Reviews.

effort , which hns been presented to ns in British Ballads , in whir-h the cream of English popsy is collated and spread before us in the most re reshing and charming style . In the two latest nnmbers of this work , which are now before us , we have nearly a score of thp most beautiful of English ballads , many of which will be familiar to

the student , but will also prove a source of inestimable pleasure to the uninitiated . Obviously it is difficult for the ordinary reader to secure the combined effusions of such writers as Tom Hood , Macanlay , Sir Walter Scott , Oliver Goldsmith , David Mallet , and their contem-- « viMnn . whinh wonld involve the imrchase of divers and numerous

expensive volumes ; but in this serial , which has this month reached its seventh part , we have the very pick and cream of the works of those eminent and favourite po ts presented in a form that must

commend itself to all who read and admire the subjects treated of . For instance , in these nnmbers we have the " Dream of Eugene Aram , " the "The Battle of Brnmliemoor " ( Robert Buchanan ) ; the " Duke of Athol ; " " Fair Rosamond ; " the " Eve of St . John ; " and

numerous poems of historical interest , ever replete with pleasure to those who have read them onoe , or committed portions of them to memory ; and whilst the letterpress is in the best style of the typographic art , for which the firm of Cassell and Co . is so proverbial , it is embellished profusely with superb illustrations by the most

eminent and popular engravers of the day . When bound in complete form British Ballads will prove a fitting companion to the long list of similar productions which have emanated from La Belle Sanvage Yard , and which are so highly and deservedly regarded as books of reference , not only in this country but wherever the English

language is spoken . The volumes are not only to be valued at their intrinsic worth—and they are undeniably not to be approached by any other literary productions of an educational charaoter—but as an antidote to the pernicious rubbish which is poured forth in such

volumes for the cheap Press of the present day . Messrs . Cassell and Co . have accomplished success , for which they have received , and we venture to believe will continue to receive , the thankful reoognition of all right-thinking sections of the English-speaking public .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

The Standard . —A new and original drama , "Tbe Broad Arrow , " by G . Holcroft , was produced at the " Standard " last Monday , to a theatre crowded in every part , from the stalls , brilliant with West-end managers and critics , to the gallery , bubbling over with the enthusiasm of vouthful first-nighters . As to the originality of

Mr . Holcroft ' s work , we will say that , like Terence , Shakespeare , Moliere , and other eminent authors , he has a masterly faculty for annexation . We have Mr . Medwin , a weak-minded landed proprietor , with tbe inevitable two sons—Saul tbe wicked , Oswald the virtuous . Oswald has been volatile , and , renounced by his father ,

has gone to seek his fortune in the diamond mines , whence he returns with a bag full of diamonds . To learn if his father ' s heart has softened , he conceals the fact of his riches , and is contemptuously bade " begone . " He goes , without seeing his father ' s ward , his beloved Beatrice , thongh consoled by tbe affectionate sympathy of a

Punch and Judy artist family , his father s connections by marriage . Oswald having been driven away , Saul informs Mr . Medwin he may follow him , and we learn that our landed proprietor , during his late illness has executed a deed of gift , in favour of the wrongful heir , directing him to burn a will leaving

the two brothers co-heirs . Saul produces the document from his pocket , and , flourishing it in his father ' s face , that weak-minded old gentleman , without even a change of linen , at once takes his departure . Beatrice indignantly refuses Saul's abrupt offer of marriage , and the two goto London under the protection of Bob Bartram . In

the next scene Oswald takes his diamonds to the merchant ' s office where bis brother is manager . Saul gives him twenty thousand pounds , in as many bank notes , and when he shortly after returns , charges him with stealing tbem , and gives him into custody . Of course , Harold Armitage Oswald is condemned , and we next find

him labouring at Dartmoor , with a number of other convicts . This is a grandly realistic scene . The wild , wide moorland , the grim and desolate prison building , and the sunless sky , all make a singularl y fine p icture ; wonderful is the effect of the falling mist—secured by grey ganze curtains—which gradually veil in weird obscurity the

figures of the convict labourers and their black-coated overseers . Thpir lantprns nre lighted , and flit dimly through the fog . Order to depart is eiven . but No . 23 , Oswald , is too wpak to drag his load ; the ovprseer brntallv compels him to attempt it : he resists , and ig assisted bv No . 24 , Jim , elder son of B < b Bartram . The oversper is

knocked down . Oswald is pc sunder ! by Jim to put on bis uniform coat and hat , nr : d endeavour to escape . The warder , on coming to , charges Jim with an attempt , to murder , and Jim ' ' n < he struggle that ensues , kills him . A search part y arrives , and Jim declares » t i- * No . 23 who killprl tha warder . Wo nex ^ find fi ; irold-Armitage-Oswald turned

into Wilfrid T ) ptivpr . He has been in a r-u'lway accident , the only occupant , ir , h s cnrnpartmpnr has been killed and mutilated beyond recorrtutinn . He has changf-d clothes with this unfortunate wi ght , and now rf rnrns to bis father as Beatrice ' s long-lost brother . He trips now -n ' rtnonslv to enpnort the family , and as his bair has

grown crrpv he is r > ot recognised . Then we have a scpne outside the Ppyaons Mus c Hall , for no particular reason but to please our livel y friends tbe lovprs of the " comique , " by representing Jim Biriram , who is how pupposed to be a successful member of the fraternity , J > nd fi'Mntr the intprvnls betwren his " sixtnrna a night" by a little " eonfidcno' : ' rick . " Mr . R cb ;> rrl Dongas- " giv-s us one of his finest soen'c iffp-ts : thp Thames Embankment , with masses of dark clouds behind Cleopatra ' s Needle and the Sphinxes . Hare

The Theatres.

poor Beatrice jumps into the water , for no very clear reason , except that it , allows Oswald to jump after and rpsou- » her . But what wonld be tbe use of your chivalrous young knight if there were no damsel to succour ? Oswald then confesses hi « identi-y , and his tale of love is , of course , overheard by Saul , who , likewise as a matter of

course , charges him with the murder at Dartmoor . Our young friend ' s fate seems most desperate when Jim Bartram , the new Robin Hood , with some merry freebooters , appear on the scene . They espouse the cause of virtue , and Oswald makes good his escape . Saul , mad with rage , proceeds homo once more to concoct his brother ' s

destruction . It seems he always carries the famous deed of gift in his overcoat pocket . Maud Preston , whom , despite his promisps , he declines to marry , secures this deed , and as he threatens t >> kill her on overtaking her in the street , she confides the precious document to a shoeblack , formerly " No . 24 . " These two now deferminp , to take

it to Mr . Medwin . In the last , act all the chief characters , by happy coincidence , meet at the M gpie and Stnmp , a little roid-s'di inn . Here Saul finds No . 23 , whom he stabs , in order to get p issessiou of tho paper , but is shot in the act . Oswald , Beatrice , Mr . Medwin and "No . 23 , " rush in , to learn from the dying man that Oswald is

innocent of murder , whilst Jim relates how he got the diamonds from Saul , for sale at Amsterdam . All the clouds dear up , and Valour and Beauty—Oswald and Beatrice—have only to marry and be happy ever after . Miss Steinberg played sympathetically aud bright as the heroine , but Mr . Francis Yorke was overweighted , ns

Armitage-Denver-Oswald . He , however , is earnest , and will doubtless improve . Mr Shirley Lea was brilliant as Jim , the " Star Comiqup . " His method is adm rable i i its freshness and freedom from exairger . ation ; in fact , it is as good a bit of low comedy as can be seen iu London . Mr . Wilmore , No . 23 , afterwards a shoeblack , was also

deserving of praise ; he secured , what is still bpfc r < r , the hearty laughter of his audience . The play is well mounted ; among its manv scenio effects there is one that would do honour to the Lvceum

or Princess s , where the thick grey mist that has gradually veiled the scene at Dartmoor as gradually clears away , to show the sunny sky , the foliage , and the flowers around the piotnresque mansion at Birdhurat .

The Surrey . —Mr . George Conquest , who may be said to have fairl y entered on his autumn season at this popular house , is always ready to consult the wishes of his patrons , and for the past two weeks his efforts in this regard have met with considerable approval An intimation in the playbill , " that owing to the length of the

drama there will be no farce , " is scarcely necessary when we state that the drama now under notice is Mr . George R . Sims ' s popular '' Romany Rye . " Mr . T . F . Nye , as Jack Hearne , plays with a judgment that is much to be commended , while Mr . E . Gurney ' s Philip Royston fully sustains that gentleman ' s reputation for care and

attention to study . Joe Heckett , as conceived by Mr . Cruikshanks , is a capital portrait of the rough but true-hearted man , whoso misfortunes have made him what he is rather than any natural tendency he may display for a vicious life . Mr . G . Conquest jun ., as Bos Knivett , gives the true comic humour to his impersonation , and Mr * . Bennett ' s

Gertie is everything that can be desired . The unthankfnl part of Mother Sbipton was ably rendered by Miss Jennie Lee , whose efforts were highly appreciated . Other characters in the piece are well represented , and the mounting and scenery is everything that can be desired .

Mohawk Minstrels . —Mr . William Francis announces that his thirteenth annual benefit will take place on Wednesday , tbe 16 th instant . An entirely new programme will be put forth to tempt the frequenters of this popular place of amusement .

The Freemasons of Lancashire , with whom the Earl of Lathom has long been associated , have subscribed for a loving- enp for presentation to his lordship and the Conntess of Lathom on the occasion of their silver wedding . The

tenantry on the Ormskirk estates , to the number of 200 , have subscribed for a similar gift , and about 300 of his lordship ' s servants have presented a silver tray to the Countess , and the poor people of the neighbourhood a scent bottle .

Ye Antiente Frafernitie of Ye Rahern Almoners " will hold high Festival at the Cannon Street Hotel , E . C . on Thnrsday , 22 nd of October , nnder the presidency of Bro . S r Robert N . Fowler , Bart . M . P ., the Right Hon . the Lord Mavor . The Sheriff * of London and Middlesex will , it is anticipated , be present , on the occasion , and

Brn . Alderman De Kevser , Alderman of tbe Ward of Favringdon Wirhout , and the members of the Common Council f"r that , Ward , have promised their patronage and assi-fance . Remnmbering tbe admirable arrangements and snecess of the satherinsr over which

Bro . Sir Jmn Whittaker Ellis , But ., presided , when Lord Mayor , in support of this deserving Charity , an entertainment of no common order may be reasonably expected by those who may be fortunate enough to obtain tickets for the forthcoming Festival .

£ 20 . — TOIUCCOIHSTS COMMTKCIUG . —An illustrated gu'de { UO pa ^ e *) " How to Open Be ^ pectably fr < , m 620 to £ 2000 . " 3 Stamps . H . MVF . RS & Co Ci ' - 'ar and Tobacco Merchants , 109 Euston Road , London , Wholesale onlv ! Telephone No . 7511 .