, is going to favour us with
a little volume of "new sayings by old worthies" at Christmas time,
and we shall hear how SHERIDAN once asked TOM B---- "why a miller
wore a white hat?" And how ERSKINE, on hearing a witness's evidence
about a door being open, explained to him that his evidence would be
worthless, because a door could not be considered as a door "if it
were a jar," and several other excellent stories, which, being told
for the first time with the _verve_ and local colouring of which the
writer of the letter to _The Times_ is evidently a past-master, will
secure for the little work an enormous popularity.

* * * * *

A SCOTT AND A LOT.--"Thirty Years at the Play" is the title of Mr.
CLEMENT SCOTT's Lecture to be delivered next Saturday at the Garrick
Theatre, for the benefit of the Actors' Benevolent Fund. Thirty years
of Play-time! All play, and lots of work. Mr. IRVING is to introduce
the lecturer to his audience, who, up to that moment, will have been
"Strangers Yet," and this CLEMENT will be SCOTT-free to say what he
likes, and to tell 'em all about it generally. "SCOTT" will be on the
stage, and the "Lot" in the auditorium. Lot's Wife also.

* * * * *

ETHER-DRINKING IN IRELAND.--Mr. ERNEST HART (bless his heart and
earnestness!) lectured last week on "Ether-Drinking in Ireland." He
lectured "The Society for the Study of Inebriety"--a Society which
must be slightly "mixed"--on this bad habit, and no doubt implored
them to give it up. The party sang, "_How Happy could we be with
Ether_" and the discussion was continued until there was nothing
more to be said.

* * * * *

CLERGY IN PARLIAMENT.--As Bishops "sit" in the Upper House, why should
not "the inferior clergy" "stand" for the Lower House? If they get in,
why shouldn't they be seated? Surely what's right in the Bishop isn't
wrong in the Rector?

* * * * *

LITERARY ADVERTISEMENT.--The forthcoming work by the Vulnerable
Archdeacon F-RR-R, will be entitled, _The Pharrarsee and the
Publisher_.

* * * * *

[Illustration: "TRAIN UP A CHILD," &C.

_Enter Fair Daughter of the House with the Village Carpenter_. "MAMMA,
YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT KIND HEARTS WERE MORE THAN CORONETS, AND
SIMPLE FAITH THAN NORMAN BLOOD, AND ALL THAT?"

_Lady Clara Robinson_ (_nee Vere de Vere_). "CERTAINLY DEAR,