This Hamlet may in some shadowy way or other forecast our life here and what the majority of us do in it――nothing. Leave all to the crack of doom and then down we go all together. Our talking as angels, some of us, and acting like fools, most of us, may be all here parabled out.” As Mr. Wilson Barrett’s revival of _Hamlet_ was a success, it was quite in the order of things that it should be burlesqued, and that he and the members of his company should be caricatured. “Very Little Hamlet,” by W. Yardley, was produced at the Gaiety Theatre, London, in November, 1884, and Mr. Wilson Barrett’s absurd speech about his early ambition to play _Hamlet_ was made the leading idea in the prologue, the scene representing the exterior of the Princess’s twenty-five years ago, with costumes, &c., archæologically correct. The future proprietor appears as a ragged street boy, and takes his solemn oath, to mysterious music, that he will, one day, play _Hamlet_ in that theatre, while his companions of the gutter, being called upon to swear, exclaim in a hoarse whisper, “D――――n!” and a ghostly actor undertakes to see the scheme carried out. Miss Nelly Farren appeared as the hero, and Miss Phyllis Broughton as Ophelia, with a tow-like wig. The treatment of the play scene was novel and amusing. It was announced that the principal player was ill and could not perform, whereupon King Claudius kindly volunteered to go on and read the part, which he did, until he discovered the meaning of the show. ――――:o:―――― Quotations have already been made from _The Hamlet Travestie_, in three acts, by John Poole (London, Samuel French); _Hamlet Travestie_, by Mr. F. Talfourd (Oxford, J. Vincent, 1849); and from _Hamlet; or not such a Fool as he looks_ (Cambridge, W. Metcalfe and Son, 1882); in addition to these there are many parodies of detached passages from _Hamlet_. The following is founded upon the advice given by Polonius to his son, Laertes:―― A PARENT’S COUNSEL. You are about to go away my son, So take away with you the wise advice of one Who knows the world, boy, and don’t think much of it, “Neither a borrower, nor a lender be,” Of course from _choice_, the former certainlee. If in a scrape and in the wrong, declare it, Never attempt to justify it; square it. Learn to say “No” to most things――seldom “yes.” If you should see a female in distress, Remember the advice of your sage sire, Call the police and gracefully retire. As the apparel oft proclaims the man, Why, do as many tailors as you can. In short, if you attend to all I tell, You’ll find that you will get on very well. HENRY J. BYRON. ――――:o:――――