At the house of NAT LANGHAM young men were taught how to use their hands
skilfully years agone; at the home of _the_ LANGHAM their hands are
trained with equal care and discretion, with a different end in view. At
the former they were excited, at the latter they are soothed. The
spirits of the last are finer, if less ardent, than those of the first.
Friday cannot be unlucky, for all their sketches are produced on that
proverbially unfortunate day. A subject is given, and in two hours, over
pipes and coffee, it is completed. Marvellous these rapid acts of
sketchmanship! The Impressionists nowhere! The result? Well, go to the
Gallery, 23, Baker Street. Look at the collection of pictures--on the
two hours' system--by Messrs. STACEY MARKS, CALDERON, FRED WALKER,
HODGSON, CATTERMOLE, B. W. LEADER, CHARLES KEENE, E. HAYES, H. MOORE,
VICAT COLE, FRANK DICKSEE, E. DUNCAN, C. J. LEWIS, F. WEEKES, CARL HAAG,
and other clever gentlemen, and see if _Mr. Punch_ is not right in his
commendation. The Langham Sketching Club has existed over half a
century, and this is its first public exhibition. Ah! well, it is never
too late to mend.
* * * * *
The Winter's Tale at the Lyceum.
There's a charm in her innocent glances,
A charm in her step when she dances,
For _Perdita_, "nary
A one," like our MARY,
The sweetest of Sweet Willum's fancies.
To those who may not have heard it, a
Chance most distinct will be _Perdita_.
So, see now, we say,
MARY ANDERSON play,
You'll regret, when too late you've deferred it, Ah!
* * * * *
The Latest and Best from Berlin.
The Crown Prince was reported last week to be decidedly better. May it
be so, and so go on. "His Imperial Highness," wrote the Correspondent of
the _Standard_, "continues to express the fullest confidence in Sir
MORELL MACKENZIE." And _Mr. Punch_, in the name of all Englishmen who
are uninfluenced by any feeling akin to professional jealousy, "says
ditto," to the Crown Prince. _Prosit!_
* * * * *
Mrs. R. is astonished that the English do not name streets and places
after the names of their great Poets and their works. She says she only
remembers two exceptions; one was a _Hamlet_ in the Country, and the
other was _Wandsworth_; the latter being so called after the Poet who
wrote _The Excursion_,--probably, she thinks, a cheap excursion to this
very spot, which is within a cab-fare of town.
* * * * *
The Third Edition of Mr. FRITH'S Recollections is now out. We hear it is
dedicated to Archdeacon SUMNER, and that the motto selected is the
nautical quotation, "Port it is!"
[Illustration: ON THE WRONG SCENT.
LORD SALISBURY, M.F.H. "CONFOUND THOSE YOUNG HOUNDS!--THEY'RE TAKING A
LINE OF THEIR OWN!!"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: PIG-HEADED ATTACK ON THE IMMORTAL BARD.]
* * * * *