[Illustration: J, K is a side view of the little theatre; M forms a front view of an interior water scene, which is located towards the back of the stage; the flies, five in number, are painted green, with splashes of white to represent sea-foam; each fly is attached to two small green cords through the holes at N, N; there are two cross-pieces above, that traverse from the stage, front to back; on these are ten hooks; the green cords are strung on to these hooks; the five flies are then swung into motion, which, to the audience, represents a storm at sea. The ship sails along once the whole length; but on its second or third journey it is wrecked; the sails ruffle up, and it gradually sinks beneath the waves. When there are two performers concealed in this theatre, the ship is made to meet another vessel (_a steamer_); the two to collide; one is wrecked, the other sails away safely. These ships are so constructed that they mechanically wreck at the will of the performer. L, L are two of the pillars of the theatre; K is the upper cross-beam, with four wooden pegs projecting out; J is a grooved board about five inches in diameter, with holes bored to correspond with the pegs to fit secure on the cross-beam K; A, B, C, D and E are half-circles, cut out to receive rollers containing the drop scenery; F, F, F, F, F are grooves cut to receive the wings that are placed in front of the drop scenery; H is the pulley; I shows section of pulley; G shows pulley and cord fitted on to the roller at A. The five pulleys should not be more than four inches in diameter. A should be the scene of a prison, B an hotel scene, C the forest, D the Black Hills, and E the background. A front drop scene can also be added, which does not stand located in the engraving. The remaining portion of this theatre is made and bolted together after the plan advised for the smaller frame. The theatre once properly built, each timber must be legibly marked before taken apart, so that the performer may speedily rebuild the same when wanted.] Having thus fully explained how to construct a Punch's theatre, we will now proceed to treat on THE CHOICE AND SELECTION OF PERFORMING FIGURES,