with gold, emeralds, rubies, and other precious stones.  He also discovers a coffer of crystal, having a little box, containing a diamond in its entirety.  Desirous of knowing what the box further contains, he finds a plain gold ring, with strange talismanic characters engraved thereon.  Placing the ring on his finger, he is suddenly confronted by the Genii of the Ring, who demands to know what are his commands.  Maruf desires the Genii to transport all the treasure to the earth, when mules and servants appear, and carry it to the city which Maruf had left, much to the chagrin of the Vizier, who did not like Maruf.  Maruf, during a great feast prepared for the occasion, tells the Sultan how he became possessed of the treasure, when the Sultan begs the loan of the ring, which Maruf hands to the Vizier to give him, and which no sooner does he get, than he commands the Genii to convey Maruf to some desert island, and leave him to die.  The Vizier also serves the Sultan the same way, and then he turns his attention to “Mrs. Maruf,” whom he threatens with death if she refuses to marry him.  At a banquet she makes the Vizier drunk, obtains possession of the ring, secures the return of Maruf and the Sultan, and the decapitation of the Vizier.

The “Babes in the Wood” was registered on the books of Stationers’ Hall as a ballad as far back as 1595.

To take another familiar Pantomime subject, “Blue Beard,” this story is said to have been invented as a satire on our King Henry VIII.  There is little doubt, however, of it originating from a very ancient source; and to afford the reader all the possible information on the subject, a writer in “The Drama,” a magazine of the beginning of the last century has the following, though he does not state his authority for the information:—­

As this extraordinary personage has long been the theme, not only of children’s early study and terror, it will be gratifying to peruse the character of that being who really existed, and who was distinguished in horror and derision by the strange appellation of “Blue Beard.”

He was the famous Gilles, Marquis de Laval, a Mareschal of France, and a General of uncommon intrepidity, who greatly distinguished himself in the reigns of Charles VI. and VII., by his courage, particularly against the English, when they invaded France.  He rendered such services to his country, which were sufficient to immortalize his name, had he not for ever tarnished his glory by the most terrible and cruel murders, blasphemies, and licentiousness of every kind.  His revenues were princely; but his prodigality was sufficient to render even an Emperor a bankrupt.  Wherever he went he had in his suite a seraglio, a band of players, a company of musicians, a society of sorcerers and magicians, an almost incredible number of cooks, packs of dogs of various kinds, and above 200 led horses.  Mezerai, an author of great repute, says, that he encouraged and maintained men who called