Part 2 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: MODERN IMPRESSIONIST ART. A MUSICAL COMEDY]

[Ill.u.s.tration: AT THE PREMIeRE

_Lady in Front Row (to her neighbour, towards the end of the second act)._ ”Who is this man next me, who's just come in,--do you know? He doesn't seem to be paying the smallest attention to the play!”

_Her Neighbour._ ”Oh, I expect he's a critic. He's probably made up his mind long ago what he's going to say of the piece; but he's just dropped in to _confirm his suspicions_.”]

NO FIRST-NIGHTER.--_First Man in the Street._ See the eclipse last night?

_Second Man in the Street._ No. Thought it might be crowded. Put off going till next week.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BILL OF THE PLAY]

[Ill.u.s.tration: AMENITIES OF THE PROFESSION.--_Rising Young Dramatist._ ”Saw your wife in front last night. What did she think of my new comedy?”

_Brother Playwright_. ”Oh, I think she liked it. She told me she had a good laugh.”

_R. Y. D._ ”Ah--er--when was that?”

_B. P._ ”During the _entr'acte_. One of the attendants dropped an ice down her neighbour's neck.”]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN

_Dora_ (_consulting a playbill_). ”Only fancy! '_As You Like It_' is by Shakspeare!”]

[Ill.u.s.tration: PRIVATE THEATRICALS. A REHEARSAL.--_The Captain._ ”At this stage of the proceedings I've got to kiss you, Lady Grace. Will your husband mind, do you think?”

_Lady Grace._ ”Oh no! It's for a _charity_, you know!”]

[Ill.u.s.tration: AN INFANT ROSCIUS.--_Stage Manager_ (_interviewing children with the idea of engaging them for a new play_). ”Has this child been on the stage?”