sings like a Dicky-Bird. Cathedral Scene magnificent. Rites are wrong,
probably; but these are trifles, except to strict ritualists. Skating
Scene not up to date; it was a novelty once upon a time, but rinks
have done for it. There was an unrehearsed effect in the Prison Scene,
when the walls collapsed--the imprisoned Madame RICHARD escaped, and
the Curtain descended. Nobody hurt. The walls, which had fallen,
like those of Jericho, to the sound of the trumpet, were put away
carefully, for alteration and repairs. The prisoner, issuing from
her narrow fire-escape, was recaptured, and the Opera ended with the
Drinking Scene, the Prophet among the Peris, a peri-lous situation,
which makes the Opera go, at the climax, "like a house-a-fire." Burns
Justice is done to the Impostor, and, at a late hour, we call our
cabs, and return to hum "_beviam_" over "a modest quencher."

_Saturday_.--BOITO'S _Mefistofele_. Strong combination. Excellent. But
big "waits" made it heavy.

* * * * *

AN AGRICULTURAL TRIPOS.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION PAPER.

1. A field is ploughed three years running. Can it still have a shy
at its little go? Examine this, and say all you know about "PIERS, or
PEARS, the Ploughman." Did he use his own soap?

2. How do you extract the square of a Beet-root? In connection with
this, say how much it will take to square a "Swede?"

3. Explain the use of the "Sewing-machine" for agricultural purposes.
What do you mean by "going against the grain?"

4. You plant a field of corn. What plaster do you adopt when it begins
to shoot? Also give the best remedy you know for _corn in the ear_.

5. Write a Sentimental History of the Harvest Moon. Is it really twice
as big as any other moon, or does it only look so, after drinking the
landlord's health several times over?

6. To what _gourmet_ giving a dinner-party in January is attributed
the historical saying, "_Peas_ at any price"?

7. How many black beans will make five white ones? Given the number,
explain the process, and solve the equation.

8. What pomade do you recommend for "top-dressing"?

9. What would be an M.P.'s first step towards squaring a circle of
Agricultural Voters?

* * * * *

SAD STORY.--A painter, who had on several occasions aspired to a place
in the Chantrey Collection, and invariably been refused, on being
encouraged to launch a fresh venture, and spread his canvas, which