The manager of Drury Lane has always had a kind
patronizing feeling towards the brute creation. In his classic walls Van Amburgh astounded mankind by putting the lamb into the same cage with the lion; and Du- crow with his stud earned those laurels which had once grown exclusively on the other side of Westminster Bridge. However opera or ballet may thrive at Drury Lane-nay, even if there be a little spirt of the legitimate drama-we may feel pretty sure that the worship of the elephant will, after an interval, return, and that the power of the camel will not be forgotten. This Easter the music of Felicien David's Desert, which achieved no re- markable success at Her Majesty's Theatre has been wedded to the story
of Lalkt Rookh, which failed there: but beasts are powerful allies, and a victory not to be attained by the music of France or the tale of Erin was accomplished by the gorgeous assemblage of camels, horses, and elephants.
Previous page
