I have also had time to read _An Exquisite Fool_, published by OSGOOD. MCILVAINE & CO., and written by Nobody, Nobody's name being mentioned as being the author. It begins well, but it is an old, old tale--BLANCHE AMORY and the Chevalier, and so forth--and as _Sir Charles Coldstream_ observed, when he looked down the crater of Mount Vesuvius, "There's nothing in it."
Most interesting is a short paper on "The Green Room of the Comédie Française," in the _English Illustrated Magazine_ for this month, pleasantly written by Mr. FREDERICK HAWKINS,--HAWKINS with an aspirate, not "'ENERY 'AWKINS" at present associated with "A CHEVALIER" in London. Mr. HAWKINS tells many amusing anecdotes, and gives a capital sketch of M. RENÉ MOLÉ. But the article would be damaged by extracts. Therefore, "_Tolle, lege_," says yours and everybody's, very truly,
SERGENT-DE-VILLE. "HA, M'SIEU!--_YOU_ HAVE YOUR DYNAMITERS UNDER LOCK AND KEY! TRÈS BIEN! _KEEP_ THEM!!"]
_First Jovial Cabby_ (_to Second Ditto_). "HI SAY, BILL, DID YER HEVER SEE SICH GUYS AS THESE 'ERE GIRLS MAKES OF THEIRSELVES? NOW, YE'D NIVER SEE A _MAN_ GO AND MAKE SUCH A RIDIK'LOUS HOBJICK OF 'ISSELF!!"]
(_What the heart of the young Vocalist said to the Anti-Tobacconist, after reading Mr. Charles Santley's sage observations on Singing and Smoking, in his new book "Student and Singer."_)
["Smoking is an art; it may be made useful or otherwise, according as it is exercised."--Mr. SANTLEY.]
Tell me not, ye mournful croakers, Smoking is a dirty habit. Brainless are ye, sour non-smokers, As a vivisected rabbit.
"Smoking is an Art," says SANTLEY; There is Beauty in the bowl. They who doubt it must be scantly Blest with sense, or dowered with soul.
_As_ an Art it claims attention; Study is the only way. Smoking skill, _not_ smoke-prevention, Is the thing we want to-day.
Art is long and smoke is fleeting; But puff on until you learn Good tobacco's not for _eating_! Pipe-bowls are not meant to _burn_!
Smoke without expectorating, Do not sputter, do not chew; Puff not as though emulating Some foul factory's sooty flue
Let not oily dark defilement Sting your lips; there is no need. Joy and care need reconcilement For enjoyment of the weed.
Trust no "Germans," buy no "British," Sound Havanas only smoke! "Lady Nicotine" is skittish, Penny Pickwicks are no joke.