186 Town Talk. BY THE SAUNTERER IN SOCIETY. FUN. HERE are likely to be some changes in things dramatic. As in the old game of "Family Coach," when that vehicle is named, all the players have to jump up and change seats, so in the theatrical world, at times, there comes a general shifting of places; and it is as then. The Adelphi, Olympic, and Holborn Theatres appear to be those where the chief changes will take place. The Dramatic Fete takes place next Saturday, and will no doubt be largely attended. I wish I could honestly say that I hope it will succeed; but I have long had my doubts whether the benefit the charity derives from the bazaar quite repays the cost of candles. I fear the profession somewhat endangers its position by doing what it does once a year at Sydenham. At any rate, the ladies have to submit to a very great deal British snob is always rampantly odious when he gets a chance of that is disagreeable, for the seeing an actress off the stage. I trust this hint in season may repress him slightly, and shall be very glad if it does, for we of FUN owe a debt of gratitude to the dramatic profession for the kindly aid it has lent us in the performance for the benefit of MRS. GRAY. Actors and actresses have given valuable time, and taken great trouble in the cause. Managers have kindly placed their theatres at our disposal, and, last not least, MR. ROBERT SOUTAR has done unwearied service as stage-manager-no easy task with a large troupe of amateursand MR. WALLERSTEIN arranged the music at short notice most admirably. THE Sheffield revelations have taken everyone by surprise, and must not be taken as an example of what all Trades Unions would do. The Sheffield saw-grinders were exceptionally unfortunate in falling under the despotism of a man like BROADHEAD-one of the most un-English and ignorant creatures possible-a fellow only fit to herd with Leicestersquare assassins, and utterly unsuited to represent the British working man. Of course I don't forget that the Societies adopted his crimes by silent acquiescence, but one should remember how great the influence of one such active mind would be over an Association compelled to leave much of its work to be done by the discretion of a busy leader. It is to be hoped the Commission will do good, and that the germs of real usefulness to be found in Trades Unions will be fostered, and the ill weeds that choke them removed. I SUPPOSE the hot weather has affected the magazines this month, for they do seem-well, a trifle weak. The Cornhill has an exceptionally good drawing by MISS EDWARDES, who is better engraved than usual. MR. LAWSON'S illustration is pleasing in conception, but is spoilt in the execution. The "Classics in Translation" reads most pestilently like MR. HANNAY, and is, I need not say, thoroughly good-a delight to all who love the English, as well as the Old World classics. MR. MATTHEW ARNOLD is didactic, but occasionally forgets to be grammatical in his learned thesis. London Society seems a good number. There are some clever drawings (notably to the "Servants' Registry"), but Miss CLAXTON might have had the care, not to say honesty, to adhere to the times specified in the "Twenty-four Hours of the Season" she is supposed to illustrate. Her drawing is scarcely as artistic as a map; it might, at all events, be as accurate. Some lines entitled "Only a Year Ago are very charming. The Sunday Magazine sustains its position. Good Werds boasts a delightful picture, by PINWELL, of a quiet bit of beach and sea beyond. The Argosy-well, I do miss my "Shoemakers' Village," and am accordingly consolate. Magazine has a capital coloured picture this month, is light in tone, ROUTLEDGE'S Boys' and agretable.Le Follet and the Gardener's Magazine are as full of valuable information for their respective publics, as usual. HORNSEY certainly requires its Hornet to sting some of the parochial [JULY 13, 1867. people into a sense of decency. Only the other day the body of a poor fellow who was found drowned there was left in the beadle's front garden by the police, because they could not prevail on anyone to receive it for the coroner's inquest. It is surprising to think that such indecent ignorance and want of feeling should exist within so short a distance from London-in remote parts of the country we might expect to meet with it. Apropos of the Hornet, I see that the Wimbledon Earwig is again spreading its wings to the gale of popular favour. No doubt the visit of the Belgian volunteers will supply its pages with plenty of fun. The numbers in which our Belgian friends propose to tain our hospitable invaders properly, for the Reception Committee come form a subject for alarm:-not that I fear our ability to enter drain on the little kingdom that I cannot but think it fortunate that have secured MR. GEORGE DOLBY's services, but there will be such a he might be tempted to try annexation. Wimbledon will be as densely "a certain Imperial party" has his hands full with his Exhibition, or populated as ever this year, I hear. The weather seems likely to be peculiarly favourable. Indeed, lately the clerk of that department has been unusually obliging. There has been a splendid time for the hay harvest, and now the rain has come not a bit too soon to refresh the earth, and give the green things new vigour. is an umbrella-when it's a "Sangster." MOTOOTLER says that the next most musical thing to a fiddlestick, LOGUE. .-Holloa, my gallant young Cantat is a-vorming up towards you, so for and triumph, so for to speak! May speak-rest upon your flaxen heads! here, old man, you've been having Hast thou not prophesied, through Oxtabs? LAS LEFT QUITE ALONE. ever been, from comparatively middle phesy, that moment the people go and my selection. I shall go aside-they -I shall go aside, and I shall have-so wine. NICHOLAS AND A GLASS OF SHERRY- of sherry-wine is brought to NICHOLAS ICHOLAS gazes at it. They approach the glass of sherry-wine in his brawny It is not the first which he has done so. SCORE. end! Such is what I put it down to. DIALOGUES voice, to the Oxford Eleven).-Hullo, my ye not know the aged man? THE PART OF THE OXFORD Eleven. ground! MR. DIGBY.-Kick you, if you say! don't! MR. HILL. You really had better move! MR. MILES.-My dear Friend! NARRATIVE. Sservations, also at the top of his voice, to the y gallant young Cantibonians! Dost ye dacious ereature! MR. mortal! ABSOLOM. MR. Srow. Well, you know, MR. BRUNE.-Right you are! RESULT. The cordial and encouraging reception which NICHOLAS met with from the Oxford Eleven was such (as it will be seen above) that he immediately prophesied as they would lose the match; which they did; and which it will be seen as the few young gentlemen which were civil to NICHOLAS on the side of the Cantabonians were likewise the most successful in the match. Always be civil to NICHOLAS. MORAL. ADDENDUM. NICHOLAS. The Old Man have a really good thing for the Derby of 1868. N.B. THE SORROWS OF MAYBURY. Could Mus. MELLON be ever refused? These were the days when "The Strand" could afford for us Popular PATTY and Merry MARIE, When near an obstinate counter was stored for us, These were the days when 'twas easy to walk about Now if we visit the scene of vulgarity, Left to the snobs who still haunt it in throngs, Can we experience any hilarity, Pestered by music-hall singers and songs? Still we can think of the cause and can sigh for it, What we can do for it, we are perplexed, We should do wrong to let Maybury die for it; Tell us, though, what can we do-but be vexed? And I stole a kiss-another Then another-then a lot. "Fie!" she said, "I'll tell my mother." When a party who dislikes me 'Tis an empty phrase, it strikes me, Not since Disappointment schooled me, Of the promises that fooled me In my green and gushing youth. Roses in Crystal. THE rose show at the Crystal Palace was as good as could be hoped for this year. But frost and blight have done such damage that the flowers were scarcely as fine as they were expected to be. But it was a treat to see how admirably the sort of anteroom behind the boxes, erected for the Royal visitors to the concert in aid of the re-building fund, had been decorated by MESSRS. CARTER, the company's florists. French taste could not have suggested anything more graceful, and the flowers which surrounded the central fountain were admirably arranged, and looked fairy-like in the subdued light shed through the velarium. No wonder the Royal visitors lingered here until they had to be informed that their presence was waited for, and the second part of the programme could not be begun until they returned to the boxes. In short, they were dew when they were on the flowers. A Fly Note. YOUNG CREEL, who is a devoted follower of the gentle art, tells us |