These are actors who have proved themselves so dull in learning the business of their parts that, rather than have the performance injured by poor acting, the author is giving them private instruction. For besides being the inventor and author of Pinafore, the Pirates, and Patience, Mr. Gilbert designs all the costumes and scenery, drills the actors, and is as particular about everything on the stage being ship-shape as if he were really the captain of a man-of-war.
In addition to the operas named above, Mr. Gilbert has written The Sorcerer, and Trial by Jury, several plays, and The Bab Ballads, a book of most delightful nonsense. It may seem an easy thing to make people laugh, but the author of Pinafore really works very hard. It is pleasant to think, however, that hard work agrees with him, for it certainly does not spoil his good-humor.
[A LITTLE FAIRY.]
BY MRS. M. E. SANGSTER.
We have a little fairy,
Who flits about the house,
As gleeful as a cricket,
As quiet as a mouse.
She brings papa his slippers,
She runs up stairs and down,
The dearest little fairy
In all the busy town.