Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.

among the many trim-bnilt wherries moored alongside one which suited our mutual fancy for fche trip . We were soon shoved off by a jolly old waterman , who with a grin which bespoke the honesty of him who grinned it , exclaimed " Safe sir ! Safe aa any three-decker , sir , I'll warrant her . Keep well mid-scream , gen'lemen , and yer'll be as right as a mail . Pleasant voyage , and safe return , gen'lemen . "

The scene was bathed in a flood of golden sunshine , and all around wa = i gladsome , blithe and happy . Our little bark glided swiftly down wifch tho stream , with little exertion required on our parts , and we skimmed pasfc stately mansions whose gardens ran down to the water ' s edge , and farther on a towing-path where children gambolled

in unrestrained freedom while their elders sought shelter from the glare and beat of the sun's rays beneath overhanging clumps of hawthorn , which burdened the air with delicious fragrance . On fche lawns on either side of us little garden parties were in the full swing of gaiety here and there , and whispers of music were waffcod across

the river almost afc every bend . All the quiet riverside seemed glad , as ifc should be , in keeping wifch such a glorious afternoon . We had just swept by one of the eyots whioh intersect the stream at this point , and were in reverie almost , absorbed by thafc peculiar charm and calm which aro always so overpowering on a hot day ,

upon the river , when we were startled by a piercing shriek , as if from ono in distress . A splash in the water , some thirty yard a or more distant , and then calm as before ; but as we rowed back to the spot whence the sound proceeded , Jack almost shrieked" Mv God . ' Harry , it ' s a woman in the water !"

With almost supernatural agility I plunged into the swiffcly-running sfcream , bnt the current hm * led mo aside from the white garments of which I had jnst oanghfc a momentary glimpse as I flung myself over the boat ' s side . Obviously we were both floating in the same direction , and as a moment more brought us into deep water , the

movement become more still , and by a strong stroke or two , I caught the lifeless form in my arms , and brought it to the surfac ? . Jack had stuck manfully to the boat , for the double reason that he was no swimmer and that he conld follow and render more assistance than had we both been in the water . He grasped mo with his strong

arm as we came up , and in a moment we were drifting along towards the nearest ; indentation on the banks , whioh we reached in safety . The old ferryman was just about to paddle across with a party of pleasure seekers , but caught sight of us when we were within a few yards of him , and with the instinct of one who is used

to such scenes , he grasped me and my lovely burden in his brawny embrace , and towed us ashore , as he afterwards explained to us , " in a jiffy . " In the few minutes during which the exciting scene had taken to enact , I had caught a brief glimpse of the beautiful features of the

maiden whom I thanked God from the bottom of my heart I had been able , wifch Jack ' s help , to rescue . She was apparently about nineteen or twenty years of age , with hair flowing in light golden

tresses over finely chiselled features ; but in fche moment of deathly alarm , and to all appearance dead , the countenance was of marble whiteness—as one sees in the gallery of the sculptor , amidst the divinities of the artist ' s conception .

When we laid her tenderly upon the turf by fche old boat-honse , there was no evidence whatever of animation , and with tho shock and immersion in the water , I too felfc sick and giddy , and shonld have swooned also , bufc for the joy of having plucked oue so young and beautiful from the very jaws of death .

" Why ! bless my soul , if it ain't our young Miss Adeline up at the 'All ! " I heard the old ferryman ejaculate , in accents of agonised alarm . " Look sharp , lads ! for God ' s sake ! Help !" I was powerless from exhaustion , and it was through a dim vista that I saw them carry the motionless body away , through the little

gate , and into the avenue , where I could no longer follow them ; and then with a buzzing in my ears , and a sudden rushing as of mighty waters through my brain , I reeled back unconscious into tho arms of the bystanders , who had just before been waiting in the ferry boat to cross over . ( To be continued . )

Phoenix Lodge, No. 257.

PHOENIX LODGE , No . 257 .

THERE was an influential meeting at this Lodge on Saturday , 27 th ult ., on the occasion of the installation of Bro . Arther Jollifle as the W . M . for the year ensuing . The dnties of Installing Master wero performed in an admirable manner by Bro . Ernest Hall P . M . P . G . Svperintendenfc of Works . After the ceremony the newly installed W . M . appointed his Officers for the year , as follow : —Bros .

Gordon Miller I . P . M ., Col . J . F . Crease , C . B ., S . W ., W . G . P . Gilbert J . W ., Dr . J . B . O'Connor P . M . P . P . G . S . W . Treasurer , H . Drummond Secretary , Rev . G . H . De Fraine P . M . P . G . Chap . Chaplain , Major Campbell S . D ., S . B . Darwin J . D ., Captain Kennedy I . G ., George

Rako P . M . P . P . G . W . D . C , A . 0 . B ^ yly A . D . C ., C . W . Long and A . W . C . Peskett Stewards , G . D . Lovegrove Organist . Amongst , those present were Bros . M . E . Frost P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., G . B . Irons W . M . 903 , Rev . A . C . Hervey W . M . 309 , Westaway W . M . Duke of

Connaught Lodge , No . 1834 , J . E . Bnch W . M . Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 342 , T . Batchlor W . M . 1705 , H . Cook W . M . 1069 , J . Collings W . M . 804 , W . E . Atkins P . M ., H . J . Guy P . M ., J . S . Beohervaise , R . G . Hellyer , G . E . Kent jun ., C . J . E . Mumby P . M ., R . W . Beal « P . M ., H . Cawte P . M . P . P . G . W ., S . K . Ellis P . M . P . P . G . D . C , J . VV . Giove W . M . elect 309 , J . Read sen ., C . J . E . Erskine , J . Brickwood P . M ., T . R . Williams P . M ., E . W . Jollifife .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

ROYALTY .

THOSE amongst us who can remember Charles Mafchews > n tbe days of his glory , and those who have listened with more or less incredulity to what fche fogies say of that delight of their youth , shonld assuredly nofc fail to visit the Royalty whilst Colombey is rattling through fche wild fun and nonsense of " Le Reveillon " ( Ringing in the New Year ) . The same brilliancy seems to pervade him . Never since our Charles has left us have we seen the like .

" Le Reveillon " ia to be given until 7 fch January , and though aa a drama it is certainly inferior to most of the plays which the French company have offered us , yet the character so well suits the idiosyn . crasies of the actors that ifc will assuredly be one of ] the most popular . The story is slight enough . M . Gaillardin , a highly

respectable country gentleman ( Colombey ) , is found , when the curtain rises , in greafc tribulation , having just been condemned to " eight days " as a first-class misdemeanant . An old servant of hia has been raised to the dignity of a garde ohampetre , and M . Gaillardin , forgetting the change , calls him an "imbecile . " Sum .

moned for this offence before his old friend the local justice , when called on fco declare his name he has laughed afc fche absurdity of tho question , and laughed the more when tho assessor and the clerk reiterate fche demand , till finally he is condemned to eight days for contumely .

He has to deliver himself up that evening , and begs his wife to look out his old garden coat and worst ; pair of boots . She departs for the purpose , when to him enters his lawyer ( Ricquier ) , who invites him to " see the old year out" at a jovial party to be given by a certain Russian Prince , staying in the neighbourhood . Gaillardin

hesitates , but on hearing there are to be some charming Parisian actresses there , the chance is too tempting . He has never spoken to an actress before ! But the old garden coat ! He must explain to his wife that , like the aristocrats of old who went to the scaffold in powder and family jewels , he too would adorn for the sacrifice and

put on his best dress suit . Ifc was a perfect essay on martyrdom to watch Colombey ' s face as he declared his intention . He bids his wife farewell for eight days—for of course he intends to surrender next morning in the smalt hours . The door scarcely closes on him when she is startled , very unpleasantly , by the appearance of a long-haired

musical genius , her very lyrical adorer , the leader of the Russian Prince ' s band . Whilst he is alternately helping himself to the soup prepared for her departed lord , and declaring his devotion , footsteps are heard , and fche Director of the Prison ( Dalbert ) enters , and with the greatest politeness states M . Gaillardin is wanted . Madam , in

terror of being compromised , has turned the lamp down , and the irrepressible lyrisfc has wrapped himself in the dressing gown of the absent master of the house . The Director of course concludes he sees his prisoner before him . The musician would explain , but in vain ; the lady faints , and the curtain falls on the first act . With

the second we fiud Gaillardin , having a good time with the young prince and his very sprightly convives , among them the Prison Governor , who assnmes tbe style of Count Indquechose for the occasion . Gaillardin , too , is introduced as Marquis de Val ¦ Gougat . The snpper party , gathered round the table , is of tho liveliest , and

tbe jokes and laughter flying about have an admirable foil in the solemn statuesque dignity of the six servants , who stand behind the chairs as motionless as heraldic supporters , except when they , as ifc were automatically , fill the guests' glasses . Rose Leon , as the principal lady , catches the tone of mischievous raillery exactly

suited to the Parisienne " student of rural simplicity . Between her fascinations and the champagne , Gaillardin soon shows the results of FO seeing the Old Year out . A quadrille follows the supper , and Gaillardin and the governor distinguish themselves by a brilliant " pastourelle . " Then midnight sounds , and both must

away , the former to surrender himself to durance , the latter fco resume his duties . The governor first reaches his destination , and Dalbert gave a most comic picture of the greafc official's attempt to maintain his dignity and his equilibrium , whilst conscious of the difficulty , during an interview wifch the gaoler , who is suffering

from that satane cogniac . Gaillardin appears , and is bewildered to find his Marquis ( the governor ) here ; the latter no less afc the appearance of the Count ; bufc when Gaillardin confesses his real name , he is laughed afc by both governor and turnkey , for is not the real delinquent already safe in cell No . 11 ? When at last the two

Gaillardins are confronted , we have a magnificent bit of comedy . Colombey , determined to learn the worst , has borrowed the gown and cap of his advocate , who comes to the prison , and offers to take up the case of the sham Gaillardin . He glories in the martyrdom , and it is nofc till Colombev has been driven wild by his suspicions and

rhapsodical nonsense of the mysterious " other , ' that the etnbroglio is cleared up . We may hope he will better appreciate the society of a charming wife , and avoid for the future ringing in tho new year in doubtful company . With so excellent a caste we might well praise each

exponent ; especially good was the turnkey of M . Schey ; bufc why will he so greatly abuse the rouge pat ? M . Ricquier gave a finished portrait of tho country lawyer . Mdlle . Robert too was an admirable country cuisiniere .

At the Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction , No . 1614 ; held at the Bedford Head Hotel , Maiden Lane , Covent Garden , on Thursday , 8 fch January , the ceremony of installation will be rehearsed . A ballot will also be taken for a snbscribership to one of the Royal Masonic Institutions . Lodge will be opened at 8 p . m .