Britannia (to His Highness Nasrulla Khan). "Delighted to see you, for your dear Father's sake!"
THE BOULD SOGER BOYS AT ISLINGTON.
Stage-managers Lieut.-Col. Tully with Lieut.-Col. Tillotson and Colonel Onslow, not to mention their talented assistants headed by Captain Dann, Master of Ring, have given us a real good show. The Olympian Bossy Kiralfy must be anxiously awaiting the return of the natives from Islington to Kensington, and Sir Druriolanus must have owned that the military managers have run him very close as a master of crowds and of thrilling dramatic situations. Who would not rush out to fight Zulus, or any other savages, to stirring sounds of First Horse Guards' band, and cheered by all sorts and kinds of inspiriting music? You march to a popular song, you build bridge to polka, you make zerebas to the lilt of a waltz, you charge to a galop, and you return victorious to the National Anthem! Hurrah for the life of a soldier, at Islington!
Here the Art of Artillery Driving can be seen to perfection: three times round, clear posts and out again to deafening cheers. Bayonet exercise of Second Battalion Scots Guards is full of point; while the display made by Gymnastic Staff of Egyptian Army shows how our soldiers can advance by leaps and bounds. Excellent device! Enemy dumbfounded and bothered to see our athletic warriors jumping over one another's heads, turning somersaults, and finally heaping themselves up into pyramids—a real Egyptian puzzle this—with hero at apex waving flag. Why, a whole army of fiercest enemies would take to their heels rather than fight with these dancing dragoons, and hosts of Mussulmans would flee before such men of muscle. For these tactics no arms required except those already naturally belonging to the corps. So inexpensive! Yet to these merry infants-in-arms the art of war is no child's-play.
The new effects, and one among the numerous attractions, is the Grand Historical Military Pageant, performed with the greatest success by the 3rd King's Own Hussars and the Buffs. Nothing buffo about the Buffs. They appear as Cavalier cavalry and infantry pikemen of James The Second's time, and as cavalry and infantry from that date down through the Georgian period to the present day. The great change is noticeable in the hair, from long flowing curls and periwigs to the short crop of Thomas Atkins. Altogether a brilliant success, and should bring in a handsome amount for the benefit of the Military Charities, to whose funds this show makes an invaluable contribution.