'Cute JOKIM keeps blending JOE's taps and his own; Though knowing harsh rumours are rife; And Brummagem JOE is oft heard to declare, Their partnership _may_ last for life. And JOKIM says, "some call Brum JOE a bad chap, But they'll soon learn to relish the taste of his tap, And while I may Brummagem JOE call my friend, I _think_ I shall customers find for our 'Blend.'" While ho! ho! ho! he'll chuckle and crow; "What, turn up Brum JOE, my boys? No! no! no!" * * * * * OPERATIC NOTES. _Monday, May 4_.--ZÉLIE DE LUSSAN's _Carmen_ is about the best when all the other dear charmers are away, and in the character she will probably remain in possession of the field, or, rather, "the Garden," till the end of the season. The remainder as before, with DEVOYOD as _Escamillo_. But what has become of the "go" in the _Toréador's_ great song? Where are the double _encores_? Where, indeed, the hearty applause? Surely it has gone the way of the March in _Faust_, once so enthusiastically received and cheered to the echo; and now--"March off!" It is true that, once let a "tuney tune" become vulgarised by street-musicians, and organic disease would be sufficient to kill it were it not tortured and ground to death by remorseless hands. But the _Toréador's_ song and the March have not been the victims of an organised opposition. Perhaps, though, they may have been, only 'tis so long ago as not to be within the ken of the present deponent. Anyhow, the _Toréador's_ song goes for nothing nowadays, and yet 'tis as good as ever. [Illustration] _Thursday_.--We welcomed _The Don_. Not the Academic Don once so popularly represented by Mr. J.L. TOOLE, but MOZART's Italianised Spanish Don. _À propos_ of Mr. TOOLE, it has always been the wonder of his friends, to whom the quality of his vocal powers is so well known, that he has never been tempted to renounce the simple histrionic for the lyric Drama. It is said, and "greatly to his credit," that, had it not been for his unwillingness to rob his friend SIMS REEVES of the laurel-crown he wears as first English Tenor of his age, he would long ago have set up a most dangerous opposition to that sweet singer, and have ridden off victoriously with "_My Pretty Jane_" seated up behind him, pillion-wise, on the noble steed known as "_The Bay of Biscay O!_" But the above is an _entr'acte_, shorter than those at Covent Garden, by the way. M. MAUREL first-rate as the _Don_, both in acting and singing, even better in former than latter; but the dear old serenade, which never can be vulgarised, in spite of its popularity, was encored, and the encore was gracefully accepted, Signor BEVIGNANI being in the chair, and willing to tap the desk and announce, "Gentlemen! Monsieur MAUREL will oblige again!" Applause.