WAITING FOR NASRULLA.
["The original arrangements for Nasrulla Khan's reception in London have undergone considerable alteration."—Daily Paper.]
"Of course we ought to act on precedent." said Wise Man Number One. "We can't be far out if we do that."
"I am not so sure," replied Number Two of the Series. "When the Shah came over we gave him a prize-fight at Buckingham Palace, and the entertainment subsequently caused much hostile criticism in Clapham."
"It is to be regretted," sighed the Third, "that the Polytechnic Institution no longer exists. It would have amused his Highness to have descended in the diving bell."
"No doubt," put in the initial speaker; "but something of the same effect might be obtained by conducting Nasrulla either to the Museum of Mines in Jermyn Street or the Diploma Gallery at Burlington House."
"Quite so. And what do you say to the Natural History Museum, and a special visit in semi-state to the top of the Monument?"
This suggestion was well received. Then a trip to Kew, and a ride on the Elephant at the Zoo were considered not unfavourably.
"Shall he go to any of the theatres?" was the next question.
"It may be a little dangerous to his morals if he understands English," seemed to be the popular answer.
Then a visit to a music-hall under the immediate supervision of the London County Council was proposed.
Then a Wise Man (less sage than the majority of his fellows) proposed a little "slumming."
"He might visit the East End, and pass a night in a Casual Ward."
Fortunately for the honour of the British Empire the proposal was negatived without the formality of a division.
"Could he be exhibited at a side show, either at Sydenham, Earl's Court, or West Kensington?"
Again there was a shout of "No." The visit of the Representative of the Ameer was not to be made a source of income to the Imperial, or, if it came to that, any other Exchequer.
"Besides," said the initial speaker, "the British Public does not care for paying for its raree-show. When we do get hold of a native, we like to find him on view free, gratis and for nothing."
Then it was agreed that Nasrulla should appear at the Queen's Birthday Parade, and other "features" were discussed with animation.
"But what the Khan will ultimately do, Sir," murmured an experienced official at the conclusion of the confab, "only Time can show—with the assistance of the Government."
A New Terror.—Politics on the stage. In Enry Hauthor Jones's Bauble Shop at the Criterion we were taken into the House of Commons and got somehow mixed up with Party Politics; but in The Home Secretary, Mr. Carton, it appears, has attempted to drag his audience, with Mr. Charles Wyndham, into the inner circle of Parliamentary life. What next? A debate on the Budget in Four Acts? Or shall we have, in five Parliamentary Acts, with a Prologue and Epilogue, the Comedy with a short Jonesian title called Home Rule for Ireland: or, how the O'Reillys, the Maguires, and the Kellys went into the Opposition Lobby, and how one Government came in and the other went out, &c. &c.? Save us from politics on the stage! There was just enough of the political element in Dora to give it a peculiar interest. But then Dora was written by Victorien Sardou.
Royal Military Tournament.—The initials being "R. M. T." will not be descriptive of the state of the seats in the Agricultural Hall during the performance. The announcement will be "Are Quite Full," not "R. M. T."
Quotation for Londoner last week, on seeing the Duke of York in Pall Mall.—"I know that man, he comes from Sheffield."
The New Coins.—It was announced that the reverse was to have been altered. On the contrary, it is quite the reverse.
