Various

“ In their unavoidable absence the Cap'en, contrary to his custom, offered a few remarks. It had been just as well if he had omitted the preliminary one. He really did not mean anything, much less did he desire deliberately to offend his friends Bartley, Butcher, and Byrne. But, as the poet remarks, Evil is wrought by want of thought, and the invidiousness of Tommy's remark lost nothing of sting because he had not intended to hurt anyone's feelings—except, of course, those of Squire of Malwood, and that is a legitimate occupation. ”

“ Elaine. "If it's not very lively," observes Sir Augustus beforehand, "still it must be remembered that I have not only at heart the interests—and in pocket the interest—of Covent Garden, but also of 'Drear Elaine.' Should it prove a joyous opera and attract the people, then I shall consider it as an example of 'Drawer-Elaine' at Covent Garden. ”

“ Cap'en omitted details; but House gathered that his friend the apothecary was, like Romeo's, meagre of looks, worn to the bones by sharp misery. This condition engendered by circumstance that he had been brooding in his needy shop, among the green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds, remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, upon fact that whilst there are surgeon-majors in the Army, there are no apothecary-majors. On behalf of his absent friend, Tommy demanded an explanation from Secretary of State for War. ”

“ Thursday.—Looked in after dinner just now; startled to find Hanbury on his legs, with bit of dirty white rag held out in both hands towards Treasury Bench. Not many Members present; those on Liberal side vociferously cheering. Cawmell-Bannerman looking in better temper even than usual; which was strange since Committee on Army Estimates been at it since four o'clock, and only one vote passed. Woodall, only other occupant of Treasury Bench, been shewing how a man may smile and smile, and be a Financial Secretary to the War Office. ”

“ Nothing is now done without a "motive." It may be a good motive, or a bad motive, or an inadequate motive, or an indifferent motive; but motive there must be with our most modern school of composers, who, adopting the Wagnerian idea, (not in itself a purely original one,) and improving on it, attribute less importance to the "Act" than to the "motive," though by a reflex action the scheme of the Act suggests, organises, and it may be added, orchestrates the "motives." L'Attaque du Moulin is a practical example of this theory. It is not styled an opera but a lyric drama in four acts. ”

“ Tommy then beat him by fourteen, and promises to be equally ahead in the current Session. The Cap'en hitherto had peculiar advantage, seeing that for many weeks he has been, so to speak, cruising in home waters. Having been brought up on legacy tax, teethed on death duties, Tommy surprised himself and the House with the command he displayed over intricacies of Budget Bill. Hanbury then fell behind. Now, with House in Committee on Army Estimates, he can show Tommy a clean pair of heels, a spectacle in which that eminent and able Marine may or may not take keen personal interest. ”

“ Punch,—There are so many lives of the great Napoleon being published nowadays that one might fancy the former ruler of France must have been as many-careered as a cat. Still, it may be interesting to your readers if I give a few particulars of the great man that have not yet appeared in print, if I except the pages of your own immortal volumes. ”

“ Cossira, excellent as the escaping prisoner, bore so strong a resemblance to the Director of the Fortunes of Covent Garden and Drury Lane, that people looked twice at their programmes in order to be quite sure that an apology for the singer had not been made, and that the much-talented Sir Druriolanus had not, at the shortest possible notice, consented to be his "remplaçant." Mons. Albers, as the German Captain, ought to be in receipt of a very large salary, seeing "how wide he opens his mouth" when singing. ”

“ Madame Delna is forcibly dramatic, true, but not powerful as a singer, at least in Covent Garden. Nor is there in the character of this Maid of the Mill any such great opportunity whereby to test the power of the actress as there is in the part of Santuzza, or of Anita in La Navarraise. Madame Delna may be all that enthusiastic reporters have said she is, but she must have a great deal of power in reserve, for the display of which this opera does not offer the chance. ”

“ I am glad to hear you say so, my dear, because I'm also expecting the pleasure of seeing the author here, and you will probably be his neighbour to-night. I hope, Bertie, that you will remember that this young man is a very distinguished genius; there is no wit that I can discover in making fun of what one doesn't happen to understand. ”

“ Punch, by way of example, a perfectly clean plate of metal, apply to it the hand of a skilled etcher, say of Professor Hubert Herkomer, R. A., and the result will be brightly luminous, and what is more, it will last, and its bright luminosity will increase with age.
Vive Rosebery!—The owner of Ladas celebrated the Derby triumph with an entertainment to the Epsom Poor of the Union Workhouse, all Unionists, of course, which makes the Premier's Ladasian horse-pitality still more noble. ”

“ In the present unparalleled depression of the matrimonial market, what we want is a constant supply of nice, eligible young men from the University "brought home to our very doors," as they say about culture and the people. We cannot all live in garrison towns, and what are two or three curates among so many? ”

“ The flesh is weak, especially when there is a good deal of it, and the thermometer stands at 82° in the shade. The Squire has snapped occasionally, Jokim's apologetic figure, upright at opposite side of table, proving unfailing, irresistible, incentive. ”

“ Lady Culv. I've no reason to believe that Lady Cantire ever composed any poetry. I was only going to say that she was most interested in the author, and as she and my niece Maisie are coming to us this evening——
Miss Spelw. Dear Lady Culverin, the verses are quite, quite beautiful; it was only the way they were read. ”

“ As there are many of us, and as we each take our individual view, result somewhat chaotic. Good thing if in comparative leisure of week end we think over how the Budget Bill was passed, and what would have happened if we had worried the Squire into going one of our diverse ways."
Business done.—Budget Bill.
Tuesday.—Enter the apothecary. It was Cap'en Tommy Bowles who brought him on. The last person in any one's mind. House in Committee on Army Estimates; Hanbury to the fore. ”

“ Anarchist Attempt on a Well-known Bridge.—After several failures, the Hampton Court Bridge was shot yesterday evening by a young man, supposed to be an Anarchist, whose name and address remain a profound secret, as, owing to his having taken his outrigger by the hour, and, having paid his shot, there was no excuse for his detention by the assistants in charge of the boats. ”

“ Still, cannot withhold the tear of pity as the hapless man stands clutching at the extended white flag which announces his capitulation, his entreaty for pardon, his promise of better conduct in future.
[pg 24] Ask Sark if he won't say something for the doomed man. Sark, in language not to be here repeated, explains that things are not what they seem. Fact is, Hanbury has somewhere obtained (in what manner, Sark hints, may be matter for police inquiry) a portion of sheeting, the property of Her Majesty, supplied to soldiers. This he has brought down, intending to confound Cawmell-Bannerman. ”

“ Grant Allen and several other advanced politicians have started a new party, the members of which are to be called Isocrats, a title very similar to one coined by Coleridge for a society which he desired to found on principles of general equality.—Daily Paper. ”

“ Squire advised to resist; condemned from his own side when he yielded. But what happened? At quarter past ten to-night Bill recommitted in respect of this clause, and on stroke of midnight the whole thing was done with.
"We Liberals," said the Member for Sark, "always know better than our leaders. ”

“ Cawmell-Bannerman, a person of imperturbable temper. But there are limits to human endurance; now they seem to have been reached. This telegram Causton has brought in and handed to War Minister doubtless announces that all is ready; a file of soldiers waits on the Terrace; Hanbury will be seized, bound, carried forth, blindfolded, shot ”