Punch (99.1890)

120 PUNCH, OS THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [September 6, 1890.

mustang) he had ridden into the heart of the hostile position, and
with one stroke of his Pen (a sort of Russian scimetar with a jewelled
hilt) he had captured a convoy containing three thousand Vents (a
sort of condensed food), intended for the consumption of the opposing
Army. Tired with his labours, he was now lying at fall length
beside his Imperial host on the bankB of the torrential Narva. The
Czab, in attempting to open a Champagne bottle, had just broken one
of his Imperial nails, and had despatched his chief butler to Siberia,
observing with pleasant irony, that he would no doubt find a oork-
screw there. At this moment a tall and aristocratic stranger,
mounted upon a high-spirited native Mokeoffskaia, dashed up at full
gallop. To announce himself as Lieutenant-General Popoff, to seize
the refractory bottle, to draw the cork, and pour the foaming liquid
into the Imperial glasses, was for him the work of a moment. That
stranger was I. In recognition of my promptitude, the Czae has
conferred upon me the Stewardship of the Vistula Hundreds, with
the command of a division of the TeomanofE Cavalry, the most
distinguished horse-soldiers in Europe.

The German Empebob was equally impressed. His Majesty smiled,
and, turning to General Capbivi, told him to consider himself hence-
forth under my orders for everything that concerned the peace of the
world. I could see that Capbivi did not relish this, but I soon made
him know his place, and when I threatened to send for Prince
Bishabck—who, by the way, has granted me the unique honour of
an interview— he became quite cairn and reasonable. On my way
home, I called in on Prince Febdinand of Bulgaria, who offered me
his Crown, telling me at the same time that he intended to take a
course of German Baths. He said I should find Stambouloee a very
pleasant fellow; "but," he added, "you've got to know him first."
I, of course, refused His Highness's offer, and accepted instead the
Cross for Valour on the Field of Battle. I then hurried off to Servia.
King Milan informed me that, if I wished to take a Queen back
with me to England, he would dispose of one very cheaply. Having
advised the Regents as to the best method of governing the country,
I departed for Roumania. The Queen of Rotjmania welcomed me as
a literary man. She writes all the Roumanian sporting prophecies
in verse. The King invested me at once with the Stonibroku Order
in brilliants, with the lohu Clasp for special promise shown in con-
nection with turf literature. I may assure you in confidence that
there will be no war for the next week or two. This result is entirely
due to me.

Do you want to hear about the St. Leger? I need only say that my
own Surefoot has brought me Alloway Heaume. Whilst in Russia I
heard about plenty of Serfs, but they were not saints. Anybody
who proposes to wear a Blue-green waistcoat on the Queen's Birthday
ought to eat Sainfoin for the rest of his life, and be taken Right
Away. Finally, if The Field is to Memoir as a window-sash is to a
Duchess's flounces, what chance has a crack-brained Bedlamite of
munchiD g potatoes in St. James's Palace ? Answers must be posted not
later than Monday. All prizes genuine. No blanks.

Yours as always, Geneeal Pofoee.

FROM THE FRENCH—AND THE ENGLISH.

Captain Therese, Comic Opera. Music by Robeet Plahotette,
composer of Paul Jones and Les Cloches de Corneville. Book by
Messrs. Bisson and Bttenaud ; Gilbebi aBeckett assisting in

the lyrics. The Carl Rosa Company,
......-- Dbtjbiolano Impeeatobe, wouldn't

wait for the production of an Opera
in Paris in order to bring it out here
with the French cachet, but deter-
mined to have one done all for
themselves, and to bring it out here
first. So the French author began
it, the English one finished it, and
the Composer wrote music for
original French and original Eng-
lish words. It is an international
Opera; a new departure, and in
the Operatic world an important
one. It answers a question which
was once the question of the day,
"Why should London wait?"
London, represented by Sheriff
Dbubiolattos, did not wait, and
was served immediately with Cap-
tain Therese, produced Monday the
25th, at the Prince of Wales's
Theatre; and the gratitude of Lon-
> ""■* don has justified the generosity of
Ra-ta-Plan, Ra-ta-PIan-quette! a^ concerned behind the curtain,

and in front of the house. Even in
August the five million odd of those left in Town can appreciate
good music, capital acting, magnificent dresses, and perfeot mise-en-

scene. The Prince of Wales's Theatre has a reputation for level excel-
lence in Comic Opera—it is the speciality de la maison, and the new

"' Ashley's 'Revived!"

lyricalfpiece isTa'Tworthy'successor to Dorothy, Marjorie, and Paul
Jones. As Captain Therese, Miss Attalete Claibe reminds mature
playgoers of that " such a little Admiral" that was irresistible many
years ago. She is bright, clever, and, above all, refined. Miss
Phyllis BeougtHtoet makes up
for rather a weak voice by great
strength in dancing, and Mr.
Habby Monkhotjse is genuinely
comic. Mr. Heney Ashley,
always conscientious even in his
mirth, at the end of the Second
Act, is suggestive of the Astley's
of the Westminster Road. Like
the piece, he is very well mounted.
Madame Amadi is also excellent,
a genuine lady-comedian—or
should it be comedienne f Then
there is Mr. Joseph Tapley, a
capital tenor, and Mr. Hayden
Coffin, silver-voiced and grace- ,;,
ful, the beau ideal of the hero of a V
Light Opera company. For the \
rest, the chorus and band could \
not be better, and the production y)
is worthy of Deubiolanus, or, [/';'/
rather, Chaeles, his brother, and
also his friend. So Messrs. Bisson" ;
and Planquette, and their Eng-
lish collaborateur, may toast one
another, happy in the knowledge
that the entente cordiale has once
more received hearty confirmation S^1—
at the hands of the London public; '
they may cry, with reason. Vive " Flagging Energy."

la France ! and Hip, hip, Bbitaottia! feeling sure that, by their
joint exertions, they have obtained for the Anglo-Saxon race that
blessing to the public in general, and Theatrical Managers in par-
ticular, a lasting piece.

"Wedded to the Moor."

The sportive M.P., when the Session is done,

Is off like a shot, with his eye on a gun.

He 's like Mr. Toots in the Session's hard press,

Finding rest " of no consequence." Could he take less ?

But when all the long windy shindy is o'er,

He, like Oliver Twist, is found " asking for Moor.'"

Jots and Titles.—The busy persons who. in a recent Mansion
House list, had found quite "a Mayor's nest" in the highly import-
ant question of a Cardinal's precedence, have recently started another
scare on discovering that the Ex-Empress's Chaplain at Chislehurst
has described himself, or has been described, on a memorial tablet
which he had put up in his own church, as a "Rector." Evidently
a mistake. If he erected the Memorial, he should have been
described as " The Erector."

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