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OUR POCKET-BOOK AGAIN.

R

EVENINGS FROM HOME.

THE next evening TOMMY was dressed in an unusual style elegance every article of his attire was of the most exquisite en every species of ornament that fashion permitted to decorate t person was his; not a stud was omitted, nor was one drop, less that necessary, of india-rubber-boot-polish forgotten that could teni render his toilet perfect. And, indeed, neither MR. BARLOW L HARRY were far behind him in appearance on this memorable oc. 1sion, which was nothing less than that of their first visit to t ROYAL GRECIAN THEATRE, in the City Road.

Here, from their stalls (which were remarkably inexpensiv being, indeed, only one shilling and sixpence each) they survey.. the wonderful sight which presented itself to them, of a ho densely packed from the floor to the ceiling.

The Pantomime was the only piece played, and was enti Zig-Zag, the Crooked. When MR. GEORGE CONQUEST, who repr sented Zig-Zag himself, first appeared, as if hewn out of the ro inanimate as the Sphinx, a thrill of astonishment ran throug the audience, which gradually showed itself in vehement appla.. when Zig-Zag's fearful eyes began to move, as at the command the Young Prince, the monster became endued with life and de scended from the rock.

Tommy. I declare this is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw Harry. Indeed, you are right, and I could not have conceiv anyone being at once so hideous and so diverting.

Presently there was a brilliant scene, in which there were som admirable selections from the works of various composers, principa. French, executed in a manner so creditable to the performers, as: call forth from MR. BARLOW the remark that he had heard noth: better of its kind in any Theatre this year. When MR. CONQUES and his Son leaped several times from the stage to the top scen ("which" MR. BARLOW informed his pupils are termed flies" and tumbled through trap-doors, coming up again so quickly, and so great a variety of places all over the boards," that the audier was in a state of constant excitement as to what next might be goi: to happen; and when finally Zig-Zag took such a header, as HAR had seen the big boys at school do, when they were going to dive: chalk eggs, from the flies right through the stage, and was lost all eyes, then the enthusiastic admiration of MR. BARLOW and b young friends knew no bounds, and they evinced their pleasure, did the rest of the company, in such rounds of applause as brough on MR. CONQUEST and his Son, without their wigs and false noses to bow their acknowledgments.

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T

EALLY, greatness has its multifold inconvenience. Falstaff wished that his name were not so terrible to the enemy, as he should then be less urgently called upon to go and fight. Mr. Punch wishes that his works were not so universally attractive, as he should not then have to answer so many questions about them. He has actually had to receive a Deputation upon the subject of his splendid and unparalleled Pocket-Book for 1872. It appears that certain improvements which he introduced into the volume have given the most enormous and outrageous satisfaction to the majority The following night they went to the GATETY to witness the parof mankind, and that the demand for the book has been excessive-formance of MR. TOOLE in Dearer than Life, which MR. BARL almost inconvenient. But a minority of excellent persons, who hate had seen before, and in Thespis, the Christmas novelty at the all kinds of changes, have complained that by taking out certain theatre. blank pages, he has prevented the complainants from embalming Tommy. If you please, Sir, what sort of piece is this? their own observations by the side of his preternatural wit and Mr. Barlow. Indeed, my dear TOMMY, I cannot exactly te humour. As aforesaid, a Deputation on the subject approached the And it is nearly impossible for an ordinarily well-instructed pers presence last Saturday. Mr. Punch, of course, listened with his to comprehend the precise meaning of any one subject on whi usual affability. The strong points of the applicants were, that they those who should know best are apparently disagreed, and who, had been accustomed for years to write their own biographies and consequence, signally fail in rendering their own meaning intelligib.. engagements in the sacred volume, and that the record of their lives in the public. thus became nearly imperishable, as no one in his right senses would ever destroy a Punch's Pocket-Book. They therefore humbly begged him to restore the old form.

Mr. Punch smiled, and gently said that of course he must be the best judge of what his friend the Universe required at his hands, and this proposition was conceded with respectful acclamation. He might just suggest that his Pocket-Book, although a precious jewel, was not a thing to be locked up in a cabinet, but one to be the light and joy of a household for a year, but it might not be so evident that personal entries, as "Charles very cross ""Sweet letter from Arabella," "Bless Smithson's mistletoe!" "I hate Aunt Popkins," "Said I had not dined at Greenwich:" "Ridiculous sermon by new curate," and the like, were equally adapted for the perusal of the said household. Such things might be confided to a humbler receptacle. But the pleas being renewed, without reference to the answer (we need hardly remark that most of his visitors were of the sex that can't argue, and pokes fires from the top," as good ARCHBISHOP WHATELY said) Mr. Punch blandly promised that the views of the deputation should receive the utmost consideration at his hands. And when he had thus spoken he dismissed the assembly-or rather conducted it to a sumptuous, yet

delicate lunch.

66

Duties and Imposts.

Important Notice to Travellers.-Any person arriving from the Continent is permitted to clear his throat at the Custom House free of all duty.

Harry. That is true, Sir, and I perceive that you have notice: how, at various times, this same piece has been announced as s "Musical Extravaganza," an "Operatic Burlesque," a "Grotesqu Drama, illustrated with music by MR. SULLIVAN," a Comic Opera, and lately an English Opera Bouffe. As perhaps next week it m be styled a Tragicomicopera, or some other title, I would like, Sr to join TOMMY in his question as to what you suppose this piece real to be ? Mr. Barlow. Why, then, for my part, I suppose it is intended for a specimen of English Opéra bouffe.

Harry. And what, Sir, is Opéra bouffe?

Mr. Barlow. It is a French burlesque-a vehicle for extrava gances in costume, in acting, and in singing. It is in one, two, three or even five Acts, and differs from the English burlesque in that it written in prose, and depends mainly for its success upon the origina music written for it by some composer, instead of on selections fro various popular sources. In this piece, for example, the dialogue think we may, therefore, suppose this piece to be an English Opér prosy-I mean in prose-and the music has been written to suit it bouffe.

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ters these worthy people represent who are trying their best :Tommy (during the First Act). I do not understand what charac divert us.

MR. BARLOW, who had been giving the play his closest attention. seemed to be unable to enlighten his pupil, and requested him to listen to what was going on, and occasionally refer to the programme, by which means he would probably arrive at some definite co clusion.

Harry. Truly, Sir, this piece reminds me of what you told m

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about NEWTON's Laws of Motion, and I look forward to being very happy and lively to-morrow morning.

Mr. Barlow. I am glad to hear it, HARRY. But how do you connect such a result with the Laws of Motion?

A Harry. Because, Sir, you told me that "Forces acting and reacting are always equal and contrary to each other." So, Sir, after this night is over, we may fairly expect a most exhilarating reaction. TOMMY was so much struck by this fresh instance of HARRY'S capacity for adapting his learning to whatever circumstances might present themselves, that he determined to learn the science of mechanics on the very first opportunity.

The audience continued to listen to the piece with a serenity which nothing could disturb, except the occasional appearance of MR. TOOLE, who gave utterance to such quaint drolleries, of his own introduction, as sent the people into short spasms of laughter, in which MASTER TOMMY most heartily joined, while MR. BARLOW applauded as loudly as the rest of the company. But HARRY, whose temper was not quite so pliable, could not conceal the weariness that was gradually creeping over him. He gaped, he yawned, he stretched, the even pinched himself in order to keep his attention alive, but all in vain. He managed to rouse himself twice; once when MR. TOOLE was singing an additional verse to his song (where, indeed, the accompaniment, consisting of railway noises, would not let him sleep), and once when MADEMOISELLE CLARY was exercising her eskill in a rather pretty melody. But at length the narcotic influence of the dialogue, conspiring with the opiate charms of the music, he could resist no longer, but insensibly fell back upon his stall, fast asleep. This was soon remarked by his neighbours, who straightway conceived an unfavourable opinion of HARRY'S breeding, while he, in the meantime, enjoyed the most placid repose, undisturbed by either the envious remarks of some among the audience, or by the nudgings administered to his elbow by his friend TOMMY; and, indeed, his slumber was not entirely dissipated until the performance was finished.

Harry (on their return to their Lodgings). Your remarks, TOMMY, to-night remind me of the story of Polemo and the Continuous Highlander

MR. BARLOW here made some excuse for retiring to his room; and as HARRY was on the point of commencing the story, TOMMY asked him to await his return, as he was only going to fetch his slippers, in order to sit and listen more comfortably to his friend's narrative. HARRY consented to wait for him, but, at the end of two hours, as TOMMY did not return, he retired to his own room, and soon fell asleep.

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