The Regent Mistake In The Boys' Scrutiny .

prominently under notice , but they are not to blame . The system under which the votes are checked haa existed for years , and has beon revised from time to time , additional safeguards being introduced and every care beinf exercised to ensure a curacy and justice . But the

system has failed , failed so far as to be utterly -worthless for future operation , and we can hardly imagine how any one should feel satisfied in allowing the matter to pass without recognising the need for alteration . We believe the scrutineers conscientiously discharge their duties , and

we are quite ready to believe that errors are of very rare occurrence , so rare indeed that there is really no necessity for alarm , unless , as our correspondent argues , we are to be alarmed at the bare possibility of such consequences as he points out , and which are in themselves sufficiently serious to cause considerable anxiety .

Ifc has always been a matter of surprise , we may say admiration to us , to see the rapidity with which the result of tbe elections is made known after the close of the poll , and we conld hardly imagine how so many votes could be counted and properly checked in the time . After taking

part in one of the scrutinies we were initiated into the mysteries of tho procedure , but we cannot say we were satisfied as to the certainty of accuracy , for it must he recognised that , in a manner of speaking , the work is

performed by the few who are accustomed to it , by frequently serving , rather than by the whole body of scrutineers . It is hardly to be expected that scrutineers new to the work can at once fall into its intricacies , and it

is comparatively easy for an error to occur whore many of those engaged on tho scrutiny are working more at cross purposes with their fellows—though quite unintentionally so—than in unison with each other . It must not be supposed either that we are finding fault

with the scrutineers ; they are no more to blame than the executive Officers of fche Institution . They havo a certain duty set before them , and perform it to the best of their ability ; individually they succeed , bufc collectively there is room for error , and in the interests of the scrutineers

themselves they should be protected from this possibility for the future , or , as " LOOKBR-ON " observes , there may be a difficulty in finding brethren willing to accept the duties at future contests . It is almost useless arguing that perfection can be assured ; the most experienced

electioneering Craftsmen have been guilty at one time or other of polling unsigned or uncompleted proxies , and accordingly must nofc blame others for passing errors , especially in view of the fact that in the one case perhaps

days are available for the preparation of their papers , while in the other thousands have to be dealt wifch in a few hours . Now that a probable cause of error has been discovered no pains should be spared to render it as nearly inoperative as possible .

EBRATA . —In our lasfc issue , on page 277 , under the heading Scotland , line 9 , for H . D . Anderson read H . D . Sandeman . In line 27 of same report for Sanderson read Sandeman .

Monday , the 23 rd instant , has been fixed for the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire , to bo held at Exeter . Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., the Provincial Grand Master , will preside .

Brother J . E . Shand , P . M . City of Westminster Lodge , No . 1563 , having completed ten years' service as Secretary and 17 years as member , having mooted his resignation , a committee has been formed—the W . M . Bro . Charles

Filhon as President , and Brother E . B . Cox P . M . P . P . Standard Bearer Bucks , 73 Wigmore Street , W „ as Treasurer—to arrange for a substantial testimonial to be presented to him , afc the next meeting , in recognition of his past services to the Lodge .

variStaM of tpm ^ r ,. ^* OiNTMEKT .-. Dnrin ( r piercing winds nnd excessive eSnaldiseaU T ^ n « J r ^ 7 r ? 5 s ? me or le 8 S liable t 0 * ntornal and deeree „ , & ¦ hroat 1 \ ches ' - l' ™ r , bowels , kidneys , and skin all suffer in some dole ! ofIhe wS ? f ° TCle ^ ? rttbb ™ 8 in this Ointment , aided by proper in truth X ona whn ; l mm , Ste , ' ; which fn " directions accompany each box ; remedying 5 i ° SJ JX ° Jou 8 b *™ 'er , Holloway's " instructions » will , in All b ^ nchia nn 1 mnnn ^ W " 0 ? ' ? - h ° Ur for the P TotiloS a »« " «« " «¦ hould he thoroS-Xlv ^ an ' th i roat Aw **<*» ™\™™ that the Ointment * ogtu » ritVcon-SdfIiH « K - ? ubbed npon the skin twicc a day , with great < -t * ui » ruy , considerable briskness , and much persistence .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Criterion . —A very intprestioer play , ID foar art 0 , ertitled "Tha Fringe of Society , " was produced bore la a t Saturday , which bids fair to prove an attraction for some time to oome , in spite of mnch tuive- nn criticism . The piece is adapted from the French , so it ia stated ; bnt it is essentially English both in pi t and dinlognn , lb » latter

beiner full of pungent , witty and telling t-nvinc " . Sir Charles Hartley , U . A ., after bein ^ betrothed to u Mrs . Eve-Allen , ascertai'm that she is wne divorcee , and therefore severs the eneatremeni-, but upon hrr solicitation promises to preserve her secret . When , however , hia friend Arthur Cuthbert falls a victim to the lady ' s

wiles , ho detoimines to save him , without however hre » kin- > his promise . This idea has been several times seen on the st ige , but the manner in which the denouement is bron » ht about is novel . Mr . Charles Wyndham , as Hartley , appears in quite a nfw ohnract « r , which is in itself welcome , hut he plays the part with such nice

balance that it is doubly acceptable . Mrs . Lans-try is maki'ier rapid strides in her profession , and comes well out of a trying position , as the " speckled peaob . " Mr . E . H . Vnnderfelt is easv and gentle , manlike as Cuthbert , while Mr . Cjril Maude , Mr . Blakeley , Miss Carlotta Addison , and Miss Ellis Jeffreys fill iu some clever sketches .

Court . —The re-opening of this Theatre , under the manaseraent of Mr . Arthur Chudleigh , was the means of drawing a full and appreciative audience . The management has relied on a triple bill , with tbe now popular and bright " Pantomime Eehearsal " as chief attraction , and judging from the laughter with which it was greeted

it will remain so for some time to come . The first piece is a one act play by Mr . Seymour Hicks , and although uot of the best quality , will prove interesting . Major Ensor and Mrs . Dartlington , old sweethearts , after twenty year ' s separation , during whioh time tbe lady has been married and is now left with one son , are brought

together by the yonng man fighting a dnel as subaltern with a captain of his regiment . The dnel , although a sham one , has such an impression on the young soldier that after standing fire he falls in a faint , and is brought ronnd by the kindly attention of tbe major . This so pleases Mrs . Dartlington that she at once avows her

constancy to the major , and thia being to the major s liking , all ends happily . This little piece is well acted by Mr . Brandon Thomas and Miss Gertrude Kingston , as the' major and the widow respectively , while able support is accorded them by Messrs . 0 . P . Little , Elliot , Compton Coutts , Ernest Bertram , Vaughan , and Wilfred Draycott .

The next piece is Mr . W . S . Gilbert ' s tragic episode in three tableaux , entitled "Rosencrantz and Gnildenstero . " This skit upon " Hamlet" is , probably , new to most of those who see it , but the fun and humorous dialogue will surely make it a favourite . Mr . Brandon Thomas was tiuly comic as the King , while as the Queen Mis-i

Gertrude Kingston was most fasinating . Mr . Weedon Grossmith was quaint as Hamlet , his sly humour standing him in good stead in such a part , while Mies Decima Moore was charming as Ophelia . The other parts were undertaken by Messrs . Elliot , C . P . Little , W . L . Branscomhe , B . Koohforfc , aud Miss May Palfrey . As we

have already said , the chief attraction of the evening is " A Pantomime Eehearsal , " and here Messrs . Weedon Grossmith and Brandon Thomas , as Lord . Arthur Pomeroy and Captain Tom Robinson respectively , were aa successful as hitherto ; the fun of the

pisce was ably brought out by these capable actors . Good support was accorded by other members of tha company , already mentioned , and by the Misses Ellaline Terriss , Decima Moore , May Palfrey and Christine Noel , aa the four young ladies who are such a worry to th » aspiring author . We wish Mr . Chudleigh every gnooess in hia new venture .

Saturday , the 14 th inst ., has been appointed for the private view of the Summer Exhibition ( the twenty-seventh ) of the 19 th CentU'y Art Society , at the Conduit street Galleries , and the exhibition will open to the public on Monday , the 16 th inst .

The East Surrey Lodge of Concord Lodge of Instruction , No . 463 , went into recess on Tuesday ; it will resume work in September next .

Lord Saltoun has been elected Worshipful Master of the Scots Lodge , No . 2319 . Brother H . B . Eitchie , CO ., bag been elected Treasurer of the Lodge .

Sir Matthew White Ridley , member for the Blackpool Division , paid his Fleetwood constituents a visit on the 27 th ult . Tn the afternoon he unveiled a stained glass window at Sfc . Peter ' s Church , presented by the Freemasons

of the Fylde district , in memory of the late Brother Doctor Orr . After the ceremony Sir Matthew , who is Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland , was entertained to luncheon by the local Freemasons .

On the 29 th nit . a most interesting exhibition was held in the Lodge Rooms , Tuokey Street , Cork , in connection with the forthcoming grand bazaar , to take placo in Dnblin on the occasion of Ihe centenary of the Masonic Female Orphan School . The exhibition consisted of a costly and beantifnl collection of articles which have been sent in by the friends of the Order in Mnngter for tbe Provincial Stall ,