnham Hall,

‘1 ‘ The little rift in academic lute,

The speck of discontent in hard-earned fruit,

That, eating inwards, turns it into gall.

“ ‘ It is not worth the keeping ; let it go :

But shall it ? Answer fairly, answer no ;

And take us all in all or not at all.’

“ 0 Master, do you love my tender rhyme ? ”

OUR REPRESENTATIVE MAN.

[St. James's and the Haymarket.)

Old Cronies is the title of the duologue, which serves as a most
amusing lever du rideau at the St. James’s. It is brilliantly
written by Mr. Theyre Smith, and played by Messrs. Mackintosh
and Wenman in admirable taste, and with consummate finish.

The revival of Still Waters Run Deep, will interest those who
remember its original production at the Olympic, those who have
heard so much of it since, those who have seen it indifferently
performed by Amateurs—and what set of Amateurs has not tried it
at some time or other ?—and the Amateurs themselves who have
represented it, and who pride themselves on their own original
readings of the several parts.

JBut with how it was first played at the Olympic, when Alfred
Wigan was Mildmay, Mrs. Alfred Wigan Mrs. Sternhold, George
Mining Uawksley, and Emery Old Potter, I have very little to do
just now—that is, as far as comparison goes.

Most Theatre-goers are acquainted with John Mildmay, Captain
Uawksley, Mrs. Sternhold, and Old Potter: and all who know the
play are aware, that, in the First Act, Mildmay is deceiving his
family circle by assuming le role d'un gogo for his own ends, which
it is the purpose of the play to work out to a triumphant finish.
Now Mr. Kendal does not let the audience see that he is only
pretending to be a simpleton; he treats them as he treats Mrs.
Sternhold, and attempts to deceive them as he has deceived her.
As the secret of the play is kept from the audience during
the First Act, and is indeed only very gradually developed, it is
left for the Actors to enlighten us by very marked exhibition of
individuality. We soon learn, in the First Act, that Uawksley
is a villain, but only gradually how. great is his villainy, and to
what extent Mrs. Sternhold has been indiscreet.

If the representatives of Haivksley and Mrs. Sternhold were, so
to speak, to “ walk through ” their parts, no audience of average
intelligence could remain in ignorance of what the Author had in-
tended their characters to be, or what were their motives for action.

RELIEF FOR IRELAND.

Mickey Doolan (who has dropped in to sec his neighbours the O'Flahertys). “Well, Pat, how are ye going on these times ?”

Pat O'Flaherty. “ Illegant ! thanks ee to the Saints ! AYe ’re feedin’ three Pigs on the Mansion House, and atin’ the
Duchess ourselves ! ”