The praise of prime old Tom then Fogo sung, A liquor always dear to old and young. Let a dram our dinner crown, To keep the beef and pudding down. Waiter, ’tis Josh’s pleasure, You bring in a gallon measure, The very best and strongest in the town. Spirit ever bright and clear! Who from drinking can refrain? Who can censure without blushing The joy, the extacy of lushing? Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure, To imbibe a cordial drain. Pleas’d with its praise fat Josh grew vain, Fought all his battles o’er again, And swore his max was very prime, and better than champagne. Jack Fogo saw his madness rise, His rosy snout, his staring eyes; And to subdue his furious fit, Swore he would bring him down a bit. He sung a mournful ditty To rouse fat Josh’s pity: He sung of Gyblett’s, boxer prime! By law’s relentless rule Sent to stonejug, and doom’d from thence To cross the herring pool. Deserted, in his utmost need, By all the traps his bounty fed Deprived of max, depriv’d of shag, Without a friend, without a mag. With downcast look the John Bull fighter sate, And gaz’d upon the tuneful bard: “Alack! for Charles, my friend,” cried he; “What! must he go across the sea? ’Tis gallows, gallows hard!” But Frosty Fogo’s powers began to fail; The sounds he tried to vent Within his throat were pent, Subdu’d by max, and heavy wet, and ale. He, who on eagle’s wing Was wont sublime to soar In fruitless effort still to sing, Pitch’d headlong on the floor! ―――― In November 1884 Mr. Alexander Henderson produced a new comic opera at the Comedy Theatre, London, entitled _The Great Mogul_. In this piece Miss Florence St. John had to appear with live snakes writhing about her, an innovation which was not appreciated by the audience, whilst the songs written by H. B. Farnie, were received with derision. Although the house was packed with the friends of the Lessee, on the opening night (for no money was taken at the doors) the opera met with a very cool reception, and the following parody appeared in _The Referee_ on November 23, 1884: ALEXANDER’S FIRST. (_With apologies to the late Ingenious Mr. Dryden._)