e see by the French papers, that an umbrella called _The Mushroom_ has
been lately patented in Paris. We are not aware what new peculiarity of
construction its inventor has discovered, but we think the name he
has selected is a highly appropriate one, and might with exceeding
fitness be applied, not to his alone, but to umbrellas generally. For as
mushrooms naturally belong to that class of things which are "here
to-day and gone to-morrow," we think their name may very properly be
used to designate so fugitive a possession as an umbrella.

* * * * *

CRANKS AND CROTCHETS.--The introduction of crank labour into gaols has
tended to corroborate the opinion, which is widely prevalent, that
prison disciplinarians are apt to be what is vulgarly called "cranky."

* * * * *

GRAND DRAMATIC APRES DEJEUNER.

[Illustration: S]

Since the practice of giving entertainments to those who entertain the
public has been adopted by those who got up the recent _dejeuner_ to MR.
G. V. BROOKE, it was determined by the friends of MR. STENTOR--the great
interpreter of FITZBALL--to invite that gentleman to a grand Spanish
onion feast, which came off at the Cinder Cellars and Dust-hole of
harmony, near the New Cut, Lambeth.

The room was hung with some of the best specimens from the theatrical
gallery of MARKS, and a magnificent portrait of HICKS, as _Ivanhoe_,
picked out with tinfoil, and filled in with real red satin, occupied the
centre of the wall over the seat of the Chairman. This masterly work of
art was appropriately supported on its right by the well-known engraving
of MR. G. ALMAR, as the _Knight of the Cross_; and on its left by the
highly finished etching of MR. CROWTHER, as the _Fiend of the
Sepulchre_. A group of Pantomime characters faced the door; and an
equestrian piece representing "MISS WOOLFORD in her favourite act of
_The Reaper_," formed a pendant over the chimney-piece.

The supper was of the choicest kind, and embraced all the delicacies of
the season that could be procured at the figure per head, which was
fixed at the moderate tariff of ninepence, in order to embrace as many
lovers of art--and onions--as possible. The _piece de resistance_ was a
bit of the roast beef of old England, to which Ireland contributed her
national potato, while Scotland sent her broth, and Wales was
represented by a magnificent Welch rabbit. Nor was the Continent
behind-han