We’re biding our time, lad.  Your fettle is prime, lad;
    Though we’re frost-bound now, open weather must come,
  At least after Easter; and, beauty, when we stir. 
    And forge to the front, lad, we’ll just make things hum. 
  In spite of much ruction concerning Obstruction,
    I wish—­in a whisper—­we’d started before,
  And, forcing the running, discarding all cunning,
    Romped in—­as we will—­’midst a general roar!

[Footnote 1:  ADAM LINDSAY GORDON, the ardent, horse-loving Australian poet.]

* * * * *

MORE IBSENITY.

Ghosts at the Royalty.  “Alas, poor Ghosts!” A shady piece.  “No money taken at the doors” on this occasion, which is making a virtue of necessity.  This being the case, Ghosts was, and if played again will, be witnessed by an audience mainly composed of “Deadheads.”  Lively this.  The Critics have spoken out strongly, and those interested in this Ibsenity should read the criticisms presumably by Mr. CLEMENT SCOTT in The Telegraph and Mr. MOY THOMAS in The Daily News.  Stingers; but as outspoken as they are true, and just in all their dealings with this Ibsenian craze.

* * * * *

“Les Oiseaux.”—­Mrs. RAM says she pities any unfortunate man whose wife has a fearful temper.  She knows one such husband who quite quails before his wife, “and I’m not surprised,” adds Mrs. R., “for I know her, and she’s a regular ptarmigan.”

* * * * *

The Coming Census.—­CARLYLE said, “The population of the British Empire is composed of so many millions, mostly fools.”  Will the Census be taken on the First of April?

* * * * *

[Illustration:  KEPT IN THE STABLE.

HEAD GROOM.  “AH, MY BEAUTY!—­YOU HAVEN’T HAD MUCH CHANCE YET—­BUT WE
SHALL HAVE SOME OPEN WEATHER AFTER EASTER!”]

* * * * *

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

[Illustration]

The Baron can highly recommend The Wages of Sin, by LUCAS MALET.  “I am informed,” says the B. DE B.-W., “that this is the nom de plume of an Authoress.  This MALET should be Femalet.”  Be this as it may, the Baron, who is discretion itself, will not attempt to penetrate beyond the veil.  Some of the writing is a bit tall; but thank heaven, my old aesthetic friend, “O-the-pity-of-it” occurs only once; and O the pity of it when he does so, and gives a “MAUDLE and POSTLETHWAITE” tone to the passage in question.  What does “huffle” mean? (Vol.  III., p. 82.) Genius has a right to create words; and when Genius does so, the very sound of the word conveys its meaning with and frequently without the context.  “But I’m huffled,” says the Baron, “if I understand it here.”  Still “huffled” is a good-substitute for strong language, when you’re ruffled.  Don’t