The fight in the Second Act was tremendous. Never have I seen such dreadful blows delivered with such immense vigour on any other stage. A very polite French Knight who had taken part in the combat accorded me the honour of an interview afterwards. I congratulated him, and suggested that so realistic a battle must have been long and carefully rehearsed. "Rehearsals!" he laughed; "not a bit of it. We just lace into one another's heads as hard as we can lick." For the benefit of Mr. D'OYLY CARTE and other fighting managers I have given these admirable words as they were spoken. I had almost forgotten the ladies. There were three, Miss FFYTCHE, Mrs. CHARLES SIM, and Miss DOWSON, and they were all good--especially Mrs. SIM as _Constance_. And so farewell, for the present, to the O.U.D.S. and to Oxford. I may mention, by the way, that hospitality is as extensive and port wine as abundant as ever in the neighbourhood of the High. _Experto crede._ Yours to a turn, A VAGRANT. * * * * * A SOUTH-AFRICAN SENTIMENT. (_SEE PAPERS PASSIM._) The Colossus of Rhodes as a marvel they toss us; To which we retort, _our_ RHODES _is_ a Colossus! * * * * * A READY-MADE MILITARY CHAPLAIN.--"The Rev. the Dean of Battle." Evidently of the Church militant. * * * * * [Illustration: ALL-ROUND POLITICIANS. NO. 1.--THE G.O.M. VARIETY ENTERTAINER.] * * * * * THE PINK OF COURTESY, AND A TRUE BLUE. Last week a Cambridge Graduate, a Layman, not a Reverend Don, kindly coached the Oxford Eight. The great Duke of WELLINGTON, courteously instructing the French Army how to defeat the English, would be an historical parallel. It is to be hoped that this sublime example of unselfish devotion to aquatic sport will be followed in other walks of life. We may expect to learn from the daily papers how,-- On Monday a Cabinet Council was held at Downing Street. Lord SALISBURY presided, and Mr. W.H. SMITH being indisposed, Mr. W.E. GLADSTONE (at a moment's notice) kindly consented to take his place. On Tuesday General CAPRIVI went on leave, his place as confidential adviser to the Emperor of GERMANY being supplied during his absence by Prince Von BISMARCK. The Czar of RUSSIA, wishing to take a short holiday in Denmark, has arranged that his place shall be supplied by Prince ALEXANDER, once of Battenberg, and late of Bulgaria. Before his return to St. Petersburg His Majesty is likely to spend some time as the guest of several leading Nihilists. On Wednesday President CARNOT paid a long visit to General BOULANGER, with a view to submitting to that eminent statesman a scheme for the reorganisation of the French Army.