The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Prilicess ' s . —Mr . Arthur Law ' s dramatic version ol Mr . Fergus Hume's " Mystery of a Hansom Cab , " which was recently produced here , ia not likely to become so popular as fche book . The reason for our saying this is obvious . Carelessly constructed , and badly written , the best features of the book are absorbed in the first act ,

by which means the interest that shonld be aroused in the search for fche murderer of Oliver Wbyte is entirely lost . Of course the dramatic author ia placed afc great disadvantage . Except by careful writing he is obliged to show who commits the murder , while in a book ifc is different . So ifc is with the piece under notice . Mr . Law

shows clearly who is the murderer , and thus he has to rely wholly on fche complications thafc arise through suspicion falling on the wrong man , and thus to excite the interest of his audience . When we say that the plot ; of the drama is simply a repetition of the book—some of the dialogue being word for word with fche original—with the

murder in the hansom cab , the subsequent arrest of Brian Fitzgerald , and the attempt on tbe part of Moreland to levy blackmail from Mark Fretfclby , it will easily be seen thafc Mr . Law has followed closely ou the lines of the book . The only point of difference is the ending . Moreland , after a struggle , shoots himself , bufc Mark

Fretfclby seems to revive , leaving us to hope he will repent ol his earlier sina . The piece does not give scope for brilliant acting , but Mr . J . H . Barnes is earnest as Fitzgerald . Mr . James Fernandez has very few opportunities as Mark Frettlby , except in the sleep walking scene , and of this he makes the most . Messrs . Harry Parker and

Frank Wright are amusing as the detectives , while Mr . W . L . Abingdon is good aa Moreland . Mr . Bassetfc Roe , in the small part of Whyte , scored well , while Mr . Forbes Dawson and Miss Cicely Richards were exceedingly funny as aristocratic " spongers . " Miss Eva Sothern was most winning as Madge Fretfclby ; Miss Grace

Hawthorne did fairly well as Sal Rawlins , while Mrs . Frank Huntley was terribly in earnest as old Mother Guttersnipe . Miss Cooper-Parr , aa Rosanna Moore , was effective , and the Mrs . Sampson of Miss Dolores Drummond was an amusing and laughable impersonation . We hear , notwithstanding its faults , thafc the piece is being played fco good houses , and is likely to keep fche bill for some time fco come .

The one hundredth performance of " The Woman Hater" duly took place afc Terry ' s Theatre last Tuesday , when a house full to overflowing greeted the merry doings of Mr . Edward Terry and his admirable company . Notwithstanding the undoubted success of the piece ifc must be wifchrawn shortly , to make room for Mr . Pinero ' s new work . This is announced for the 21 sfc instant .

The redecorationa afc fche Alhambra are progressing apace , and already tbe house is beginning to look brighter . The work does not inconvenience fche visitors , and the capital programme thafc is now set down for nightly discussion is heartily enjoyed . The incomparable Paul Cinquevalli is back again , and is exhibiting hia wonderful balancing powers to au astonished and appreciative audience .

Mark Masonry

MARK MASONRY

FIVE ARCHES LODGE , No . 256

f ~ \ N St . David ' s Day the annual meeting was held , in the Lodge ^ Room , South Parade , Tenby , for the installation of Bro . Jenkins P . P . G . S . B . as W . M . for the ensuing year . The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . Gilberfcaon . After the ceremony the

newly-installed Master invested his Officers , as follow : —Bros , Allen S . W ., Reenfig J . W ., Gordon M . O ., Wade S . O ., Bancroft J . O ., Lewis S . D ., Rowland J . D ., Hughes D . C , Smith I . G ., Jenkins Steward , Pratt Tyler . Afc six o ' clock fche brethren sat down to a capital banquet prepared by Bro , Hughes , at the Cobourg Hotel .

Application has been made for a petition for a new Lodge , to be called the Chough , in connection with the successful musical society of that name , the founders being

all members of the Committee . The Evening Post , writing in reference to the recent Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution says ,

that whatever the uninitiated may think or say about Freemasonry , the Craft cannot be accused of nofc looking after their own .

Respecting the " Universality of Masonry , a writer in fche Masonic Revieio states : — " Four years ago I was at a Masonic Lodge in Calcutta , when the third degree was given to three Fellow Crafts , who knelt before fche same

altar . One was a Christian , who took obligation on the Bible ; one was a Mohammedan , who took it on the Koran ; the other a Hindu , who took it on the Shastras . It was administered by an English Lord , a Judge of the Supreme Court . Such is the universality of Masonry . "

The Western Daily Mercury issues fche following caution : —A foreigner , professing to hail from an Egypfcian Lodge , is paying a visit to some of the Lodges in

Devonshire and craving assistance . As he does not always tell the same story , brethren would be well advised in exercising some caution in dealing with him , as there is reason fco believe thafc his case is not one for relief , without due inquiry aud coufirmatiou .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to th © Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , IS . — : o : — Provincial Calendars , Directories , and Year Books : Cambridgeshire , Middlesex , Leicestershire and Rutland .

THE widely-extended custom among fche Provinces of issuing a Masonic Calendar year by year renders the review of any particular one , in a great measure , applicable to the whole . Thus on fche present occasion we have before us three distinct works , all of whioh are compiled on somewhat similar lines , and for each we are pleased

to utter a few words of commendation . The one for Cambrideshire has a novelty , in the form of a review of the past year , both in regard to the work of the Craft generally , aa well aa the Province and Private Lodges of Cambridgeshire in particular . This ia a feature we compliment fche Editor upon , and we recommend hia

' Editorial ' fco the notice of other compilers . The Middlesex book ia edited by Bro . Henry Lovegrove , under fche authority of fche Provincial Grand Master , and among its attractions may be mentioned a portrait and brief aketoh of the Provincial Deputy , Brother Raymond H . Thrupp P . A . G . D . C . A aimilar

honour is conferred on Brother S . S . Partridge , also a P . A . G . D . C . and Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in the Leicestershire and Rutland Calendar , whioh now appears for the sixteenth year . Ifc is compiled by Bro . B . A . Smith , and in many ways is a pattern worth y of imitation . It contains a mass of

information whioh other works of a similar character do not givo , for the reason that the Province is rich in Committees , and other organizations which are lacking in other districts , notable in this respect being the Charity Committee of Provincial Grand Lodge , fche Union Lodge of Instruction , the Committee of the Leicester

Freemasons' Hall , the Library Committee , the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonio Charity Association , & c . The Calendar also gives a roll of Lodges , & c , in adjoining Provinces , and some pages of Masonic Notes , & o ., by the Provincial Grand Secretary . Interesting particulars in regard to the local support of the

Charities follow , and the work concludes with a record of Masonic " . events of the past year . " As we have on more than one previous occasion pointed out , these Provincial Calendars will become of great importance when the history of fche present day in Freemasonry has to be written , as fchey contain many items of local interest which are nofc to be met with anywhere else .

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FIREATFREEMASONS'HALL! LARGE photographs of the Temple , taken immediately after the fire , on 1 th May 1833 ( suitable for framing ) , 5 s each ; or framed in oak , securely packed , sent to any address in the United Kingdom , carriage paid on receipt of cheque for 15 s . Masters of Lodges shonld secure this memorial of the old Temple for their Lodge rooms . W . G . PAEKEB , Photographer , 40 High Holborn , W . C . Eflt-tb-inlied 25 yearn .

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FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . SUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .