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_.
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