There are many remarkable persons in Round the Town.  Notably an effeminate but substantial stock-broker, who looks like a stock-jobber’s maiden-aunt in disguise.  Another important personage is a representative of the Navy, whose figure suggests as an appropriate greeting, “Hip, hip, hip, hooray!” Both these characters are well-played, and although subordinate parts, make their mark, or rather, we should say, score heavily.  Altogether; the ballet is excellent both in dances and plot.  The first is a testimony of the good head of Madame KATTI LANNER, and the last of the equally good heart of Mr. GEORGE EDWARDES.  There is no doubt that Round the Town will draw all London to see (in its realistic scenes) all London drawn!

* * * * *

WRITTEN A HUNDRED YEARS HENCE.

(FROM A COLLECTION OF COMMUNICATIONS SUPPLIED BY OUR PROPHETIC COMPILER.)

DEAR MR. PUNCH,—­Forgive me for addressing you, but the urgency of the occasion warrants the intrusion.  A hundred years since, the old Fighting Foudroyant was sold by the Admiralty to be broken up.  The moment the Public of the Period learned the cruel fact through the customary sources of information, they flew to the rescue.  Headed by the then LORD MAYOR, they raised a fund to bring back the discarded vessel, and yet in those distant days there were they who denied that the Foudroyant had ever done anything in particular.  And now we propose doing the same thing.  On the Thames there is an ancient steamboat called Citizen Z, that once belonged to the Company that started penny river lifts.  It is certainly rather out of date, but is full of historical memories.  It is said that the Cabinet travelled to Greenwich on its venerable boards, where they feasted on the half-forgotten Whitebait, and the entirely, superseded Champagne.  It has carried, at one time or another, all the nobility to Rosherville, there to spend (as the old saying went) “a happy day,” and yet it is proposed to break it up!  Out upon the thought!  Have we no veneration for our relics of the past?  Cannot we appreciate a boat that should have had an honoured place in the Museum at Woolwich?  Do not let this act of Vandalism be done.  Save the steamer for the sake of its past.

Yours truly, A REAR-ADMIRAL.

H.M.S.  Electric-Balloon, Skye.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,—­I appeal to you, and I know I shall not appeal in vain.  The picturesque Cabman’s Shelter in the middle of Piccadilly is threatened!  I hope you will exert your influence to preserve it.  It absolutely teems with historical associations.  Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL is supposed to have used it for writing his famous letter on the Poor-Laws, and to this day is shown the initials of CHARLES STUART PARNELL which were carved by that celebrated statesman on one of its benches about the middle of the last century—­probably in 1854.  And why is it to be removed?  Simply because it is said to impede the traffic!  Could anything be more absurd?  Do, pray, save it from the hand of the ruthless “improver.”  Yours truly,