ruck mute by the Muse of Dumb-Show.
That "actions speak louder than words" we all knew;
But now we may add, "and more gracefully, too."
_Performances_ fine _Punch_ has praised in his day,
But how few take the _pas_ of the _Promise_--of MAY!

* * * * *

"NATIVE RACES AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC."--An important subject strangely
omitted at the recent meeting of this Society was "The Consumption of
Champagne on the Derby and Oaks Days." The Duke of WESTMINSTER will
take the earliest opportunity of rectifying this error.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A BLEND.

_The Wine Merchant_ (G-SCH-N). "I'M AFRAID SOME OF OUR OLD CUSTOMERS
WON'T LIKE IT AT FIRST; BUT, WITH A LITTLE PERSUASION, I THINK I CAN
GET 'EM TO TAKE TO IT KINDLY."]

* * * * *

JOKIM THE CELLARER; OR, THE BLEND.

AIR.--"_SIMON THE CELLARER_."

'Cute JOKIM the Cellarer keeps a large store
Of choice Party Spirits, d'ye see;
Scotch, Irish, and who can say how many more?
An eclectic old soul is he.
But mainly in "Blends" he is good, dark or pale,
For he knows without them his best bottlings may fail;
But he never faileth, he archly doth say,
For he well knows what tap suits the taste of the day.
And ho! ho! ho! his books will show
He oft taps the barrels of Brummagem JOE!

JOE sits all the time in his own still-room,
And a taster clever is he.
'Tis in vain that his enemies kick up a fume.
And swear he is half a Torie.
But there are sly meetings upon the backstair.
And watchers say JOE is oft gossiping there.
Now JOE distrusts someone who's Grand, and who's Old,
And says that he _must_ be kept "out in the cold."
And ho! ho! ho! old JOKIM doth know
That many a flask of his best comes from JOE.

'Cute JOKIM keeps blending JOE's taps and his own;
Though knowing harsh rumours are rife;
And Brummagem JOE is oft heard to declare,
Their partnership _may_ last for life.
And JOKIM says, "some call Brum JOE a bad chap,
But they'll soon learn to relish the taste of his tap,
And while I may Brummagem JOE call my friend,
I _think_ I shall customers find for our 'Blend.'"
While ho! ho! ho! he'll chuckle and crow;
"What, turn up Brum JOE, my boys? No! no! no!"

* * * * *

OPERATIC NOTES.

_Monday, May 4_.--ZELIE DE LUSSAN's _Carmen_ is abou