He, who on eagle’s wing
Was wont sublime to soar
In fruitless effort still to sing,
Pitch’d headlong on the floor!
In November 1884 Mr. Alexander Henderson produced a new comic opera at the Comedy Theatre, London, entitled The Great Mogul. In this piece Miss Florence St. John had to appear with live snakes writhing about her, an innovation which was not appreciated by the audience, whilst the songs written by H. B. Farnie, were received with derision. Although the house was packed with the friends of the Lessee, on the opening night (for no money was taken at the doors) the opera met with a very cool reception, and the following parody appeared in The Referee on November 23, 1884:
Alexander’s First.
(With apologies to the late Ingenious Mr. Dryden.)
’Twas at the Royal Comedy (where none
But friends of Henderson