The plan, successfully inaugurated, and, within the last fortnight, still more successfully carried out by Sir DRURIOLANUS OPERATICUS BALMASCUS PANTOMIMICUS, of giving what may be called "unstagey representations" of popular Operas--that is, popular Operas sung and acted without the aid of scenes or properties (though "substitutes" may be permitted, as, for example, a chair with four legs complete would represent a horse, and a round table a tower); the singers, however, being in costume, may work an extensive "Transformation" Scene (which is quite in Sir DRURIO'S line) in the Dramatic and Operatic world, and may effect such a change as will save thousands to a Manager. Why not go a step further? Why have "costumes," or even "hand-properties"? Why not leave everything, except the perfection of the singing and the dramatic action, to the imagination of the audience? The prices of admission would be proportionately lowered, and the numbers admitted, in all probability, would be trebled, on which hypothesis a calculation may be based. What an exercise it would be for the imagination of the audience, were the Statue Scene from _Don Giovanni_ to be given with the Basso Profondo in evening dress, who represents the Stony Commendatore, seated astride a plank resting on tressels placed on a table which would have been substituted for the stone pedestal, while the Don or _Leporello_ (it doesn't much matter which) sings his asides to the audience! Here is novelty, and a great attraction! It is returning to Elizabethan days, when Managers called a spade a spade, and then so labelled it to prevent mistakes. * * * * * SONG FROM "AS YOU LIKE IT" (_for the Member for East Galway, arranged by Colonel Saunderson, M.P._).--"What shall he have who shot the Deer?" * * * * * A BANK NOTE.--The most likely time for obtaining payment "in hard cash," is when the Money Market "hardens a little," as was the case, so _The Times_ Money Article informed us, last Friday. * * * * * [Illustration: AN EARLY PURITAN. _Bobby_ (_who sees his Mamma in Evening Dress for the first time, and doesn't like it_). "I'LL WRITE AND TELL PAPA!"] * * * * * "A STIFF JOB." _Grand Old Ploughman sings_:-- Speed the Plough! Ah, that's all mighty fine, And I like the old saying's suggestion; But--wi' a small crock such as mine, The _speed_ may be matter o' question. I've set my hand to 'un, o' course, And munna look back, there's no doubt o' it: Yet I wish I'd a handier horse For the job, or that _I_ were well out o' it! Stiff clay on a slaantin' hill-side, Would tax a strong team. Steady, steady! The little 'un goes a bit wide, And seems to be shirkin' already. To keep a straight furrow this go Will strain the old ploughman's slack muscle; And yet my new measters, I know, Will expect I to keep on the bustle.