Und ven der beeble hear dot band Dey at each oder glance, Den vag deir heads, den move deir veet, Und vish dot dey might dance. Und ven dey blay der "Danube Blue," Vich vos vor an encore, Dey velcome it as zomtings new, Und call for it vonce more. Der beeble listen as dey blay As guiet as a mouse, Dere's none vor dance tunes any day Like leedle Eduard Strauss. The cult of Berlioz, started by Hallé at Manchester in 1880, was now in full swing, and his _Faust_ figures constantly in the programmes of choral concerts and festivals, with Henschel and Santley (who had abandoned opera for oratorio), Mary Davies and Edward Lloyd in the principal rôles. _Punch_ did not overlook the provincial festivals in the days when the standard quartet was made up of Mmes. Albani and Patey--whose likeness to Handel was noted by Samuel Butler--Edward Lloyd and Santley. He was present at Leeds in 1886 when Sir Arthur Sullivan conducted his _Golden Legend_, and Stanford his exhilarating _Revenge_. Sullivan is saluted as "the English Offenbach," a somewhat two-edged compliment, though meant sincerely. At Gloucester, in 1889, _Punch_ praises the music of Parry's _Judith_, but damns the libretto: "_Punch_ and _Judith_ can never agree." No subject, sacred or profane, was secure from _Punch's_ puns. _The Golden Legend_ and _The Prodigal Son_, both by Sullivan, were included in the programme at Gloucester, and are turned to characteristic account in the following comment:-- The _Golden Legend_ is a traditional tale of a fortune amassed at Gloucester by an hotel-keeper during the Festival week; while _The Prodigal Son_ is the sad story of a young man who, in spite of his father's warnings, lived an entire week at a Gloucester Inn. [Illustration: WHAT OUR WALTZING IS COMING TO DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNER: "Voulez-vous me faire l'honneur de Danser cette Valse avec moi, Meess Matilde?" MISS MATILDA (_an accomplished waltzer_): "Avec plaiseer, Monsieur. Quelle est voter Forme--le '_Lurch de Liverpool_,' le '_Dip de Boston_,' ou le '_Kick de Ratcliffe Highway_'?" (We have feebly tried to represent the "Ratcliffe Highway Kick," which at present is only danced in the very best society, and confers a great air of distinction on the performers.)] [Illustration: STUDIES IN EVOLUTION This is not an example of the Struggle for Existence--it is merely "The Valse," as we have lately seen it danced at Suburban Subscription Balls, etc.]