Notes On Music And The Drama.

just let me put two plugs into your nostrils to prevent the air from issuing out at those apertures . I ivas resolved not to endure this , and looked round for the door , in oreler to secure a retreat , while he thus Avent on -. —I always wear plugs AAdienI sing , but I have a great notion that if holes AA-ere bored at proper distances along the side of the nose , it Avould make no bad flute . Noiv , sir , give me leave to shoAv you hoAV much farther the j . aws ought to be distended by

the lancet , and where the glands should be cut . —Saying this , he drew a pen-knife out of his side pocket ; but as I had alt this time been sideling towards the door ( being IIOAV fully convinced he Avas rather more disturbed in the faculties than a good theorist ought to be ) out I flew , anel never once looked behind me 'till I ivas fairiy oufc of sight of the house . "

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

DRURY LANE THEATRE . Miss Avonia Jones , a lady AVIIO had acquired considerable distinction in Australia , on Tuesday evening made her first appearance before an English audience as Medea , and achieved a genuine success . The part Avhich she selected for her debut is , indeed , a trying one . Of all female characters in the AA'hole range of the drama , that of Medea is the most difficult to impersonate . To say that Miss Jones lays to absolute perfectionivere to aivard hiher

p , g praise than the occasion Avarrants ; yet it may be asserted with perfect truth that she sustains that most arduous of characters ivith remarkable skill and poiver , and that she frequently succeeds in awakening the cordial sympathy of her audience . Miss J ones ' s personal advantages are greatly in her favour , her face being handsome and thoughtful , her figure more than usually tall and well moulded , and voice melodious , and well adapted for the utterance of tragic emotion . Her Medea is someivhat deficient

in those qualities of grandeur , majesty , anel terror ivhich Madame Ristori associates with the character ; but it is instinct ivifch poetic grace , fraught Avith tender sentiment , full of poignant SOITOAV , and most eloquently and touchingly expressive of maternal love . Her gesfcures are appropriate and impressive , and her attitudes have a spontaneous significance and a sculpturesque beauty of design which greatly enhance the effect of her performance . She was summoned before the curtain no fewer than five times in the course

of the evening , and on the last occasion was accompanied by Mr . E . T . Smith , Avhose reception Avas such as expressed the satisfaction of the audience on finding that he had secured the services of so accomplished an artist .

LYCEUM THEATRE . Mr . Edmund Falconer has succeeded in keeping open the Lyceum Theatre during the elulles : period of the year , with substantial profit to himself and entire satisfaction to the public . The croivded audiences Avhich have filled the theatre nightly since the commencement of the season have not been draAvn together by any flimsy or meretricious attraction . The magnet has been a sterling English Comedy , played for the most part in a style of first-rate

excellence . As the author of " AVoman , " Mr . Falconer has been in a double sense the creator of his OAVII success , ivhich has resulted alike from his good management and his good ivrithig . Seeing that he has thus not only given remunerative employment to a company ot very clever artists , but afc the same time afforded a rich intellectual treat to the lovers of our native drama , he certainly deserves the cordial support of the public . A new and original drama , also from the pen of the lessee , entitled " Peep o' Day , or Savourneen Deelish , " and strongly east , is to be produced on Monday evening .

A BiACE ; OEAO-CE . — " One example , Rough , " said the raven to the terrier , " will let you into fche entire secret as to hoiv this fortune telling dodge was worked . Say , the customer is a spooney youth , lvanting to knoAv if lie is at all likely ever to get a siveetheart ; if so , IIOAV , and Allien , and AA-here ? He whispers the question to Mrs . Boseo , ivho repeats it to me behind the curtain . 'Impsiwheeze , ' says she , ' ansAA-er—YES or no ? ' ' Yes . ' ' AVill she be tall or

SHOBT ? ' 'Short . ' 'AVill she be handsome , do you KNOW ? ' 'No . ' ' Good gracious ! ' ejaculates the young man , turning paler than ever . ' Will she be poor or BICH ? ' ' Rich / 'How long AVIH it be before he meets her ? ' NOAV , it ivas an understanding that when I didn't get any clue from the question , I ivas to utter the first nonsense that came into my head . ' Chuckster toll-bar-binks , ' replied I . ' That is Hebrew' / explained Mrs . Bosco to the astonished youth— ' a tongue Avhich the bird sometimes mixes Avith oursI

. , hoAvever , can interpret it : fifteen months and a quarter is the time mentioned by the sage bird . Is that IUGTIT , Impsiwheeze ?' ' Right' replied I . That terminated the interview , the silly felloAV taking his departure , assured that he had received ample Avorth for the half-croAvn he had paid . "—Boy ' s own Magazine .

The Week

THE WEEK

THE COUBT . —On Friday , the 1 st , the Queen formally inaugurated the new order of knighthood , the creation of AA'hich ivill tend to illustrate her reign—The Order of the Star of India . The creation of this order , ive need hardly remind our readers , is intended to commemorate the direct extension of the British sovereignty over India , and is open both to distinguished natives anel

to those Englishmen who have signalised themselves by civil or military service in the Indian field . Among those who received the honour at her Majesty's hands were Lord Gough , the Maharajah Duleep Singh , Lord Harris , Lord Clyde , Sir John Lawrence , and others . The Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales Avere made extra knights of the order . Lord Canning had previously

conferred the order on some distinguished natives and European officers in Calcutta . Her Majesty and the larger part of the Royal Family still remain at Windsor . The young Prince Leopold , Avho is in Mseighth year , has gone to Cannes , in the south of France , to spend the Avinter , in consequence of delicate health . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The weekly return of the births and

deaths in London continues to be greatly below the ten years' average . The number of last Aveek AA-as about 100 beloAV that which the average Avould have made it , Avhile the births are as high above it . The only disease at present approaching to au epidemic is scar > Iafcina , which is making rather serious attacks on young children . The Smithfield Club , which for many years has rented

premises for their annual cattle shoiv in Baker-street , noAv feel confidence enough in the resources aucl stability of their society todetermine on the erection of premises of . their oiA-n , and the foundation stone ofthe HBAV building AA-as laid on Tuesday afc Islington ,

by Lord Bemers . The premises AVIII be spacious , fitted up with all conveniences for the purposes to Avhich they aee destined , and the architecture , where architectural decorations can be introduced , ivill be elegant and tasteful . The cost of the building is estimated at £ 30 , 000 , and we understand ifc has all- been subscribed . The autumnal exhibition of fruits and flowers took place in the Horticultural Gardens on Tuesday . The shoiv ivas

admirable , and attracted a large number of A'isitors . Some time ago , the Hanley Town Council passeel a resolution thanking Mr . Cobden for his sendees in connection with the Commercial Treaty . Thereply of tbe hon . gentleman has just been published . He urges that some vigilance must be exercised to ensure the enjoyment of the " moral fruits" of the Treaty ; for , at the very moment when

the two peoples are invited to extend to each other the hand of friendship , the tivo governments are constantly increasing their preparations for Avar . He does not attempt to cast exclusive blame upon either party for a state of things AA'hich " is both repugnant fco reason and offensive to public morality , " bufc an effort at least

must be made to effect a beneficial change . The annual dinner in aid of the AVarehousemen and Clerks' schools , took place last Aveek at the London Tavern . Lord Brougham occupied the chair ; and aboufc 320 persons sat doAvn . The Avhole affair ivas most successful . The right honourable chairman expressed his approval of the manner in AA'hich the charity had been managed , and a hope that even increased success AA-ould attend ifc in future . At

theclose of the proceedings the subscription lists Avere sent round , and about ; fil 500 Avere subscribed . The charity is an excellent one , aud Avell deserving of even more support than it has hitherto obtained . A fresh effort is about to be made to establish telegraphic communications with India . Our readers will remember the failure of the cable laid down by the Bed Sea Company , and all the

correspondence thafc took place Avifch the Government before the company could obtain the payment of the guarantee Avhich the Government had in the first instance promised them . It appears that fresh negociations have been going on , and the shareholders have been called together to consider the propriety of handing over their shares to a UOAV company , on the Government engaging to relieve