_Wife._ "DEAR, THAT'S THE VERY THING SHE'S COME ABOUT! SHE READ YOUR LETTER!" [_Tableau!_] * * * * * ADDIO, ADELINA! As Madame PATTI would have said, if she had thought of quoting BACON last Tuesday week, and as somebody probably will say after reading this, and then send it, a few months hence, to _Mr. Punch_ as quite new and original, "When my KUHE comes, call me." And when her KUHE (English pronunciation) did come, she came up to time and tune, and came up smiling. Of course with such names as Mmes. PATTI, TREBELLI, Messrs. LLOYD and SANTLEY with Miss EISSLER on the violin, Mr. LEO STERN ("Leo the Terrible") on the 'cello (sounds uncomfortable this), Miss KUHE on the pianoforte (unpleasant position), Mr. GANZ as "accompanyist," (what an ugly word!) and the Great Panjandrum himself, Mr. W. G. CUSINS (Sir W. G. CUSINS as is to be,--which was our Jubilee Midsummer Knight's Dream) as Conductor, what could the result be, but success? Every seat taken; up gets the Conductor, "Full inside, all right!" and on we goes again! And after this, off goes Madame PATTI to America to earn any amount of dollars by singing her well-known _répertoire_, which, with one or two exceptions, she may leave t'other side of the Atlantic, and return to tell us of "The songs I left behind me," and to chant with feeling "_I cannot sing the old Songs_." _Au plaisir!_ ADELINA, and all good Engels guard thee! I beg to sign myself, re-signing myself to the absence of the Diva, THE CRITIC ON THE HARP. * * * * * THE FISTIC CRACK, SMITH. AIR--"_The Village Blacksmith._" Before the applauding British P. The fistic crack, SMITH, stands, JEM SMITH a mighty man is he, With smart and smiting hands; And the muscles of his legs and arms Stand out like steely bands. His hair is fair, and closely cropped, His pink face bears no tan; His brow is low, his wits seem slow, He "gates" whate'er he can! But he gets more cheers than SALISBURY'S self, Or e'en the Grand Old Man. Whene'er their Champion spars at night Excited Britons go, To see him swing his left and right With slogging force though slow; And the guests are scarce a pretty sight, They're loud and rather low. Green youngsters scarce released from school Flock in at the open door. They love to see him "kid" and feint, And pay their bobs therefor; And if his right he does let fly Great CÆSAR, _how_ they roar! At length he into training goes, Attended by "the bhoys," Punches the ball, pickles his hands, With other training joys, Which in the penny sporting prints Abroad his backers noise, To read the which boys about town Esteem it Paradise; They buy the accounts and o'er them pore, Though probably all lies, And to each other whisper them With wonder-rounded eyes.