A novel point introduced by Mr. TREE is that his Hamlet, entertaining an affectionate remembrance of the late YORICK, assumes a friendly and patronising air towards YORICK’s successor, a Court Fool, apparently so youthful that he may still be supposed to be learning his business.  So when His Royal Highness Hamlet has what he considers “a good thing” to say, Mr. TREE places the novice in jesting near himself, and pointedly speaks at him; as e.g., when, in reply to the King’s inquiry after his health, he tells him that he “eats air promise-crammed,” adding, with a sly look at the Court Fool, “you cannot feed capons so.”  Whereat the Fool, put into a difficult position, through his fear of offending the Prince by not laughing, or angering the King (his employer) by laughing, has to acknowledge the Prince’s witticism with a deferential, but somewhat deprecatory, snigger.

Again, when Hamlet is “going to have a lark” with old Polonius—­a proceeding in exquisitely bad taste by the way—­Mr. TREE’s Hamlet attracts the young Court Jester’s attention to his forthcoming novelty.  Now this time, as the repartee is about as rude a thing as any vulgar cad of an ’ARRY might have uttered, the professional Jester, who evidently does not owe his appointment to the Lord Chamberlain’s favour, and is exempt from his jurisdiction, grins all over his countenance, and hops away to explain the jest to some of the courtiers, while Hamlet himself, to judge by his smiling countenance, is clearly very much pleased with his own performance in showing a Jester how the fool should be played.  And this notion is consistent with the character of a Prince who takes upon himself to lecture the Actors on their own art.  There is no subtler touch in SHAKSPEARE’s irony than his putting these instructions to players in the mouth of a noble amateur.  Of the revival, as a whole, one may truthfully say, Ca donne a penser, and, indeed, the study of Hamlet is inexhaustible.

* * * * *

WITH THEIR EASTER EGGS.

The Emp-r-r of G-rm-ny.—­Presentation copy of the light and leading satirical English Paper.

The Cz-r of R-ss-a.—­Letter of regret from President C-RN-T.

The Pr-s-d-nt of the Fr-nch R-p-bl-c.—­Secretly-obtained copy of proposed treaty for a Quadruple Alliance.

The K-ng of It-ly.—­Scheme for a modus vivendi.

The P-pe.—­Duplicate copy of ditto.

Ch-nc-ll-r C-pr-vi.—­Permit for leave of absence.

Pr-nce V-n B-sm-rck.—­A song, “The Return of the Pilot.”

The M-rq-s of S-l-sb-ry.—­Date of the General Election.

The Ch-nc-ll-r of the Exch-q-r.—­Comments on the Budget.

F-rst L-rd of the Tr-s-ry.—­New rules for the game of Golf.

Rt.  Hon. W.E.  Gl-dst-ne.—­Set of Diaries for the next twenty years.