ALADDIN at the Alhambra is a genuine "Ballet Extravaganza," the story being told in pantomimic action, illustrated by M. JACOBI's sympathetic music. Aladdin was an excellent subject for Mr. JOHN HOLLINGSHEAD to take, though I venture to think that our old friend Blue Beard would be a still better one. The only fault I find with Aladdin is that it is too soon over. It certainly will take rank among most superb and the most dramatic spectacles ever placed on the Alhambra stage. Aladdin ought to have been made much Notes for the Storey of Aladdin, supplied by M. Jacobi. more of, as a sort of L'Enfant Prodigue. What a chance there would have been for him in games with the street-boys! Mlle. LEGNANI-SO called, of course, from the graceful facility with which she remains for BASQUEING IN A NEW LANGUAGE.-Much interest has been excited by the report that Mr. GLADSTONE, during his stay at Biarritz, used up his spare moments by studying the Basque tongue. AUTOLYCUS hears that, contrary to his usual habit, the Right Hon. Gentleman has in this matter an ulterior purpose. Occasionally, in the heat of debate in the House of Commons, Mr. ABBAHAM drops into his native tongue, and addresses the SPEAKER in Welsh. Mr. GLADSTONE, desiring to add a fresh interest to Parliamentary proceedings, will, in such circumstances, immediately follow the Hon. Member for the Rhondda Valley, and continue the debate in Basque. EVIDENT, "WHEN YOU COME TO THINK OF IT."-At what most patriotic moment of a most patriotic French exile must his feelings be most bitter?-When his love turns to Gaul. "TO BE CONTINUED." A Tale Continued in our Next. How eagerly those tales I While still Of of. years, tender murder strange, of Grange, But, at the most ceased the What rage was mine to meet the line, Sometimes, indeed, misfortune sharp The funds would fail, and so the tale Now, when I take a serial up, I cry, in accents vexed,- Ah well, the things we valued once (Remarks like these, if morals please, And should these verses but result In making you perplexed, You'll learn with glee they will not be "Continued in our next"! "Он, these Christmas Bills!" cried PATER"That's what I do," rejoined FAMILIAS. IMPEY QUNIOUS. "My sentiments and practice precisely-Owe these Christmas Bills' -and many others." you're as hard as nails, you are. My fingers are quite numb. Billy. Then work a way briskly. That'll warm 'e m! Snow's a bit less binding than I expected to find it. Result of the severe frost, I suppose. But peg away, and we shall podge into shape yet, JOHNNIE. it Johnnie. Ye-e-e-s! (Shivers). But whater-er-what pattern, or plan, or model, have we -that-is- -er have you-erdecided on, BILLY? Billy (winking). Well, that's as it happens, JOHNNIE! Remember the one we built in '86eh ? Johnnie (shuddering). I should think I did. Don't mean to say we're to go on those lines again, BILLY? Billy. I mean to say nothing of the kind. Many things have happened since then, JOHNNIE. For one thing, we've had heaps of advice. Johnnie. Hang it, yes! And where are the advisers? Standing been howling for for six years), because he fancies its head is likely to be a little too Hibernian for his Caledonian taste! Oh, they're a nice loyal, grateful lot, BILLY! And where are the Irish bhoys themselves, in whose interests we are freezing our fingers and nipping our noses? Standing off-and-on, as it were, bickering like blazes among themselves, and only uniting to land us a nasty one now and then-just to encourage us! Billy (patting and punching away vigorously), Loyal? Grateful? Ah, JOHNNIE, you don't understand 'em as well as I do. Cold has A DISTINCTION AND A DIFFERENCE. aloof and criti- Mr. Wilkins. "BEG PARDON, SIR POMPEY, BUT COULD YOU TELL ME WHO THAT YOUNG GEN'L'MAN cising our work IS YOU JUST TOOK OFF YER 'AT TO?" got on your liver. You're a brave boy, JOHNNIE, but just a bit bilious. Building Snow Men isn't just like arranging bouquets, my boy. Let them bicker, JOHNNIE, and listen to what they say! It may all come in handy by-and-by. We've had gratuitous advice and volunteer plans all round, from ARTY BALFOUR and JOEY CHAMBERLAIN, as well as HENRY. and TEDDY, and TIM and JOHN E., and the rest of 'em. Let them talk whilst we build, JOHNNIE. 'Tis a cold, uncomfortable job, I admit; and whether "friendly" advice or hostile ammunition will do us the most damage I hardly know-yet. Fierce foes are sometimes easier to deal with than friendly funkers. A Thunderer" in open opposition affrights a true Titan less than a treacherous Thersites in one's own camp. But, JOHNNIE, we've got to build up this Snow Man somehow, and some plan! on I only hope (entre nous, JOHNNIE) that a thaw won't set in, and melt -in advance. Sir Pompey (pompously). "HE'S NOT A GENTLEMAN AT ALL, WILKINS. HE'S A NOBLE LORD-it out of form and Where's that THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD VISCOUNT SPEEDICUTTS-A FRIEND OF MINE." bold, blusterous, Mr. Wilkins. "INDEED, SIR POMPEY! BUT, I S'POSE SOME OF 'EM 'S GEN'L'MEN, SOMETIMES?" bumptious Behe feature before it is fairly finished! [Left hard at it. moth, BILL STEAD? Knew all about building Snow Men, he did; had a private monopoly of omniscience in that, as in most other things, BILL had. And now he's licking creation into shape for six-in connection with the Panama scandals. Of course there can be GREAT consternation at hearing of the arrest of "M. BLONDIN" pence a month, and shying stones at us whenever he sees a chance. Little cocksure LABBY, too! Oh, he's a nice boy! If BILL about "Give him enough rope," &c. But BLONDIN never fell. It only one BLONDIN, and some wiseacres at once applied the proverb takes all Knowledge for his province, HENEY considers himself sole proprietor of Truth, and he lets us have Truth-his Truth every Villain of the Panama piece-if villain he turn out to be. BLONDIN was quite another BLONDIN. The Hero of Niagara was not the week at least-in hard chunks-that hurt horribly. All in pure is still performing; always walking soberly, though elevated, on friendliness, too, as the Bobby said when he knocked the boy down the rope that is quite tight. Maybe the rope gets tighter than ever to save him from being run over. Gr-r-r-r! Believe he's hiding at this jovial period, but BLONDIN, the BLONDIN, our BLONDIN's acts behind the hedge there, with a pile of hard snowballs to pelt our are in the sight of everybody, his proceedings are intelligible to all, Man out of shape as soon as we've licked him into it-if ever we do. TEDDY REED, too, he's turned nasty, though he does come from though far above the heads of the people. 'gallant little Wales;" and now here's WALLACE, the Scotch boy-though he was all right anyhow!-cutting up rough at the last moment, and complaining of our Snow Man (which they've all 66 STILL, whatever financial accident may have happened to M. BLONDIN, he has always kept his balance on the rope. you're as hard as nails, you are. My fingers are quite numb. Billy. Then work a way briskly. That'll warm 'em! Snow's a bit less binding than I expected to find it. Result of the severe frost, I suppose. But peg away, and we shall podge it into shape yet, JOHNNIE. Johnnie. Ye-e-e-s! (Shivers). But whater-er-what pattern, or plan, or model, have we -that-is-erhave you -erdecided on, BILLY? Billy (winking). Well, that's as it happens, JOHNNIE! Remember the one we built in '86eh ? Johnnie (shuddering). I should think I did. Don't mean to say we're to go on those lines again, BILLY? Billy. I mean to say nothing of the kind. Many things have happened since then, JOHNNIE. For one thing, we've had heaps of advice. Johnnie. Hang it, yes! And where are the advisers? Standing aloof and criti been howling for for six years), because he fancies its head is likely Billy (patting and punching away vigorously). Loyal? Grateful? got on your liver. You're a brave boy, JOHNNIE, but just a bit bilious. Building Snow Men isn't just like arranging bouquets, my boy. Let them bicker, JOHNNIE, and listen to what they say! It may all come in handy by-and-by. We've had gratuitous advice and volunteer plans all round, from ARTY BALFOUR and JOEY CHAMBERLAIN, as well as HENRY, and TEDDY, and TIM and JOHN E., and the rest of 'em. Let them talk whilst we build, JOHNNIE. 'Tis a cold, uncomfortable job, I admit; and whether "friendly" advice or hostile ammunition will do us the most damage I hardly know-ye t. Fierce foes are sometimes easier to deal with than friendly funkers. A Thunderer" in open opposition affrights a true Titan less than a treacherous Thersites in one's own camp. But, JOHNNIE, we've got to build up this Snow Man somehow, and some plan! Mr. Wilkins. "BEG PARDON, SIR POMPEY, BUT COULD YOU TELL ME WHO THAT YOUNG GEN'L'MAN moth, BILL STEAD? Knew all about building Snow Men, he did; |