"JOHNNYKIN AND THE GOBLINGS."
Bon Voyage! et Au Revoir!
Two hundred and fifty Goblings in the Grand Banquet room of the Hotel Métropole assembled, as all the world knows by this time, to bid "Farewell, but not good-bye," as Clement Scott's admirable verses have it, to Johnnykin; that is, to Mr. J. L. Toole, usually and popularly spoken of as "Johnnie Toole," and generally endeared to his private friends as, simply, "Johnnie." Quite the best specimen of a "Johnnie," among all the "Johnnies" of the present time. Mr. Punch, for the first time in his life, permitted his merry men, The Knights of His Own Round Table, to convert their usual Wednesday dinner into a "movable feast," and to transfer it to the day beforehand, in order to do honour to the unique occasion, and the exceptional guest of the evening. No wonder there were two hundred and fifty acceptances to the bill of fare, and two hundred and fifty more ready to sign, seeing that the invitations came in effect from the President, the Solicitor-General, who could not solicit in vain.
Mr. Frank Lockwood, Q.C., M.P., excelled himself in proposing the toast of "The Drama." He contemned the ancient Greek Drama, but was of opinion—Counsel's opinion—or, as he was speaking of the Romans, "Consul's opinion"—that there was "more money in the Latin Drama." Mr. Punch, regretted he was not at his learned friend's elbow to suggest, that an apt illustration of the truth of his remark might be found in the success of Augustus Druriolanus, Imperator.
Mr. Henry Irving proved, by his perfect recital of Clement Scott's verses, how thoroughly "by heart" he had got them. Henry's "heart is" not "dead" when Johnnie is concerned. Sir Edward Clarke, as we learnt from the speeches made by himself, Mr. Irving, and Mr. Toole, seems to have been at school with all the leading Actors; and it was a miracle that he escaped the attractions of the sock and buskin. Pity that the song, "When we were boys, Merry merry boys, When we were boys together," had not been arranged as a trio for them. Johnnie was in his best form; very detached, casual, and uncommonly funny. Lord Rosebery apologised by letter for not being able to be in Scotland and London at the same time; and the Wicked Abbé Bancroft in replying to the toast of the Drama, pathetically represented his hard case of being called upon to make an after-dinner speech, when he hadn't had any dinner. The Actor's lot is evidently, not always a happy one. He wanted a "feeding-part" and didn't get it. The dinner was excellent, and the waiting of the waiters was, as far as I could ascertain, exceptionally good. Certainly the Métropole, or the New "Holland" House,—as it might be termed, after its manager,—holds first rank for this sort of business. We present Mr. Holland, the Métropole Caterer, with this suggestion:—
The Only Condiment for a Farewell Banquet—"Sauce Ta Ta!"
Avenue Theatre.—Alexander the Growing, not yet the Great, finds that for some weeks to come there will be no necessity to doctor his Bill. He will be wise, however, not to reject any proffered assistance, as, from his present success, it is evident he cannot get on un-Aidé-d.