There have been Joes not a few on the stage. Coming down from the time of Joe Grimaldi, we pass on the way Joseph Andrews, Poll and Partner Joe, Poor Joe from Bleak House, and many other Joes until we come to Gentleman Joe, hansom cab-driver, played by Arthur Roberts. The question and answer in the old idiotic nigger song applies appropriately here, with slight adaptation:
What! de Joe? Yes! de Joe.
Spruce Joe kicking up ahind and afore,
Kitty Loftus playing up to Mister Joe.
And with the assistance of the always graceful Phyllis Broughton—of whom Gentleman Joe might have sung, but doesn't, "Phyllis is my only Fare"—aided also by the pretty-voiced Lettie Searle, helped by the sprightly earnestness of Miss Clara Jecks, who has turned over a new leaf and come out as a page, and kept moving by the dashing "go" of Miss Sadie Jerome (not at all a "sad eye" nor a "say die" sort of young lady) as Lalage Potts, this two-act musical farce, beginning as a kind of High Life below Stairs and ending anyhow, offering, as it does, opportunities to Our Only Arthur for introducing into it any amount of "divarsion" in the way of new songs, eccentric speeches, nods, winks, becks, and wreathed smiles, may be continuing its successful career in the summer of '96, there being no apparent reason why its run should ever stop, that is as long as Gentleman Arthur Joe Roberts handles the ribands as the popular Cabbing-it Minister.
A New Title.—Our Grace, the cricketer, is not made a "Sir" or raised to a dukedom. There is, however, in view of present craze, a great chance for conferring the greater honour on a champion bicyclist. His title would be "The Duke of Wheelington."
SCRAPS FROM CHAPS.
A Dividend Deserved.—The Glasgow Town Council has been running its own tram-cars for a year past, and has cleared more than £20,000 of profit for the citizens out of the business. There is huge rejoicing on the Clyde, and no wonder, as the result is due to sheer good management, without over-charging the public or over-driving the drivers. The Tramways Committee reports:—
Further, the Committee have given effect to what they believe to be the general feeling of the citizens—viz., that the cars, which necessarily form a notable feature of the streets of the city, should not only be tasteful in design and colour, and comfortable for passengers, but also that their general appearance should not be marred or their destinations obscured by advertisements.
Moral for many southern railway, tram, and omnibus companies—Go and do likewise! Moral for Glasgow citizens—Get carried over your tram-lines often enough, and you'll carry over a big dividend to decrease your next year's rates!