(_ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF "THE MOUNTEBANKS."_)
Dear AIDA, good-bye; since it must be, it must;
Yet your slaves view your absence from Town with disgust.
For myself, I'd as soon live at Shipston-on-Stour
As endure life in London without our JENOURE.
Sprightly Mountebank AIDA, sweet Mistress of Arts,
You smiled as you danced yourself into our hearts.
And now from the Strand to the Vale of far Maida
There's only one chorus--"Come back to us, AIDA!"
_Les absents_, you know the old maxim, _ont tort_,
Wherefore dance yourself back, and be present once more.
* * * * *
NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS.,
Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no
case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed
Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.