He roved among the vales and streams,
    In the green wood and hollow dell,
  And, upon April’s nineteenth day,
  Big buttonholers made display
    Upon the heart of PETER BELL.

  In vain through each succeeding year
    Did Nature mourn her lessening store. 
  A Primrose on the river’s brim
  A Party emblem was to him,
    And it was nothing more!

* * * * *

DISINFECTING THE WIGS.—­“L’Enfant Prodigue,” which is filling the Prince of Wales’s Theatre day and night, has much in it that is delightful.  Perhaps there is nothing quite excels the subtle touch in the programme where it is written:  “The theatre is disinfected by the Sanitas Company, Limited. The Wigs by Clarkson.”

* * * * *

CURIOUS, AND “MORE ANON!”—­The Evelyn v. Hurlbert trial was as full of literary interest as a sale of old books and manuscripts.  Specially valuable were copies of Evelyn’s Diary; while, in spite of the pressing demand, Murray’s Memoirs were uncommonly scarce.  Victorious Mr. HURLBERT!  Yet for all his triumph, he will be, for some time, a “very much Murray’d man.”

* * * * *

A SAVOY QUESTION.—­The general idea of the forthcoming new Opera at the Savoy appears to be “all Dance to SOLOMON’s music.”  Is it to be a pantomime-drama, like L’Enfant Prodigue, or simply a ballet?  If neither, where do song-words and dialogue come in?

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

House of Commons, Monday, April 20.—­The other week T.C.  BARING was sitting among us, one of the Members for the City of London.  Now BARING is no more, and to-night HUCKS GIBBS comes in to take his place.  VICARY G. brought his father down; watched him take oath and has undertaken generally to see him through.  In fact, when GIBBS pere hesitated about taking the proffered seat for the City, VICARY undertook to fill it; finally, GIBBS pere being warmly pressed, consented to sit, and VICARY stood aside.  But he will come in by-and-by, when he has given his father a turn.

[Illustration:  Late Member for the City.]

“Age before honesty, is my motto,” said VICARY, when I complimented him upon the fine feeling he has shown throughout these negotiations.  “I always think that we young fellows lose nothing by giving our elders a start.  My father, you know, sometime ago wanted to change the name of our firm.  Suggested it should be called SONS & ANTONY GIBBS.  There’s something in it; but on the whole, better leave things as they are.  ANTONY GIBBS & SONS known all over the world; always embarrassing to change style of an old firm; so, for the present, at least, we leave things alone.  Come along, Pater; think I’ll take you home now.  Never rush wildly into new engagements; you’ve had the excitement of being sworn in, and signing the roll of Parliament.  You hadn’t been in the place ten minutes before TIM HEALY gave you a chance of voting on a London City Bill, and that’s enough for one night.  By-and-by you shall stay all night and enjoy yourself in Committee on Irish Land Bill.”