These rival establishments only do harm to one another, spoil the public by indulging their taste for magnificent spectacle, increasing in gorgeousness every year, until true Pantomime will be overlaid with jewelled armour, crushed under velvet and gold, and be lying helpless under the weight of its own gorgeosity. We should question whether the Olympian BARNUM has done much good for himself, seeing how gigantic the expenses must be; and certainly he can't have done good to the theatres. As to Shows, "The more the merrier" does not hold good. "The fewer the better" is nearer the mark in every sense, and perhaps the experience of this season may suggest even to DRURIOLANUS to give the public still more fun for their money (and there is plenty of genuine fun in _Jack and the Beanstalk_), with less show, in less time, and at consequently less expense to himself, and with, therefore, bigger profits. We shall see.
"Mr. GLADSTONE desires that ALL LETTERS, &c., should be addressed to him at 10, St. James's Square, London."--_Standard, Jan. 25._
Why should "all letters" be addressed to Mr. GLADSTONE? Isn't anybody else to have any? How about Valentine's Day? Will "_all letters_" be addressed to him then? If so--then the above Illustration conveys only a feeble idea of the result.]
_Fair Hostess_ (_to Mrs. Masham, who is looking her very best_). "HOWDYDO, DEAR? I HOPE YOU'RE NOT SO TIRED AS YOU _LOOK_!"]
[Illustration: THE FINISHING TOUCH; OR, PREPARING FOR MR. SPEAKER'S PARTY.
Ah! he's ready now, thanks be! But a plaguier child than he I am sure we Nusses three Never dressed. But at last we have got through; Well-curled hair, and sash of blue! Yes, we rather think he'll do, Heaven be blessed!
Ah! the awful time it took! Never mind; by hook or crook We have togged him trimly. Look! There he stands! His long wailings nearly hushed, Buttoned, pinned, oiled, combed and brushed, And his tight glove-fingers crushed On his hands.
Does us credit, don't you think? How the chit would writhe and shrink, Get his garments in a kink Every way! Awful handful, hot and heady, Shuffling round, ne'er standing steady, Feared we'd never get him ready For the day.
Mr. SPEAKER'S Party,--yes! Hope he'll be a great success; His clean face and natty dress _Ought_ to please. But there'll be no end of eyes On his buttons, hooks, and ties; Prompt to chaff and criticise, Tear and tease.