The _Friar Tuck_ here is a kind of good old-fashioned burlesque Friar, more like that one some years ago at the Gaiety, in _Little Robin Hood_ than the Friar in _Ivanhoe_. But I should say that this Friar would be uncommonly thankful to have got anything like the song that Sir ARTHUR has given _his_ Friar over the way, or something even as good as Mr. DALLAS had to sing, years ago, in REECE's Gaiety Burlesque. However, perhaps it was not intended for a singing part, and perhaps the actor who plays it is not a professional singer. We're not all of us born with silver notes in our chests. I see that Mr. HORACE SEDGER announces the drama in action, entitled _L'Enfant Prodigue_, which recently made such a hit in Paris. Wonder how it will go here. Not knowing, can't prophesy. PRIVATE BOX. * * * * * OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. The Baron thanks Sir HENRY THOMPSON for his _Food and Feeding_, which (published by WARNE & Co., a suggestive name) has reached its sixth edition. It is, indeed, an entertaining work, and a work that all honest entertainers should carefully study. It will delight alike the host and the guest. To the first, Sir HENRY, being a host in himself, can give such valuable advice as, if acted upon, will secure the ready pupil a position as a Lucullus of the first class; and, even when so placed, he will still have much to learn from this Past Grand Master in the art of living well and wisely. "_Fas est ab 'hoste' doceri_"--and a better host it would be difficult to find as teacher than Sir HENRY THOMPSON, P.G.M., to whose health and happiness the Baron quaffs a bumper of burgundy of the right sort and at the right time. Most opportunely does this book appear in the season of Lent, which may be well and profitably spent in acquiring a thorough knowledge of how to turn to the best account the fleshpots of Egypt, when the penitential time is past, and the yolk of mortification is thrown off with the welcome return of the Easter Egg. Read attentively what our guide and friend has to say about salads, especially note his remarks on the salad of "cold boiled table vegetables." His arrangement of the _menu_, to the Baron's simple taste, humble mode of life, and not inconsiderable experience, is perfect. _Hors d'oeuvres_ are works of supererogation, and have never been, so to speak, acclimatised in our English table-land. The Baron may have overlooked any directions about _écrivisses_, not as _bisque_, but pure and simple as cray-fish, which, fresh from the river and served hot and hot come in late but welcome as an admirable refresher to the palate, and as a relish for the champagne, though the Baron is free to admit that the dainty manipulation of them is somewhat of a trial to the inexperienced guest, especially in the presence of "Woman, lovely Woman." "Hease afore helegance," was _Mr. Weller's_ motto, but "Ease combined with elegance" may be attained in a few lessons, which any skilled M.D.E.