sic that catches the ear on a
first hearing as did "_The Three Little Maids_," or "_I've got a Song to
Sing O!_" but it is all charming, and the masterly orchestration in its
fulness and variety is something that the least technically educated can
appreciate and enjoy. The piece is so brilliant to eye and ear, that
there is never a dull moment on the stage or off it. It is just one of
those simple _Bab-Ballady_ stories which, depending for its success not
on any startling surprise in the plot, but on general excellence, may,
especially on account of the music, be safely put down on the
play-goer's list for "a second hearing."

CHRISTMAS BOX.

[Illustration: George Grossmith on his own Hook.]

* * * * *

RUSSIAN ART.

From _The Morning Post_, last week, we learn that the Russian Imperial
Academy of Arts, has passed a law prohibiting Jews to become members of
its artistic body. By the Nose of _Mr. Punch_, but this is too bad, and
too bigoted for any century, let alone the "so-called Nineteenth." If
such a rule, or rather such an exception, could have been possible in
England within the last twenty years, what a discouragement it would
have been for all the Royal Academicians, who would thereby _have lost
Hart!_ Dear good old SOLOMON! He was a poor HART that often rejoiced,
and if he was not the best painter in the world, he was just about the
worst punster. We hope to hear that our Royal Academicians, with their
large-hearted and golden-tongued President at their head, will send a
friendly expostulation to their Russian Brothers in oil, and obtain the
abrogation of this unreasonable legislation, which is one effect of an
anti-semitic cyclone, fit only for the _Jew-ventus Mundi_, but not for
the world at its maturity.

* * * * *

"DOT AND GO ONE"--no, see _Dot_, and go several times
again to see our JOHNNIE TOOLE at his own Theatre,
before he leaves for the Antipodes. The good old farce
of _Toole in the Pigskin_ is well-mounted, and is, of
course, one of the pieces on which he will rely, as
especially appropriate to Horse-tralia.

* * * * *

[Illustration: FRESH TO THE COUNTRY.

_Young Lady._ "CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE THE MEET IS?"

_Butcher's Boy_ (_a recent importation from London_). "YES, MUM. I JIST
TOOK IT HUP TO THE 'ALL THIS MORNIN'!"]

* * * * *

THE