* * * * * SUGGESTION FOB MR. W.B. AT THE T.R.O.--Should Mr. WILSON BARRETT contemplate giving another _Matinée_ of that out-of-date play, _The Lady of Lyons_, why not change its title to _The Old Lady of Lyons_? No extra charge for this suggestion. * * * * * GENUINE ORANGE BITTERS.--Police Protection to TIM HEALY. * * * * * [Illustration: MODERN VERSION OF "PAUL AND VIRGINIA."] * * * * * VOCES POPULI. THE IMPROMPTU CHARADE-PARTY. SCENE--_The Library of a Country-House; the tables and chairs are heaped with brocades, draperies, and properties of all kinds, which the Ladies of the company are trying on, while the men rack their brains for a suitable Word. In a secluded corner, Mr. NIGHTINGALE and MISS ROSE are conversing in whispers._ _Mr. Whipster_ (_Stage-Manager and Organiser--self-appointed_). No--but I say, _really_, you know, we _must_ try and decide on something--we've been out half an hour, and the people will be getting impatient! (_To the Ladies_.) Do come and help; it's really no use dressing up till we've settled what we're going _to do_. Can't _anybody_ think of a good Word? _Miss Larkspur_. We ought to make a continuous story of it, with the same plot and characters all through. We did that once at the Grange, and it was awfully good--just like a regular Comedy! _Mr. Whipster_. Ah, but we've got to hit on _a Word_ first. Come--nobody got an idea? NIGHTINGALE, you're not much use over _there_, you know. I hope you and Miss ROSE have been putting your heads together? _Mr. Nightingale_ (_confused_). Eh? No, nothing of the sort! Oh, ah--yes, we've thought of a _lot_ of Words. _Miss Rose_. Only you've driven them all out of our heads again! [_They resume their conversation._ _Mr. Wh._ Well, do make a suggestion, somebody! Professor, won't _you_ give us a Word? _Chorus of Ladies_. Oh, _do_, Professor--you're sure to think of something clever! _Professor Pollen_ (_modestly_). Well, really, I've so little experience in these matters that--A Word _has_ just occurred to me, however; I don't know, of course, whether it will meet with approval--(_he beams at them with modest pride through his spectacles_)--it's "Monocotyledonous." _Chorus of Ladies_. Charming! Monocottle--Oh, can't we _do_ that? _Mr. Wh._ (_dubiously_). We might--but--er--what's it _mean_? _Prof. Pollen_. It's a simple botanical term, signifying a plant which has only one cup-shaped leaf, or seed-lobe. Plants with _two_ are termed-- _Mr. Wh._ I don't see how we're going to act a plant with only one seed-lobe myself--and then the syllables--"mon"--"oh"--"cot"--"till"--we shouldn't get done before _midnight_, you know! _Prof. Pollen_ (_With mild pique_). Well, I merely threw it out as a suggestion. I thought it could have been made amusing. No doubt I was wrong; no doubt.