ion; but then, the Formes
_Figaro_ was 'developed from the depths of his subjective moral
consciousness,' whereas the _Figaro_ of a Southern European is _the
thing itself_--like Charles Mathews playing the part of Charles Mathews,
or like the Greek comedian's imitation of a pig's voice, by pinching a
veritable pork-let, which he bore concealed within his mantle.

Perhaps no character is so little appreciated by Anglo-Saxon audiences
as this of _Figaro_. To them he is little more than a buffoon. To
Southern Europe, he is the bold, prompt, shrewd, popular ideal, suiting
himself by craft to every superior, regarding all things with a
shoulder-shrugging, quizzical philosophy; a democratic Mephistopheles; a
lurking devil, equalizing himself, and the people with him, by wit and
insolence, with nobility itself. Among the Latin races, as in the East,
such Figaros often rise, like Oliver le Daim, to power, and the people
understand it.

Fast-Day, in Boston, was operatically feted with 'the light and
melodious _Martha_,' by that arch-thief of melodies, Flotow. Would
not--considering the day in question--_I Puritani_ have been more
appropriate for 'a day of fasting and prayer'? It has already been
discovered (by the sagacious Ullman, we believe) that the _Huguenots_
was appropriate to sacred concerts. A friend suggests that _Masaniello_
for high mass, and _Don Giovanni_ for St. John's day would be a great
advance in these dramatic unities.

* * * * *

We are indebted to a new contributor for the following sketch:

We are all familiar with Hayden's dinner-party, and the
Comptroller of Stamps, and Charles Lamb's 'Diddle diddle
dumpling,' and 'Allow me to look at the gentleman's phrenological
development.' I am always reminded by it of a circumstance which
occurred between the Rocky and Alleghany mountains. A certain
witty professor of a certain Western college, had been invited to
deliver a poem before the Phi Beta Society of Athens--not the
capital of Greece, nor the Athens of America, but a sort of
no-town, without even the advantages of an established groggery,
or mutual admiration society. The poet, not having attained that
celebrity which is incompatible with keeping one's word with small
towns, small lyceums, and small profits, and the roads not being
stopped up, in short, 'Providence permitting, and nothing
happening to prevent,' the