_Saturday._--_Tannhäuser._ Full and appreciative house to welcome the _rentrée_ of Madame ALBANI, who was simply perfection and the perfection of simplicity as the self-sacrificing heroine _Elizabeth_. From a certain Wagnerian-moral point of view, no better impersonator,--dramatically at least, if not operatically,--of the sensual Falstaffian Knight could be found than Signer PEROTTI; and, from every point of view, no finer representation of the Cyprian Venus than Mlle. SOFIA RAVOGLI. M. MAUREL was admirable in every way as the moral _Wolframo_, and Signor ABRAMOFF the gravest of Landgraves. The full title of this Opera should be _Tannhäuser; or, The Story of a Bard who sang a questionable kind of Song in the highest Society, and what came of it._ Fine effect at end of First Act, when prancing steeds, with secondhand park-hack saddles, at quite half-a-crown an hour, are brought in, and, on a striking tableau of bold but impecunious warriors refusing to mount, the Curtain descends. Then what pleasure to see _Albani-Elizabeth_ receiving the guests in Act II., varying the courtesies with an affectionate embrace whenever a particular friend among the ladies-of-the-court-chorus came in view. My LORD CHAMBERLAIN, viewing the scene from his private box, must have picked up many a hint for Court etiquette from studying this remarkable scene. Then how familiar to us all is the arrangement of the bards all in a row, like our old friends the Christy Minstrels, _Tannhäuser_ being the Tambourine, and _Wolfram_ the Bones! Charming. Great success. Repeat it by all means. * * * * * [Illustration: CHIVALRY AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE. "NOW, COOK, JUST YOU LOOK HERE! LOOK AT THAT PIECE OF BACON I'VE JUST GIVEN YOUR MISTRESS! IT'S THE THICKEST AND WORST CUT I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE!--AND THIS PIECE I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE MYSELF IS _ONLY A LITTLE BETTER!_"] * * * * * "PLEASE GIVE ME A PENNY, SIR!" A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE. _Poor Income-Tax Payer, loquitur_:-- Please give me a Penny, Sir! My hope is almost dead; You hold the swag in that black bag, And high you lift your head. Some years I have been asking this, But no one heeds my plea. Will you not give me _something_ then, _This_ year, good Mister G.? Oh! please give me a Penny! Please give me a Penny, Sir! _You_ won't say "no" to me, Because I'm poor, and feel the pinch Of dreadful "Schedule D"! You're so high-dried, and so correct, So honest and austere! Remember the full "Tanner," Sir, I've stumped up year by year, And please give me a Penny! Please give me a Penny, Sir! My Income is but small, And the hard Tax laid on our backs I _should_ not pay at all. But I'm too feeble to resist, And do not like to lie; And Sixpence, under Schedule D, Torments me till I cry, Do please give me a Penny, Sir!