tterness of spirit. "If we'd divided half an hour ago we should
have had majority of 25; a quarter of an hour ago, ten minutes ago,
five minutes ago, sixty seconds earlier, we'd have won. But those
Irish Shylocks must have their pound of verbosity. Couldn't resist
temptation of putting an extra question, even for certainty of
defeating Government. When they're once started on subject of
shadowing, they go off by the hour."

"Well, never mind," said GORST; "you know it isn't the first time in
history that men have sacrificed the substance for the shadow."

_Business done._--The Government's--very nearly.

_Friday._--HOME SECRETARY in the Dock; Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT, Q.C.,
instructed by Mr. HENRY FOWLER (Messrs. CORSER, FOWLER, & LANGLEY,
Wolverhampton), prosecuted. Prisoner, who was accommodated with a
seat, conducted his own defence. After long consultation, Jury could
not agree, and were discharged without a verdict.

_Business done._--Metropolitan Police Vote agreed to.

* * * * *

THE OPERA-GOER'S DIARY.

_Monday._--_Carmen._ ZELIE is the accepted _Carmen_ this season--no
better; and MAGGIE MACINTYRE as _Michaela_, which, being an awkward
name to pronounce, might be abbreviated to _Mickie_. DAN DRADY the
Dramatic, excellent as _Escamillo_. One singer in a season plays many
parts, and one part is played by several singers. How would a theatre
succeed conducted on this plan, so that the same play should be
produced on certain nights with a different cast? Here is DAN DRADY,
for example; he plays _Escamillo_, tragi-comedy, one night; another
time he is the noble _San Bris_ in _Les Huguenots_; another, he
is _Figaro_ the loquacious _Barber of Seville_; another, he is the
devil-may-care gallant _Don Giovanni_; and, though best in serious
parts, he is good in all of them. On other occasions, when _Carmen_
is given, the cast will be changed; some other singer will represent
_Escamillo_, or someone will replace MAGGIE as _Mickie_; RAVELLI the
Reliable will have been _Don Jose_ once, and then MONTARIOL or YBOS
(why Boss? Can't yet make this out), or even JEAN DE RESZKE may
represent the nincompoop soldier. Suppose _A Pair of Spectacles_, with
a change of cast, Mr. HARE out of it occasionally, and Mr. ... Ah!
there's the difficulty, Mr. Who, taking his part. Imagine _Faust_
without IRVING as _Mephistopheles_. What a big Company it would
require! No; better leave well alone.

[Illustratio