AFFABLE DUCHESS (to Amateur Tenor, who has just been warbling M. Gounod's last): "Charming! Charming! You must really get somebody to introduce you to me."] As the "Pops" fulfilled _Punch's_ ideal of a model chamber music concert, so the Saturday concerts at the Crystal Palace, conducted by Manns, with "G" (Sir George Grove[32]) as programme writer, best satisfied his requirements in the domain of the symphony and orchestral music generally. Charles Keene's picture in 1866 of the two enthusiasts, one political and one musical, is a pleasing comment on the growth of musical taste. They both agree that Monday had been a glorious night, but the one was thinking of Gladstone in the House, the other of Joachim in the Kreutzer Sonata. [Footnote 32: Grove was then--in 1872--the manager of the Crystal Palace, and late in that year _Punch_ wrote of him, "The Crystal Palace has never been so well kept as under the sway of my friend Mr. George Grove, _Nemorum pulcherrimus ordo_--Grove's rule is most admirable."] _Punch_ had already saluted John Parry; he extended a similar welcome in 1867 to the German Reed entertainment at St. George's Hall:-- It is really quite a novelty to hear some comic singing done by English singers, without feeling a strong wish that one had been born deaf. "Tol de rol," and "Rumti-iddity," and such old English comic choruses, have long since had their day. Go to the St. George's Opera if you would know what comic English choruses should be. In the interests of good music, we thank Mr. German Reed for giving men a chance of hearing something better, in the way of comic singing, than "Champagne Charley," or "Costermonger Joe." We hope his charming little opera-house will tempt people from going to the vulgar, stupid music-halls, when they want to hear some singing which may make them laugh. This, be it remarked, was at the time when the favourite popular songs were "Champagne Charley," "Not for Joseph," and "Paddle Your Own Canoe," and when, in consequence, _Punch's_ complaints of the idiocy of music-hall songs were both frequent and free. THE FINE ARTS [Sidenote: _Depreciation and Discovery_]