FAIR CHILDREN IN GRAFTON STREET.
A splendid show, though some of the children are neither fair nor beautiful. Note No. 114, "The Chinese Boy," by Sir Joshua. He is a boy, certainly, but his complexion has a mahogany tinge not usually associated with loveliness. Catherine de Medicis, if we may judge by No. 67, was a plain, decent, housewifely body, with a family of four horrors, three male and one female, all of whom, eventually, wore a crown. Can it be possible that La Reine Margot ever looked like that? If so, the great Dumas is convicted of gross deceit. For a screaming farce in oil, let the visitor look at No. 155, "The Infant Johnson," by Sir Joshua. Some one has evidently suggested to the baby lexicographer that he should have a bath. Naturally enough he is furious at the idea. "Sir," he seems to say, "let us take a perambulator down Fleet Street, or anywhere else, but let us not bathe." Can there not be found a companion picture of the mighty infant in a cheerful mood, prattling out a "What, nurse, are you for a frolic? Then I'm with you." In a case labelled No. 454 are to be seen toys, dolls, and playthings found in Children's Tombs in Egypt. Here, too, is the "Mummy of a Baby." "I see the baby," observed an intelligent child-visitor; "but where is its Mummy? My Mummy never ties baby up like that."
Not Due North.—The North British Daily Mail, referring to the rumour that the Prince of Wales may go to New York in the autumn to see the contest for the America Cup, says: "There will be better racing on the Clyde than there was last year. Let the Prince come north at midsummer this year." Very likely the race on the Clyde will be a good one. But our Scottish contemporary forgets that a visit to the United States on the part of H.R.H. would be to the advantage of two races—the American and the British. It would be sure to cause good feeling on either side of the Atlantic. Why should not Caledonia wait?
By Our Own Cricket on the Hearth.—For any ordinary English team to attempt tackling the Australian Eleven coming over here next season, would show not so much the merit of the team, but its team-erity.
THE PRIVILEGE OF THE PRESS.
Scene—Anywhere. Present, Brown and Jones.
Brown (perusing paper). Capital speech of Arthur J. Balfour at the Newspaper Society's Dinner the other evening. His compliments to the Press were in every way deserved.