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[Illustration: RANDOM ALADDIN.
HIS ADVENTURES IN MASHONALAND. AN ARABIAN NIGHT'S DREAM. SNOOZE NO.
1.]
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"OH, NO, WE NEVER MENTION HIM!"
[HER MAJESTY in the evening witnessed the performance of _The
Gondoliers_, a Comic Opera, composed by Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN,
in the Waterloo Chamber, by the Savoy Theatre Company, under
the management of MR. R. D'OYLY CARTE.--_From the Times Court
Circular, Monday, March 9._]
"A comic Opera, composed by Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN." Quite so. But where
does W.S. GILBERT come in? Let us see. After giving the programme, and
after giving all the characters and the supers, the words "_Dramatis
Personæ_" occur as an after-thought, and underneath are the names
of the Musical Director, Stage Manager, Wig Provider, &c., &c.
Well, "W.S.G." doesn't come in here. After the highly successful
performance, R. D'OYLY CARTE, says the _Times_ C.C., "had the honour
of being presented to HER MAJESTY, who expressed her warm appreciation
of the manner in which the performance was conducted." Did R. D'OYLY
think of mentioning that "the words" were by W.S.G.? And then it
is told how D'OYLY refused to take any payment for the performance.
Noble, generous-hearted, large-minded, and liberal D'OYLY! Sir ARTHUR
COURTLY SULLIVAN's name was to the Bill, and so his consent to this
extra act of generosity may be taken for granted. But what said Sir
BRIAN DE BOIS GILBERT? By the merry-maskins, but an he be not pleased,
dub me knight Samingo! Will D'OYLY be dubbed Knight? And what sort of
a Knight? Well, remembering a certain amusing little episode in the
more recent history of the Savoy Theatre, why not a "Carpet Knight"?
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A MERE SUGGESTION FOR NEXT TIME.--Last Tuesday, under the heading of
"To-day," the _Times_ announced that "at the Society of Arts Mr. J.
STARKIE GARDNER, as Cantor Lecturer, would discourse on 'Enamelling
and Damascening,' Professor H. HERKOMER being in the Chair." Our
excellent Bushian Professor was the right man in the right place,
being so interested in theatrical matters; but, at the same time,
wouldn't the lecture on "Damascening," or "How to Dam-a-scene," have
been more suitably given at the Playwreckers' Club, with Mr. JERUMKY
JERUM in the Chair?
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SONG OF THE BELLS OF RICHMOND.--"Turn again, WHITTAKER, First Mayor of
Richmond."
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[Illustration: A NEW SECT.
"AND IS THE NEW CURATE _MARRIED_, MRS. JENKINS?"
"OH NO, MA'AM. HE'S WHAT THEY CALL A _CHALYBEATE_!"]
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