Punch (95.1888)

October 20, 1888.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

183

DETECTION A FAILURE

In ilie interests of the Gutter Gazette and of the Criminal Glasses, the Sensational Interviewer cloys the Detective's footsteps, and throws the strong
light of publicity on his work. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that Detection slwuld prove a failure.

Miss Holmes, and Miss Keel, and Miss Babrojj", who won,
Seemed not a bit fagged when the business was done.
I'm sure Butter-making looks capital fun.
(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese.')

" Then Cheese! Good old Cheshire and Cheddar, I hope,
(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese .')

With Gruyere and Camembert shortly will eope,
(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese /)

"Why, why should the foreigner be all the go ?

No, Cheshire and Wiltshire will struggle, I know ;

I '11 back them to beat Gorgonzola & Co.!
(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese .')

" Tn addition to these, there be poultry and eggs;
(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese !'

But " Milk from the Cow" is the thing that will pay
(Ask the Marquis of Bristol, and Earl Galloway),
And that's why I'm going a-milking to-day."
(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese.')

PLAY-TIME IN THEEE PLACES.

Before this appears, M. Mayer will have commenced his season
of French plays at the Royalty Theatre. Those who know Halevy's
delightful book L'Abbe Constantin, will be curious to see what kind
of a play it makes. Certainly, if closely adapted, and if the actors
enter into the spirit of the original work, it should be an exception to
the majority of Trench pieces, which are forbidden fruit to the
" young person," and can only be thoroughly enjoyed by those who
can honestly adopt Charles Lamb's view of the Comic dramatists
and the actors of the Restoration. M. Halevy has done much to
atone for the brutal materialism of Zola-esque literature with his
perfectly pure and thoroughly natural characters in the story of
L'Abbe Constantin. The best specimen of M. Halevy's cynical
humour is his M. et Mme. Cardinal. In his tenderness, his human
sympathies, his searching analysis of character, his sarcasm, and
They will set Agriculture again on iter legs ; ^ cynicism, M. Halevy seems to me to approach nearer to

(Butter, and eggs, and a pound of cheese.') \ Xhackebay than any other French author I can call to mind. He

' has the advantage over Thackeray in being also a dramatic author,
though I think his most successful pieces have been in collaboration
with M. Metlhac and others, as it usually takes from two to five
French authors to make a play of any sort, even an ordinary farce.
In this instance, M. Ltjdovic Halevy's story has been dramatised by
MM. Cremtetjx et P. Decourcelles.

" The Jodrell (late Novelty) Theatre" was announced to open this
evening. The Jodrell (late Novelty) is not a good title for a Theatre.
When a Novelty is late, it is no longer a novelty. This theatre ought
soon to be in vogue as curiosity may at first be aroused by some one
at a dinner-party inquiring of a friend across the table, "Are you
going to The Jodrell to-night?" or "Come to The Jodrell!* or
" Shall we Jodrell together this evening ? " Jodrell is a good word,
and may be used as a verb, as the Germans use " jodel."

Fancy a theatre called after the excellent Earl of Shaftesbury ! A
new meeting-house, a novel Exeter Hall, yes;—but a theatre! I should
as readily have imagined a French Theatre called after Bossuet, or
an English one after Jebemy Collier. But as some one has some-
where said before, and more than once, I believe, "What's in a
name ? " Jack en" the Box.

Sosgs without Woeds.—From The Musical World (whose critic
by the way politely observes that it would be '' ungracious to quarrel"
with the Savoy librettist for calling his plot " new and original" after
taking its essence from Maritana,—but would it have been "un-
gracious to quarrel" with Sulbeet had the Opera been by two writers
called Sulbert and Gilltvan ?) we learn that Sullivan's Mikado is
now being performed daily at a Danish Circus at Stockholm. " No
words are given," but it is " acted and danced." Of course it is un-
preoedentedly successful. Why not try this plan on alternate
nights with the Beefeater's Bride; or W. S. Merryman and his
Merrytana f The arrangement would draw enormous houses, con-
sisting of those who, having once heard the words and music
together, would like to hear again and again Sir Arthur's charming
melodies alone, and see the pretty dresses and the mise en scene.