[Illustration:  Sentry. “HALT!  WHO GOES THERE?”

Officer. “VISITING ROUNDS.”

Sentry. “ADVANCE ONE AND RECOGNISE YERSELF.”]

* * * * *

THE NEW NOTE IN THEATRICAL ADVERTISING.

(The sort of thing we are now getting in the daily papers in place of
the antique boastings of expenditure and magnificence.)

         FRIVOLITY THEATRE.

On Monday next, at 8 o’clock, will be
produced

THE BELLE OF BELLONA,

A NEW MUSICAL ECONOMANZA IN TWO ACTS.

Largely reduced Orchestra.

Cheap Jokes.  Old Scenery.

* * * * *

DUST OF BABYLON

AT THE EMPEROR’S THEATRE.

AN UNSPECTACULAR TALE OF THE EAST.

Practically no Costumes.

Support the production that saves money on wardrobe expenses.

* * * * *

We understand that Miss Taka Topnote, the well-known revue artiste, is bringing an action for defamation against the dramatic editor of The Morning Chatterbox, who recently published a statement that her salary was fifteen hundred a week.  The lady informs us that as a matter of fact she is now drawing thirty-five shillings, with half fees for matinees.

* * * * *

Mr. Buckram, the famous actor-manager, writes:  “A great deal of nonsense has been published about the so-called stupendous sums supposed to be expended on my shows.  How such stories get about I am at a loss to imagine.  Thus my present entertainment is reported to have cost me L25,000 before the curtain rose.  All I can say is that, were this the case, the curtain would never have risen at all.  To speak by the book (which anyone is at full liberty to inspect) I find my total initial outlay to have been L43 11s. 5d., inclusive of free drinks at the dress-rehearsal.  All the members of my cast are paid as little as possible, usually in postage-stamps.”

* * * * *

It is stated that the new problem play shortly to be produced at the Vegeterion Theatre will be unique in the matter of economy.  It will be played throughout upon a bare stage, the scene represented being “A Theatre during Rehearsal.”  The cast will be entirely composed of stage hands and dramatic students; moreover, as both the dialogue and situations have been gratuitously borrowed from other works of a similar character, there will be no author’s fees.  The very gratifying result of these measures is that the management is enabled to present to the public an entertainment that has cost nothing at all.  Patriotism could no further go.

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“Meanwhile, the turnip trade is booming, and prices going higher:  People seem to be talking to them in place of potatoes.”—­Newcastle Evening Chronicle.