Mr. BRANDON THOMAS and Miss EMERY have never done anything better. The former with his peculiar north-country "burr," and with his collars and general make up reminding many of the G. O. M., whilst Mr. IAN ROBERTSON as the wicked old Lord is not unlike the pictures of the Iron Duke when Lord DOURO. Mr. EDMUND MAURICE, as representing the slangy, sporting, about-town Baronet of the Tom-and-Jerry day, is a kind of _Goldfinch_ in _The Road to Ruin_, with a similar kind of catchword, which I suppose, on Mr. GRUNDY'S authority [though I do not remember the expression nor the use of the word "chuck" in _Tom and Jerry_--the authority for Georgian era slang] was one of the slang phrases of that period. For my part (a very small part), I am inclined to credit Mr. GRUNDY with the invention of "smash my topper," and of the introduction of "chuck it" into eighteenth century London slang. Admirable are the quaint sketches of character given by Miss ROSE LECLERCQ and Miss ANNIE HUGHES. Manly and lover-like is Mr. SYDNEY BROUGH. In the dramatic unfolding of the plot, faultlessly acted as it is, the audience from first to last are thoroughly interested. Here and there, speeches and scenes would be all the better for some judicious excision. When you are convinced, further argument weakens the case, and I confess I should like to hear that ten minutes' worth of dialogue had been taken out of the parts played by Mr. BRANDON THOMAS and Miss WINIFRED EMERY. But this is a small matter--a very small matter. To sum up, it is good work and good play, and so the new manager and lessee is at this present moment a Triumphal CARR. * * * * * [Illustration: Portrait of the Great Duke of Wellington, when Marquis of Douro, by Mr. Ian Robertson.] * * * * * _Q._ Why was there at one time a chance of the _Times_, which has always been up to date, ever being behind time?--_A._ Because formerly there was so much _Delayin!!_ * * * * * MOTTO FOR LADIES WHO "GRUB SHORT" TO AVOID OBESITY.--Grace before Meat! * * * * * Nulli Secundus. (_By a Lover of the Links._) Lyttleton asks--great cricketer, for shame!-- If Golf--Great Scot!!!--is quite "a first-class game." Well, if first-class it cannot quite be reckoned, 'Tis that it stands alone, and hath no second! * * * * * [Illustration: A PROTEST. "AND PRAY, AM I _NEVER_ TO BE NAUGHTY, MISS GRIMM?"] * * * * * "L'UNION FAIT LA--FARCE!" ["France turns from her abandoned friends afresh And soothes the Bear that prowls for patriot flesh." --CAMPBELL.]