"Olympia" At Kensington.

" OLYMPIA" AT KENSINGTON .

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR . J . S . WOOD .

WHAT ia Olyrnpia ? Who ia Mr . Wood ? Olympia is tho name of that vast palace of g lass and iron which is raising its head in the midst of fashionable Kensington . Its full title is tho National Agricciltaral Hall—far too long for the pablio to make nse of , and it is

promoted by a company with very rosy prospects . Its directorate comprises many names woll known in social and financial circles Mr . Wood is the general manager of this great scheme , whioh is to be devoted to exhibitions , shows , sports , and pastimes of overy description , always grautiug they are of a "high order . " Ho it was

who inaugurated those marvellous Fancy Fairs and Old English Shows which took tho town by storm a year or two ago . He ifc is who is now the organizing head of this vast undertaking which is to put Barnnm to the blush . Olympia is to be opened before Boxin " Day with an entertainment that should draw all London . In ordei

to get the earliest information , we despatched a representative to see Mr . Wood about London ' s new palace of recreation and nmnaemeut . I was surprised ( he says ) to find so discreet and sober a gentleman as Mr . Wood surrounded by beautiful posters , showing vivacious

Dianas in red habits taking ten . barred gates amid the congratulations of the multitude ; or vivid chromos of the interior of Olympia , with a Roman tournament in fall swing ; or dazzling representations of chariot races . Bat pictorial art plays au important part in these things . Mr . Wood is no amatenr showman , though he is new at this

branch of the busiuess , and I found him at least as smart as Mr . Barnnm . He is up to every wrinkle , and knows more than a thing or two . To him Olympia is the centre of the universe . " Where is Olympia ? " said Mr . Wood . " Olympia is actually on the Addison Road Station , which is in direct communication with every part of

the country . This is no figure of speech , for it lies equidistant between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction , and the trains of half a dozen different railways are passing every few minutes . As for road communication , one entrance is on the main road , and Mr . Church tells me that the London General Omnibus Company are

prepared to put on airy number of extra 'buses , although there are forty-six of them now chasing each other in close pursuit . The idea originated with Colonel Bumaby , who sought for some great Metropolitan arena where all the arts of war and peace ' might bo centralized and developed . His soldier !) ' instinct mado him long for a

Colisenm-liko structure , in which combatants might do full justice to themselves iu a great military or other tou-nament . This germ has swollen to its present huge dimensions . The Company owns 12 acres of most valuable freehold ground . Tho buildings cover 4 acres , and tho great hall itself 2 i acres of ground . "

" The soatiug , Mr . Wood continued , " will bo in the torm of a vast amphitheatre , divided iuto boxes , stalls , grand circle , amphitheatre , aud two extensive promenades , holding some 9 , 000 people . Besides the great hall , there are many accessories iu the way of side shows . We shall let space for exhibitions , shows , concerts , fetes ,

tournaments , contests , races , sports , balls , fairs , theatrical and equestrian performances , lectures , dinners , meetings , amusements , and entertainments of any description . There are already plenty of applications , and wo can accommodate ali , so loug as they aro high in tone . 'The gardens of Olympia' will be a special feature and

attraction , with its musical promenade , lawn tennis courts , & c . There is nothing that may not be done , so extensivo are our resources : yes , —even to an artificial presentment of Canada ' s national sport of tobogganing . " Having put Mr . Wood through his facings , I next asked him to

give me some details of this marvellous Paris Hippodrome which ia to bo the opening attraction . Those who know their Paris know their Hippodrome , for it has been tho most popular show of the gay capital for some years . Those who do not know their Paris will understand from what follows that the Hippodrome will be an

entertainment which will worthily inaugurate so great an undertaking as Olympia . Listen to Mr . Wood's account . " Yes ; tho opening event , at Olympia wil ! bo representations by the groat Hippodrome from Paris , with its entire stall' of artists , stud , properties , and accessories . The horses , ponies , elephants , packs of hounds , stags , & c ,

number more thau 250 . There aro o 00 artists , assistants , and servants , and au orchestra of seventy performers . Why , tho cost of transit from Paris to London will bo £ 2 , 000 . Tho great track in which the tournament displays will take place is 100 feet wider and longer than the largest similar track anywhere in England . It will

take yon five minutes to walk round it . in such a space horses can go at their wildest speed , while a brigade of ; vi tillcry may gallop at full stretch , g iving a reality to m mio warfare impossible in any othei

ball . Among the proper ties and reoessories to bo brought over In Vhu Hippodrome is th « civvnwgo . of His Royal Highness the- Dukts o ! Brunswick , dated 1802 . It is a large gala chariot , similar to thost seen in the German Court at tho commencement of tho present

century ; also the carriage of the khedivr , mado lor the \ iceroy of Egypt , Said I'asha , the panels of which are of engraved crystal . This was awarded tho first p'ace afc the Paris Exhibition of 160 ' J . These tvvo magnificent equipages are drawn by four horses , and unused to convey tlie artists round the track and to the ' magic circle . ' It would be too far for thorn to walk from tho mane '¦/ r- ; . Our

harness room , continued Mr . Wood , " contains typos or saddlery of th Middle Ages and the Renaissance , and ; . i collect ion of saddles aud bridles from Spain , Arabia , aud Turkey sufficient , for the equipmen

Of 400 horses . There arc neaaly 300 suits of German and lfrenoi armour tor men and horses , which set tea for the repru .-entmion o : the great tournaments . Tho costumes arc by M . Thomas , thedesignet to the Grand Opera at Paris . "

Then has the Hippodtome any special features , Mr . Wood ?" Yes . lo is as unlike the ordiuury circus to which London is accustomed as tlie Derby race is to the parlour game of that name . Why , in one of the great comic pautomimea a railway is constructed within

"Olympia" At Kensington.

three minutes , and a veritable train appears with locomotivo , tender , and waggons , carrying more than a hundred , travellers at express speed . In another of th ? ir representations a real stag hunt is represented with every regard t- > the truth of detail . The pack of hounds wero lately the property of tho Due d'Aumate . One of tho

most exciting and popular attrai t ' ons of tho show is tho revival of tho chariot races which so delighted tho lt > mian people in tho Coliseum at tho time of tho Ca > 3 ara . Some of the chariots aro drawn b y four and others by eight horses . There aro also exact representations of tho ancient Roman race ( tho Olympian race )—the ' post , ' with

thirty-two horses , in which tho rider stands on two horses , racing thirty others yoked together . " Altogether , tho performances of tho llippodromo may be said to bs unique . The managouieut was wise iu introducing the Paris Hippodrome as the- opening event at Olvmpia . —Pall Mall Gazette .

A LODGE s IIKSPONSIISILITY . —A Lodge is , morally , responsible tor the support of the distressed and destitute of its own membership , whether thoy reside within its jurisdiction or otherwise . It is equally responsible for the relief of tho widows nr . d orphans of its own membership . They belong to tho Lodgo of whioh tho decoasod was

a member , and that Lodge is primarily responsible for aid furnished thorn . A brother in distress should apply to his own Lodgo for aid ; but if the brother is not able to make the application to his own Lodge , or if the Lodge is unable to render tho required rulieij owinsr to the fact of the brother ' s removal or absence from their

midst , the Lodge is as much responsible aa though he were in the jurisdiction thereof . It is not claimed that a Lodge is nnder any obligation to aid tho brother of another Lodgo whilst ho resides iu the jurisdiction of his own Lodge ; why should it be if he doe 3 not so reside ? Does mere absence from the jurisdiction of the Lodge

absolve that body from its obligations to aid and assist ? It is supposed that one Lodge will deal honourably with another , and that only such assistance will be given as the circumstances of tho case may require . If tho Lodgo to which the brother belonged is able , it

shonld return , gratefully , the money expended ; if it is not able , aud the membership is not able , it should have the same charity extended to it by the Lodge assisfciug . To establish any other mode of procedure would , iu our opinion , bo exceedingl y dangerous . —• Loxiisana' Proceedings .

DOES IT FAY TO UE A . MASO . Y . — lo ono who w . mtr to jo ' n tho Masonic Order for the pecuniary bonelit ho will derive from being a member , for tho assistance ho will r .-ceivo iu his business , or from any reason of a similar nature , we would say , " No , it duos not p ; y

to bo a Mason . lo one who desires ID join tho Order for tho purpose , of participating in its charitable work , to take pa : fc ia tho dissemination of the great truths , and principles which it teaches , to try aud live so that ho will be known as a Mason , by his cit tri'y fct his follow man , his love of truth , his observance of his country ' s laws —to all such wo would sav , " Yes , it pays to bo a Mason . "

TiiiiKK oEXKit . vt'ioxs i . v ONK Lorxst- ' ..- -Alexandria Lodge , No . 2 . Jo , Alexandria , In- ' ., lias the representatives of throe generations—says tho Masonic Adcocate—iu one family iu tho Lod ^ e , —grandfather , father , and sou , by ihu lvuno of Vermilion .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not kohl oursdves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . ALL Letters must hear tlie name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but ns a gniruntcr , of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

Masonic Rellef, In Theory And Practice.

MASONIC RELLEF , IN THEORY AND PRACTICE .

To the Editor of the FUKKJIASON S GIIIIONICT . P :. DEAU Sill AND liRDTiiKit , —1 have read your . article on Masonio Relief in your issue of tho 2 o ; U inst ., in which y < -u , at the conclusion observe , that , if cettuin suggestions made in it weio acted upon , Masonic 1 ' iouovoleicv : would bo less ; of a name and more cf a , reality

that it is tit present , and special prominence , is given to tho obtaining for , or giving employment to , . Masons I am a Freemason ; so is my lather . 1 am not aware that ever in my life have I obtained a sis nation , or bo -n ictubied in one , because 1 was a Freemason : in fact I nev- r embrace-1 r- ' iv-maS'mrv on

account of anyihing una canary . I am a man over tnirt-. ; and vhen daring the fe . v times I nave been out , of employ mm t I hav > applied preierentiully t > Freemason .-, I never receive-i any hel p ; r til thorn , and employment always came Irum quarters whore there was no Masonic intliieme ot any kind of sort , i nave known of a mm not

a Mason promoted over the head o ! a m . iii ( far sup- r , or in his liim ' s interest ) who was a Froemascn , and this , too , b y a man who was : i Mason ! Iu some instances Freemasonry is a disadvantage—or cause for oersectition , when Freemason * happou to be among Ram in C . tai 1 cs ,

through their enmity and intrigues . Aa vcgauls Freemasons iu position helping their ' nvt ^ r u by maintaining thorn preferentially in i heir employment , I may say that

t am at this moment out of work ; one of several fi o nnasims w ! i i vere parted with some mouths ago in consequence ot i ho t . nipm-ory reduction ofstatl'in a railway otliee , when otneis who were n , t b'r , omasons were pief reniialiy kept on ; and tnis , loa , at the ha ; . its oi' a Freemason , although he himself tuis since h-c . 1 to leave . Yours fraternally , GKOIUIK 'JI . WAI ; > .