Corney Grain's death in 1895 removed the most popular musical "entertainer" of the time. _Punch_, in his farewell salute, gave him the highest possible praise by describing him as having successfully succeeded to John Parry. In 1896 _Punch_ bestowed the bâton of musical Field-Marshal on Lieut. Dan Godfrey on his retirement from the post of bandmaster to the Grenadier Guards, which he had held for fifty years. Dan Godfrey was the first bandmaster who ever held a commission in the army, and had rendered conspicuous service to the cause of military music. _Punch's_ honour was well merited, and Dan Godfrey's son, Dan the Second, conductor of the admirable Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra for nearly thirty years, has added fresh lustre to the family name. In the same year _Punch_ records the presentation, at Marlborough House, of a testimonial to Lady Hallé (Madame Norman Néruda). His account of the proceedings border on the burlesque, but there is nothing but admiration for the brilliant artist who had delighted British audiences ever since the days of her _début_ as a prodigy nearly fifty years before, and who had been one of the glories of the "Pops" in their golden prime. Nor did _Punch_ forget to add his congratulations to Henry Bird when that fine artist, respected and loved by all who knew him, celebrated his Jubilee in 1910:-- Minstrels, like bards, are irritable folk Whom trifles oft provoke To sudden fury or unseemly tears; But you, blithe spirit, from your earliest years Have been undeviatingly urbane, Free from all frills, considerate, courteous, sane, And to the end will so remain. Wherefore, with deepest reverence imbued For your supreme pianofortitude, And by melodious memories rarely stirred, _Punch_ hails your Jubilee, O tuneful Bird! The author of those lines, on another occasion, rendered Mr. Bird a serious disservice. _A propos_ of the invasion of the Music-Halls by serious performers, he had published a purely fictitious announcement that Mr. Henry Bird would shortly appear on the Variety stage as "The Terrible Transposer"--an allusion to his notorious skill in that direction. This was copied into the parish magazine of St. Mary Abbot's, Kensington, where Mr. Bird had been for many years organist, but the editor's ironical comment was misinterpreted, and the announcement was taken seriously, with the result that Mr. Bird was bombarded with inquiries from applicants for the post. A man with a less angelic temper would have been annoyed; but Mr. Bird was only amused. SPORT AND PASTIME