e puzzled to say--

[Illustration: WHICH LOOKS THE MOST RIDICULOUS?]

* * * * *

"ENOUGH'S AS GOOD AS A FEAST."

At the _dejeuner_ given the other day to MR. G. V. BROOKE, it was stated
by the manager of Drury Lane that after the morning performance, which
took place last week, the public-houses in the neighbourhood of the
theatre were crowded with people, who, after seeing _Othello_, were
refreshing themselves for the purpose of seeing _The Stranger_ in the
evening. We admit that two tragedies in one day must be rather warm work
for the audience, as well as for the actors, and we do not wonder at
"refreshment" being found necessary to enable the public to go through
with the day's labours. Some plays are drier than others, and it would
be a curious fact to ascertain how much more washing down _The Stranger_
would require than _Othello_. If we were to attempt a calculation, we
should say, that if SHAKSPEARE took a bottle of sparkling Moselle,
nothing short of a hogshead of heavy would be needed to make KOTZEBUE go
down at all glibly.

* * * * *

ANOTHER GHOST!

Of course we continue to receive reports of the appearance of other
ghosts. In the playhouse world, last week, it was reported that the
night watchman on duty at the Princess's was startled by the ghost of
_Macbeth_. Now, as the theatre does not open until the 10th the news
must be premature.

* * * * *

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

[Illustration: U]

Under the rules issued by the Treasury Commissioners with respect to the
appointment of Custom House officials, it is declared that persons
nominated to be searchers must be fully acquainted with vulgar
fractions. There is no objection to this kind of vulgarity as one of
their qualifications, but we hope no necessity exists that they should
be guilty of any other, and continue to be rude and insolent. Another
rule provides that no person will be admitted to the service who shall
have committed an offence against the revenue laws. What then has become
of the maxim "Set a thief to catch a thief?"

* * * * *

"THE PLAGUE WITHIN OUR GATES."

"The Plague is at our doors!" the watchers cried amain:--
At the shrill call England raised up her head:
"Arm! arm against the Plague!" the watchers cried again:
England turned round upon her lazy bed,
Folding her arms in dreamy dro