On Monday Miss GRACE HAWTHORNE produced _Theodora_ at the Princess's Theatre with some success. It cannot be said, however, that Mlle. SARA BERNHARDT has at length found her rival, but, for all that, the heroine of the moment might have been worse. "SARDOU'S masterpiece" (as the programmes have it) was very well staged. The scenery and costumes were excellent, and great relief was afforded to the more tragic tones of the play by entrusting the heavy part of _Andreas_ to Mr. LEONARD BOYNE, who is a thorough artist, with just the least taste in life of the brogue that savours more of the Milesian Drama. Mr. W. H. VERNON was the _Justinian_ of the evening, and looked the Lawgiver to the life; although I am not quite sure whether a half-concealed moustache was quite the fashion in the days of the Empire. Mr. ROBERT BUCHANAN, the adapter of "the masterpiece", introduced several nineteenth century expressions into the dialogue. In the "home of the Gladiators", it was quite pleasant to hear people talking of a "row", and made one wish to have a description of "a merry little mill", in the language of the sporting Press. No doubt, the length of the performances was the reason why so racy a narrative was omitted. For the rest, there are some thirty speaking parts--a good allowance for a play consisting of six Acts and seven _Tableaux_. A "Masterpiece" (in English) is better than a feast, for it is enough--for a lifetime. Believe me, yours faithfully,
From a Fasting Man to a Sandwich Man. Useful to Advertisers.]
A STIRRING POLE.--A more stirring pianist than PADEREWSKI, who played on Friday afternoon at St. James's Hall for the first time in England, has never been heard. The report that he is a Polonised Irishman needs confirmation. The name is suspicious. But there are no sound reasons for supposing that the first two syllables of PADEREWSKI'S name are simply a corruption of the Hibernian "Paddy."
CLASSIC MOTTO FOR THOSE WHO SELL AS THE GENUINE ARTICLE TEA UNDER A FALSE BRAND.--"_Nomine mutato fabula narratur de Tea._"
MRS. R. wants to know if she can ascertain all about the Law of Libel, &c., in the works which she contemplates purchasing of WALTER SAVAGE SLANDOR.
_A New Departure, or the "Give-'em-a-hand-all-round" Wrinkle._