Punch: Punch (100.1891)

May 23, 1891.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 245

but in a moment I was with them, and his hairy throat was in my
clutch. Quickly he turned upon me and fain had 'freed himself.
Oar breast-bones cracked in the conflict, his arms wound round and
round me, and a hideous gleam of triumph was in his face. Thrice
he had me off my feet, but at the fourth close I swayed him to the
right, and then with one last heave I flung him on his back, and had
the end of it, leaving him dead and flattened where he lay.

Chapter Y.

Then gently I bore my Marian home, and mother greeted her
fondly, saying, "Miss Mtjffet, I presume?" which pleased me,
thinking it only right that mother should use ceremony with my
love. But she, poor darling, lay quiet and pale? scarce knowing her
own happiness or the issue of the fight. For 'tis the way of women
ever to faint if the occasion serve and a man's arms be there to prop
them. And often in the warm summer-time, when the little lads and
lasses gather to the plucking of buttercups and daisies, likening
them gleefully to the gold and silver of a rich man's coffers, my
darling, now grown matronly, sitteth on the tuffet in their midst,
and telleth the tale of giant Spldeb and his fate.—[the end.]

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

One of our " Co."—and the Baron may observe that, when " Co." is
written it is not an abbreviation of " Coves"—has been reading Sir
George (Bentley), a Novel, which Mrs. Hennieur has the courage

to put forth in one volume.
At the outsetj the writing
is a little slipshod. Mrs.
Hennteer has, moreover,
a wild passion for the
conjunction. When she can't
summon another "which,"
she sticks in a " that." On
one page appears the follow-
ing startling announcement
—" The March winds this
year were unusually biting,
and her nervous guardian
would therefore [why there-
fore F] never allow her to
walk out without a res-
pirator, till they blew no
longer from the East." "We
assume that, as soon as respirators blew from the West, this injunc-
tion would be withdrawn. But, as Mrs. Hennieer gets forward in
her story, the style improves, " which's" disappear as they did in
Macbeth? s time, and the tale is told in simple strenuous language.
Uncle George is a character finely conceived, and admirably drawn.

The Baron returns thanks to the publisher, W. Heinemann, for
sending a volume of De Quincey's Posthumorous Works. A small
dose of them, taken occasionally the last thing; at night, may be con-
fidently recommended to admirers of The Opium Eater, and will
probably be found of considerable value to some who hitherto may
have been the victims of insomnia. Highly recommended by the
Faculty. {Signed.) Baeon be Booe-Woems & Co.

EVENINGS FROM HOME.

At the Court Theatre, Le Feu Toupinel, adapted for the English
stage as The Late Lamented, is decidedly funny, that is, if you can
once get over the idea that all its humour depends upon the im-
moral vagaries of an elderly scoundrel, an habitual criminal, who
has departed this life in the odour of respectability, without his im-
moralities ever having been discovered. Had he been found out
during his lifetime, he would have been tried for bigamy, convicted,
and punished accordingly. This piece has been adapted from the
French for the English stage ; but, query, is it adapted to an English
audience ? That's the point. The run must decide. If the best
possible acting can carry it along, then that it has got; for, though
Mrs. John Wood has frequently had better chances, yet she has
never worked harder, and never has she more deserved the laughter
she excites. The same may be said of Mr. Standing and Miss
Fileippi, and also of Mr. Arthur Cecil, whose make-up is perfect,
especially the dressing and colouring of his hair, which is an artistic
triumph. Mr. Gilbert Fabqtjhab's Mr. Fawcett, the Solicitor,
contributes much to the fun of the scenes in which he appears with
Mrs. John Wood ; and Mr. Cape, as Parker, the Confidential Ser-
vant, is excellent. There's plenty of " go " in it, but will it " stay " ?

Great attraction at the Lyceum! The Corsican Brothers and
Nance Oldfield! Ellen Tebby as Nance is delightful. Chorus,
Gentlemen, if you please, "For—all our fancy, Dwells upon Nancy ! "
Onr Ellen is charming in this, so natural and so theatrical: her-
self as Nance, and then as Mrs. Oldfield, the actress, in the
characters that Nance assumes. For 'tis Ellen playing Nancy,
and Nancy again playing Tragedy and Comedy. It is an old

piece revived: there never was so old a piece, for there are only four
characters in it, and they're all Old. There are two Oldfields and
two Oldworthys. Mr. Wen man as Oldfield Senior, or the Old
Obadiah, is a trifle too blusterous, but on the other hand, I am not
prepared to say that a country attorney of that period wouldn't
be uncouth and blusterous. His son Alexander, the Young Obadiah,
is prettily played by Mr. Gobdon Cbaig, who is a trifle too wind-
miily with his hands and arms ; but in the whole play nothing
becomes him so well as the pathos of his broken-hearted exit. He
was touching and going. Henceforth, this young actor may justly
describe himself as of the "Touch-and-go" school, and be", like
"the livin'skeleton" mentioned by Sam Wetter, "proud o' the
title." Miss Kate Phillips as Anne's sister—though, as Mr. J. L.
T-le "observed, as she is younger than Anne, she cannot well be
her Anne-sister—is as bright and lively as need be, considering her
menial position, which is rather odd in her sister's house. Yisit
Mistress Nance Tebby ; you '11 find her very much " at home " in the
part, After which The Corsican Brothers revived, Ghost and all.

When some years ago the Irvingesque version of it was produced,
the twin who lived in Corsica, Brother Fabien, used to behave
in the wildest Corsican way. Who that saw it some years ago does
not remember how he used to chuck his gun up in the air, when
it caught on to a hook in the wall! with what gusto he used to

The Corsican Brothers and Nance Oldfield at the Lyceum.

light a tiny cigarette from an enormous flaming brand snatched
from the burning wood fire on the hearth! and how badly the
starving guest from Paris fared in the Corsican household where he
hadn't a chance against the appetite of Master Fabien, who, after a
hard day's sport, came in ready for anything, and ate everything I It
was the only occasion when this fearless son of destiny ever " bolted."
But, my! how the food used to disappear! what a short time the
supper occupied, and how very much third best the poor stranger
came off under the hospitable roof of the Dei Franchis. Even
now the supper is a brief one, but justice is done to it, and to
the weary traveller. Never was such an unhappy tourist!
He comes to a house in the wilds of Corsica; he is choke-
full of Parisian gossip, he has a lot to say of course, but he
never gets a chance, as Fabien tells him family stories one after the
other, as if he hadn't had such an opportunity or so good a listener for
ever so long. Then, when on the entrance of his mother Fabien
breaks off in the middle of one of his many anecdotes, which
evidently can't be told before ladies, the Parisian gent, who now sees
something like an opening for some light Boulevardian chit-chat,
is presented with a flat candlestick and bowed off to bed, without
being allowed a word to say for himself. All this is just the same
as ever ; there have been no alterations nor repairs; the piece is as
curiously old-fashioned as are the exquisitely correct costumes ; while
the Masked Ball at the Opera and the Duel in the snow are as effective
as ever, and the latter, if anything, more so. They make a first-rate
fight of it, do Messrs. Irving dei Franchi and M. Terriss de Chateau
Renaud, until the latter collapses, and " subsequent proceedings inter-
ested him no more." As long aa the strong right arm of the Corsican
Brother can draw a good and shining rapier, he will draw as good
and brilliant a house as he did on the first night of this revival.
Why ought this piece to go well in the first theatre in Ireland ?
Why ? because it 'a a great play for Doublin'. Exeunt omnes.

The Epidemic.—Up to now Members of Parliament have been
generally considered as " influential personages." This year many
M.P.'s will be remembered as " very influenzial personages."