Drury Lane Opera Record.—Bohemian Girl going strong, Cavalleria Rusticana still the attraction. "Happy Thought" (vide Druriolanus's Diary)—"Revive La Juive." Done it! and done it well. Giannini, as Eleazaro, excellent. Rachele not up to Rachel in acting (for those who may remember that tragédienne), but Mlle. Gherlsen, representing the Jew's daughter, does what the great Rachel could not do, that is, sing. La Juive will be given during the Covent Garden season; so these performances may be considered as very superior rehearsals. Carmen on Thursday, instead of Il Trovatore.—the Trovatore being Il, couldn't appear. With all due sympathy and respect for Trovatore, Carmen was gratefully received. Signor Pignalosa, as the Toréador, very good, and obtained his encore; so this Toréador was "contento." Mlle. Guercia was a fascinating Carmen, and what is any Carmen if not fascinating?
TAKEN IN, BUT NOT DONE FOR.
(Overflow Letters, probably originally intended for a Contemporary.)
SIR,—No doubt you have seen in the papers recently a number of letters, giving accounts of the stoppage of cabs by well-dressed young men, who, after heartily greeting the occupants, have asked for the loan of a sovereign. The other day something of the same sort occurred to me. I got into an omnibus, when a man, purporting to be a Conductor, asked me for my fare. I replied that I would pay him later on. He then proceeded to mount to the roof, apparently to collect other money, when I quickly descended. I firmly believe that, had I not acted promptly, I should have been defrauded of three-pence. Believe me, yours, &c.,
Vigilant.
SIR,—I think you should know the last dodge. I was walking home from a rather heavy dinner the other evening, when I came across a man exactly like myself. He might have been my twin brother. He didn't say anything, but put out his hand towards me as if asking for alms. Of course I refused, as I could see that the man was drunk. A little later I was escorted home by a policeman. The next morning, when I got to the spot where I had been accosted by this silently-begging stranger, I found a looking-glass. The police say they have the matter in hand, but they do not see much prospect of finding the original.