DOUBLE ACROSTIC.-No.. 104. THEY meet in the West in a well-known hotel, And what they do there daily papers will tell; They talk with much energy, work with a will, And mayhap may contrive us a Bankruptcy Bill. 1.-There was something in her manner, there was something in her face, That will hardly bear explaining, some most subtle charm and grace; 2.-I strolled adown the garden walk, I had one arm around her waist, 3.-Fling out our banner to the wind, I warrant that the foe shall find We saw the beacon flare yestreen, We joyed to see the light; We'll think on battles that have been, And win another fight. 4.-MR. BOUNCER called a parent by a short and curious name, Had the gentleman been silent he had been this all the same. 5. She never will bother with serious matters, She dresses, undresses, and endlessly chatters, Each tender, low and whispered word; 7.-If ever on billiard-playing you look, You'll see a thing talked of as "crow" or as "fluke;' 8. When the child had a cold On the delicate tips Of her fingers she roll'd This, and rubb'd on its lips. infinitely better than usual-it does not contain a photographic bungle of so-called English realities by an American. "The Genesis of the Cad" is an excellent paper, which traces the genealogy of the offensive animal to the music-hall "comique" in the most conclusive manner. "Sunniside Gardens" is a quaint bit of observation; and "Dr. Trusler's Maxims" is very funny-chiefly for its quaint cutsthough the writer seems unnecessarily hard on the poor Doctor's composition. "The Legend of St. Valentine" would not be so bad if its poet's efforts had not broken down at the last couplet:"And though they're somewhat changed by time, Cupid and old St. Valentine." That's enough to set one's critical teeth on edge for a month! As for the illustrations, there's something wrong with them always— either the artists don't give the engravers time enough, or the engravers don't give the artists time enough. THIS evening-by which I mean on the 3rd March, when these lines will be in the hands of the public-MR. ROBERT BUCHANAN will give his second reading at the Hanover-square Rooms. The selection is a good one, and those who had not the opportunity of hearing him on the first occasion should not fail to avail themselves of this opportunity. Those who were at the first reading are, I fancy, pretty sure to go to the second. I MEANT some time since to make a note of a controversy going on in the Times about hospitals and dispensaries, their uses and abuses. I was particularly struck with the letter of DR. O'CONNOR, whose fourteen years of experience at the Free Hospital give his opinion more than ordinary weight. His argument is that the hospitals and dispensaries, by establishing the health of the poorer classes-which, as he justly observes, is the personal concern of the rich-contribute largely to the public welfare. This is at once true and telling, for it appeals to selfishness to support these charitable institutions, and selfishness will gladly do so in self-defence. There is another great argument in favour of the hospitals-they form the schools of the medical profession, where the widest and deepest experience is learned for the benefit of the human race. It is in the hospital ward that the knowledge is acquired which may bring relief and recovery to the homes of thousands, so I say heartily with DR. O'CONNOR that I hope nothing will cause the withdrawal of public support from institutions whose value to the public health is incalculable. I MAY note here, for the information of the Girl of the Period, and those who are philosophically curious about her and her surround-. ings, that MR. HOTTEN bas issued a new edition of his Slang Dictionary, having no doubt found it necessary to add to it considerably in order to keep pace with the times. I would suggest as a good appendix a SOLUTION OF ACROSTIC No. 102.-London, Relief: Liver, Ode, Novel, history of the street-sayings, from the very ancient and remote Disraeli, Ore, Nockemort. COBRECT SOLUTIONS OF ACROSTIC No. 102, RECEIVED FEB. 24th:-Dalziel College; Knockalla; Braden Ulton; Suffolk Dumpling; Nuf; Another Pompadour Mashed Turnips; G. and N., Norfolk; Bo-galay; Lucretia Mc T.; R. A. H; Tiddy Sweet's Chick; J. O. P.; Con; Romanelli; Johnas; George and Aline; Pimlico Tom Cat; Linda Princess; Ted at B's; Three Rosella Parrots; Lechuza; Ruby's Ghost; D. E. H.; East Essex; P. L. A. T.; H. G. E. OUR FUN-DONE LETTER. A NOTHER attempt is about to be made to establish English Opera in England. MR. GEORGE PERREN has come forward to save us from the disgrace of having no national opera. A West-end theatre has been secured for the venture, and a good company got together. MR. PERREN, one of our favourite tenors, will do his duty with energy, as he always does, and give us a good article. If he be not supported as he deserves by the public, the disgrace will be a national one. For while England can support two foreign operas, she has no home for her native art. GHOSTS-especially ghosts of very early saints-ought not to rush rashly into print. The other day MR. BRIGHT alluded at Fishmongers' Hall to a certain "REV. EPHRAIM CYRUS"-So say the reports of his speech. News of this, or perhaps a copy of a paper (which certainly, under the circumstances, might lay claim to the boast of the "most extended circulation"), seems to have reached Hades, and accordingly the revered ghost of the departed saint wrote to the Standard to say that his name was "" 'Ephræm the Syrian (Syrus)." Alas, poor ghost! there was no short-hand reporting in his day, and so he was not aware that his name, correctly given by MR. BRIGHT (who had probably but recently worked up the allusion, and was not likely to blunder), might very easily indeed be metamorphosed by stenography. THE new number of Tinsley's Magazine is the first since MR. YATES has ceased to edit the periodical: but I am bound to say it does not appear to suffer by the loss of his services. In one respect it is "There you go with your eye out," down to the latest (at this present writing), "I'll have your hat." It would be curious to learn whence such phrases take their rise, and how long their vitality lasts as a rule. NOT GUILTY; OR, "A PARTY BY THE NAME OF JOHNSON." ACT I. SCENE 1.-The Bar-Gate, Southampton (1847). SERGEANT discovered with Recruits, and ROBERT ARNOLD, a locksmith, and TRIGGS, a lawyer's clerk. Enter JOHNSON, a scene-painter. ROBERT. That mysterious man again! Why does he dog my path? JOHNSON (to himself).-On second thoughts, no! [Exit JOHNSON, bowing apologetically. SERGEANT.-Come, Robert, I have enlisted everybody in Southampton except you. ROBERT.-I will. [Enlists. Enter POLLY, a barmaid. POLLY.-As to-morrow is Good Friday, and I shan't be wanted till Easter Tuesday, I'll just pop on a bonnet and shawl and run over to India. [Exit. Enter SILAS JARRETT, a beggar. SILAS.-A nice line of life this for a man who has played at Homburg. Enter MRS. ARMITAGE, in great woe. MRS. A. (to SILAS, as an eligible person to confide in).—My child is dying for want of necessaries. Give me some money. SILAS. No. Get out. Enter ROBERT. [Exit. ROBERT.-Mrs. Armitage? In tears? Take this fiver! [Gives note. MRS. A.-Bless you! Bless you! [Faints. ROBERT.-She has fainted! [Carries her off, leaving basket of tools behind him. Enter SILAS. SILAS.-A basket of tools ? (Examines them.) A bunch of skeleton keys! I will commit a burglary, then away to India. [Commits a burglary (only it isn't a burglary, for it's daylight) on MR. TRUMBLE's house, and exit with many thousand pounds. Enter MR. TRUMBLE. MR. T.-Hurrah! I have been appointed trustee for all the inhabitants of Southampton during their temporary absence in India! (Sees indications of burglary.) Robbed! Ha! ha! ha! ha! [Exit, senseless. SCENE 2.-MRS. ARMITAGE's garret. MRS. ARMITAGE discovered tending sick child. Enter JOHNSON, Tableau. MRS. A.-That inscrutable creature again! What-what can he want with me? Avaunt! JOHNSON (to himself).-Ah, another time! [Exit, bowing apologies. MRS. A.-The child is dying of fever, so I will take it out for a walk. [Does so. Enter SILAS JARRETT. SILAS (pursued).-If I can only continue to escape over the tiles al! may yet be well. [Leaves basket of tools on table, and escapes over tiles. Enter Soldiers and Police, meeting ROBERT ARNOLD. SOLDIERS.-Where is the burglar? Ha! [They seize him. ROBERT.-What would you? SOLDIERS.-You are our prisoner. For burglary. happy-go-lucky time of it Convicts have, and that penal servitude in its JACK SNIPE (to ROBERT ARNOLD, who is working out a sentence of penal (They rise, and try to kill their Warders. The Warders, with a fine faith in the virtue of an emblem, show them their staves. The Convicts do not quail. The most diabolically disposed of the Warders feels that a time for decisive action has arrived, and fires his rifle in the air. The Convicts are convinced of their error and apologise. The Warders beg they won't mention it. Tableau of reconciliation. But JACK SNIPE, the Comic Convict, and ROBERT ARNOLD, the Serious Convict, have escaped.) ACT III. SCENE 1.-Bhurtpoor. (Ten years have elapsed.) Ladies and Gentlemen discovered. Enter JOHNSON. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.-Wherever we go this mystic one follows us? What can he want? JOHNSON (to himself).—All well, so far-but I am premature! [Exit, bowing apologetically to Ladies and Gents. Enter MISS ALICE ARMITAGE (the child who was dying of fever in the first act.) MISS A. (in high animal spirits).—I hear there is going to be a mutiny. Oh, I should so like to see it! SCENE 2.-Interior of somebody's Bungalow. Enter JACK SNIPE and TRIGGS, a Comic Person. (Great comic scene between JACK SNIPE and TRIGGS, apropos of that lark, the Indian Mutiny, which is going on outside. But there is no ballet, my lord.) SCENE 3.-A deserted Battle Field. Enter a CAPTAIN WILLOUGHBY, meeting JOHNSON. CAPT. W.-This man again! It is too much. [Commits suicide. JOHNSON (to himself).-Poor fellow. But it was necessary to my scheme. Still I am sorry for him. [Bows apologetically to corpse and exit. Enter SILAS. SILAS.—Ha, a corpse! Strange, he is wonderfully like me! I will his clothes, and pass myself off as somebody else. [Does so, modestly, behind a plantain leaf. Enter the BRITISH ARMY. THE B. A. (to SILAS).-Hail, Captain Willoughby! [They salute him. ACT IV.-Oakfield Grange, near Southampton. SILAS JARRETT discovered. Enter JOHNSON. SOME OF THE AUDIENCE.-Hiss! SILAS.-Take him away and chain him at the wing. [They seize him. JOHNSON (to himself).—Ha! Baulked! Then my scheme must needs ripen without me! [Exit, in custody. assume JOHNSON appears furtively on deck. [Bows apologetically to Steersman, and exit. SILAS (in cabin).-It is convenient to be able to remove the stern of the vessel when the cabin becomes stuffy. It looks more dangerous than it is, for there is still a gauze curtain between the cabin and the raging dust without. MR. ST. C.-Ha! Counting money? I'll help you! (Picks up a note from the floor.)-Hullo, this note is mine!-I handed it over to Mr. Trumble before I left. Villain! [Collars him. Enter all the Crew, who have been listening at the keyhole. SILAS breaks from them. SILAS.-You think you are sure of me, but you do not know the resources of a really ingenious man. I will fling myself into the gale and swim to Plymouth! [Does so as an agreeable alternative to a possible conviction for breaking into a dwelling house. ACT II.-The Quarries at Dartmoor. CONVICTS discovered at work. CONVICTS (gloomily).—Our punishment is severe enough without his [Enter MR. ARNOLD. Enter MISS ALICE ARMITAGE. MR. ST. C.-Not so. Here is a free pardon for him for his amusing The |