Alas, our poor Age! How against it we rage!
In the seat of the scorner the critics ne'er sat more.
If the pessimist bore would master her lore,
We've only to send him to Coventry--PATMORE!
The bards do not love it. But how to improve it?
That question the poets, like that of the Sphinx, shun.
Distinction my lad? If the Age is so bad,
I think its "great lack" is not that, but _extinction!_
'Tis easier far to abuse it than mend it,
Must we try MORLEY'S other alternative--end it?
* * * * *
A MUSICAL NOTE.--Such has been the success of Mlle. YVETTE GUILBERT,
that, _on dit_ (French must be used when speaking of this _lionne
comique_), it is not improbable she will be engaged to appear in a
part in the forthcoming Sullivan Savoy Opera, in which the relation
of librettists to composer is to be as two to one. If this be so,
then once more at the Savoy will there be a Sullivan-and-Guilbert
Combination.
* * * * *
"WHITAKER."
[Mr. JOSEPH WHITAKER, founder and chief proprietor of
_Whitaker's Almanack_, died on the 15th May, aged 75.]
Gone! His praises to rehearse
Might engage a friendly verse.
Time, for whom he did so much,
Surely dealt with gentle touch
With this man, of lucky star,
Who the famous calendar,
Schemed on an ingenious plan,
Gave to ever-grateful man.
Millions now would feel the lack
Of the wondrous Almanack.
To adapt BEN JONSON'S phrase
To a worthy of our days,
One might say of our lost brother,
Death; ere thou hast slain another
Good and useful as was he,
"Time shall throw his dart at thee."
* * * * *
CHAMPIONS.--Sir EDWARD GREY, M.P., ought to be a great acquisition at
a dance if his prowess as a tennis champion is any indication. "The
power with which he often finished the ball" was recently highly
praised. His opponent, Mr. GRIBBLE, seems a dangerous man among the
ladies, having at Cambridge "won the singles." Quite a Pasha among the
"Love sets!" But he could only take one single out of the singles he
won.
* * * * *
ODD.--"Doctor GREEF" is advertised to give three pianoforte recitals.
If his performance is equal to what we hear of his promise, then those
will experience considerable pleasure who "come to GREEF."
* * * * *
SMALL BUT HARMONIOUS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR SUMMER.--"The Shinner
Quartette."
* * * * *
[Illustration: WHAT OUR ARCHITECT HAS TO PUT UP WITH.
_Our Architect_ (_spotting Sixteenth Century gables_). "THAT'S AN OLD
BIT OF WORK, MY FRIEND!"
"OI, SIR, YEU BE ROIGHT THEER, THAT YOU BE!"
_O. A._ (_keen for local tradition_). "YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY _HOW_
OLD, I SUPPOSE?"
"WELL, NOA, SIR; BUT OLD IT BE! WHOI, I'SE KNOWED IT MESELF THESE
_NOINE_ YEARS!"]
* * * * *