SPORTIVE SONGS. Overlooking the Gardens of the Crystal Palace on a hazy evening in early Spring, a Disappointed Being pens some lines to One whom he hopes to recover. ALL dreamily the purple mist Creeps o'er the wooded vale, With here and there a spire sun-kissed, Like beacons of the dale. And yonder, where the tender green Here at my feet those flowers nod The hawthorn holds its sprays, The scarce-clad nymphs surveys. 'Twas on an evening just like this We'd dined on BERTRAM's best, The champagne raised our bubbling bliss, The menu gave us zest. We'd eaten new asparagus, And duckling, and green peas, Such primeurs would the gods regale, I RAVEN HII His Employer. "IT ISN'T ARABELLA!!" The Police are to be supplied with a short Serge Jacket for the warm weather. Let us hope the Serge will be thoroughly shrunk, and that we shall never see Robert as above. You whispered you would e'er be true, That I was best of men, I pointed out our church to you, It smiles to-day as then! When suddenly down came the rain With pelting crash of hail, That covered up our fair demesne In one long streaming veil. Our park was gone, our landscape bright Was desolate, forlorn; And so began that weary Night That has not found its Morn. An omen surely 'tmust have been, My banker failed next day, And all the primeurs good and green But now there comes no stormy spell I've got back all I lost, but-well, A Zoological Conundrum. Intending Tenant (to Lord BATTUSNATCH'S Head Keeper). And how about the birds? Are they plentiful, GASKINS? Gaskins. Well, Sir, if the foxes of our two neighbours was able to lay pheasants' eggs, I should say there'd be no better shooting south o' the Trent. AN ATTEMPT WARD-ED OFF.-The endeavour of the Radicals to pick a crow about Crewe. No. 669. The Disadvantage of being hung next No. 388. H.R.H. "Just a trifle, please, for my to a Battle Picture. David Farquharson. Jubilee Hospital Fund!" Julian Storey. Fertie Spiller (to Miss Wilsm, an hotel acquaintance). "OH, YES, MOTHER AND I ARE TROTTING ROUND TOGETHER. BUT DON'T YOU FIND TRAVELLING ALONE RATHER DULL?" Miss Wilson. "Nor ALTOGETHER." AH, I EXPECT YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE WHO DON'T CARE FOR ANYBODY-AND NOBODY CARES FOR YOU!" Bertie Spiller. AT BURLINGTON HOUSE. THIS, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Royal Academy Exhibition, will be memorable as the first under the Presidency of Sir EDWARD J. POYNTER. "What's an 'at without an 'ead?" wrote a very ancient author of burlesque, and, à propos of Sir EDWARD, an 'ARRY may ask, "What's a Nacademy without a NED?" Sir EDWIN LANDSEER would have rejoiced could he have foreseen that a POYNTER would take the Presidential chair at the Council of "clever dogs," all Royal Academicians. Conspicuous this year among "The Elect" are the works of JOHN SINGER SARGENT-a Sargent worthy to be a Colonel, a Singer to be reckoned among the Great Tone Poets.. No. 76. JOHN MACWHIRTER, R.A., gives us "Affric Water, looking up." This eminent artist should be at once engaged by the Amalgamated Apollinaris and Johannis Co., to illustrate the shares in these two waters "looking up. No. 77. BRITON RIVIERE, R.A., instead of such a subject as Una and the Lion, presents us to A Lady and a Donkey. The lady has just alighted, and the donkey shows no signs of moving. "If," quotes the lady to herself, "I had a donkey what wouldn't go, Would I wallop him? Oh, dear no!' But I'd dress him up in bright ribands, put a leopard's skin on his back-just to remind him of the old Esopian fable-and, whatever might be said as to his obstinacy, I would stand by him to the last-a that is, while my portrait was being painted." Look at No. 2053, female figure, which, like the lady at the Derby that wouldn't bet, "has nothing on," and is holding a scimitar in a most dangerous position. It is called Salome ('ARRY will read it out as "Sal Ome"), and is the work of Mr. BERTRAM MACKENNAL. No. 2024. Pope Leo XIII., P.M. Signor RAFFAELLI NANNINI represents his Holiness in the most smiling mood. Probably after mid-day refection. Had it been "A.M." instead of "P.M.," the expression might have been less genial. No. 1001. Calm in the Channel. Delightful little picture. Might have been aptly called, "Where all is Blue." There is no shore visible, except in the name of the artist, J. RICHARD BAGSHAWE, a grandson of that great marine painter, CLARKSON STANFIELD. No. 453. Special correspondents a hundred years ago, asking for information during an Egyptian campaign. W. C. HORSLEY. No. 445. Temptation of St. Anthony (for the thousandth time). The Saint not to be tempted by any amount of "monkeys" (no "ponies were offered), cannot be attracted by a study from the nude, or a mere bare idea, as suggested by JOHN C. DOLLMAN. Some of the demon monkeys worthy of a Walpurgis night. No. 558. Quite an ideal master of hounds. Where did he get his hunting breeches and topless boots made? Hounds apparently uffed with cotton-wool. Painted by CHARLES W. FURSE. Quite "tour de Furse." No. 580. "There's a picture for you!" Tableau Vivant! No one must leave the Academy without studying the picture, and thanking the Hanging Committee. It is called "A Trial for Bigamy," by EYRE CROWE, A.R.A. Pity it cannot be bought for an automatic show, where you "put in a penny and the figures No. 278. Congratulations to GEORGE H. BOUGHTON, R.A. He paints "according to his lights," and the effect of these torches is excellent. No. 84. Portrait of an unfortunate young gentleman, who is looking very serious, and enough to make him, as he is so leaning to the left that it is evident he has lost his balance, and has hardly anything to support him. This is by W. W. OULESS, R.A. HUBERT HERKOMER, R.A., has done a goodly number of por-will work." traits, but his gem is in the Sculpture Gallery, No. 2052, "The Presidential Badge of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours," which no lover of art should fail to see, whatever else he may not have time for in this Academy. In this room, too, note "George Alexander-bust" (absit omen! but GEORGE ALEXANDER is a theatrical manager), by ONSLOW FORD, R.A.; also a life-like bust of Sir Richard Quain, M.D., F.R.S., Most Extraordinary Physician, &c., &c., by THOMAS BROCK, not the firework maker, but the Royal Academician. GEORGE FRAMPTON's Dame Alice Owen is so marvellously life-like that the awed spectator is fully prepared to see it move its head, lift its stick, and perhaps step down and ask for a catalogue. Our artist has shown how admirably JOHN S. SARGENT has depicted Mrs. Carl Meyer and Children-quite the portrait picture of the year-on a sliding scale, a sort of drawing-room tobogganing exercise. SUMMARY.-Academy exhibition, on the whole, not up to the highest oil and water mark. EVIDENTLY TRUE.-What Sir E. MONSON said as he sailed away: "There's a large heart in this Brest." |