Frankly, we are disappointed in Mr. Pinero's new play, _Little Arthur_, produced at Wyndham's last week. It treated of the old old theme--the love of the hero for his nurse. To be quite plain, this stale triangle, mother--son--nurse, is beginning to bore us. Are there no other themes in every-day life which Mr. Pinero might take? Could he not, for instance, give us an analysis of the mind of a young genius torn between the necessity for teething and the desire to edit a great daily? Duty calls him both ways: his duty to himself and his duty to the public. Imagine a Wilkins in such a scene! The popular editor of the "Nursery," whose unrivalled knowledge of children causes him to be referred to everywhere as our greatest playwright, is a little at sea in his latest play, _Rattles_. In the first act he rashly introduces (though by this time he should know his own limitations) two grown-ups at lunch--Mr. Jones the father, and Dr. Brown, who discuss Johnny's cough. Now we would point out to Mr. Crouper that men of their age would be unlikely to have milk for lunch; and that they would not say "Yeth, pleath"--unless of Hebraic origin, and Mr. Crouper does not say so anywhere. Mr. Crouper must try and see something of grown-ups before he writes a play of this kind again. We regret to announce that Cecil Tomkins, _doyen_ of actor-managers, is down again with mumps. * * * * * [Illustration: MODERN IMPRESSIONIST ART. A MUSICAL COMEDY] * * * * * [Illustration: AT THE PREMIÈRE _Lady in Front Row (to her neighbour, towards the end of the second act)._ "Who is this man next me, who's just come in,--do you know? He doesn't seem to be paying the smallest attention to the play!" _Her Neighbour._ "Oh, I expect he's a critic. He's probably made up his mind long ago what he's going to say of the piece; but he's just dropped in to _confirm his suspicions_."] * * * * * NO FIRST-NIGHTER.--_First Man in the Street._ See the eclipse last night? _Second Man in the Street._ No. Thought it might be crowded. Put off going till next week. * * * * * [Illustration: THE BILL OF THE PLAY] * * * * * [Illustration: AMENITIES OF THE PROFESSION.--_Rising Young Dramatist._ "Saw your wife in front last night. What did she think of my new comedy?" _Brother Playwright_. "Oh, I think she liked it. She told me she had a good laugh." _R. Y. D._ "Ah--er--when was that?" _B. P._ "During the _entr'acte_. One of the attendants dropped an ice down her neighbour's neck."] * * * * * [Illustration: THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN _Dora_ (_consulting a playbill_). "Only fancy! '_As You Like It_' is by Shakspeare!"] * * * * *