The drivers thinking, as before,
That GILPIN rode a race.

And so he did--and won it, too,
For he got first to Town;
And, stiff and sore, at the House door,
Bare winner, he got down.

Now let us sing, Long live the QUEEN,
And GILPIN, long live he!
And when he next doth ride due North,
May we be there to see!

* * * * *

A GOOD STAYER.--From the _Times_ of Tuesday, the 12th, we cull this:--

IN ANY CAPACITY of TRUST.--Seven years in first-class Turkish
Bath. Patience and perseverance. Good invalid attendant.
Active and attentive.

"Seven years in a Turkish Bath!" As Mr. WILSON BARRETT would
exclaim, "How long! How long!" What better example of patience and
perseverance, which, as all know, are "good for the gout," could
possibly be given? That after this long stay in the Turkish Bath, he
should be "a good invalid attendant," goes without saying. And not
only is he "attentive," which is a great point in an "attendant," but
he is also active--and this after so long a stay in a Turkish Bath, of
which, however, he does not mention the temperature.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE POLITICAL JOHNNY GILPIN.

(_THE FINISH_.)

"SO LIKE AN ARROW SWIFT HE FLEW BACK SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE THRONG, WHO
SHOUTED LOUD, 'HE YET WILL WIN! JOHN GILPIN'S GOING STRONG!'

"AND SO HE DID--AND WON IT, TOO, FOR HE GOT FIRST TO TOWN; AND, STIFF
AND SORE, AT THE HOUSE DOOR, BARE WINNER, HE GOT DOWN."]

* * * * *

[Illustration: "COLOURABLE SHAKSPEARIAN IMITATION."

_Othello, M.P. for Central Finsbury_ (_saluting Sarum, Doge of
Westminster_). "HAPLY THAT I AM BLACK--" [_Doge shudders, but feels
unable to withdraw._]

* * * * *

OPERATIC NOTES.

_Wednesday_.--Crowded for WAGNER's _Goetterdaemmerung_, "which," says
the _Rev. Mr. Penley_, who "doesn't like London," "is such an awful
name, that fond as I am of music, I really could not go and see it."
As to WAGNER, well, "it's all right when you know him, but you've got
to know him fust."

Herr ALVARY excellent as _Siegfried_; Herr WIEGAND powerful; ditto
the wide-awake Herr KNAPP. Frau KLAFSKY, a beautiful and interesting
_Bruennhilde_; and it is difficult to be personally interesting in a
Wagnerian Opera, where _ensemble_ is everything. Fraeulein HEINE and
BETTAQUE, equally good.

Herr MAHLER was "called," with the rest of