Red noses;
  Pools, splashes,
    Spouts, spirts;
  Swollen sashes. 
    Gutters, squirts;
  Limp curls,
    Splashed hose;
  Pretty girls,
    Damp shows;
  Piled grates,
    Cold shivers;
  Aching pates,
    Sluggish livers;
  Morn cruel,
    Eve a biter;
  Hot gruel,
    Sweet nitre;
  Voice a creaky
    Cracked cadenza,
  Face “peaky,”
    INFLUENZA!!! 
  Gloom growing,
    Glum, glummer
  Noses (and nothing else) blowing,—­
    That’s Summer!

* * * * *

OPERATIC NOTES.

We’re quite the gay Frenchmen now at the Italian Opera:  Faust in French, Manon in French, Romeo et Juliette in French, Le Prophete in French; American singers, and Dutch singers—­for if Mr. VAN DYCK isn’t as much a Double Dutchman as VANDERDECKEN or any other Van, except PICKFORD & CO.’s, then am I myself a Dutch native—­and, by the way, I’m always equal to a dozen of ’em any time during the right and proper season.  Not for many a long day and night has there been a better show at Covent Garden.  Miss EAMES, the Brothers DE RESZKE, VAN DYCK, MELBA; the two RAVOGLI girls, specially GIULIA, as tuneful contralto; MAUREL, the cultured artist; SIBYL SANDERSON, the simple child of Nature; AGNES JANSON, with more sauce Hollandaise; marvellous MRAVINA for the French Queen, “with a song;” and, above all, Madame ALBANI, in tip-top voice, acting and singing better than ever.

Tuesday.—­June 2 was a Diamond Night in front.  H.R.H.’s present:  Diamond Queens and Princesses of Society all on view.  DRURIOLANUS, in his glory, beams on everyone.

Wednesday.—­State Ball counter-attraction to Opera.  Won’t do to go in rumpled silks and satins, and drooping feathers, like hens after the rain, to a Court Ball.  So Opera suffers; those present trying to look as if they had been invited to State Ball, but didn’t care about going, or couldn’t go, on account of recent family affliction.  However, as DRURIOLANUS is reported to have appeared in full fig at State Ball, he couldn’t expect others less interested in the performance than himself to cut the Court and come to the Opera.  To-night, M. PLANCON as Mephistopheles, a thinner demon than Brother NED DE RESZKE, but un bon diable tout de meme.

Friday Night.—­Notable for excellent performance of Rigoletto, or The Little Duke and The Big Duck respectively personified by Signor RAVELLI and GIULIA RAVOGLI.  Three “R"s in such a combination.  Quite “R’s Poetica.”  Beg pardon.

“Tag” on the week,—­if our friends in front are pleased as they appear to be, then DRURIOLANUS and Council—­not the County, but the Covent Garden Council—­are satisfied. Curtain.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  HONEY-MOONING IN ITALY.

Fair American Bride.  “OH, JOHN!  TO THINK THAT PERHAPS VIRGINIUS STABBED HIS DAUGHTER ON THIS VERY SPOT, AND THAT JUST OVER THERE TELLIA DROVE OVER HER POOR FATHER’S DEAD BODY!”