The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Drul'V LaH 0 . —Several successful plays have been founded on the story of the Keign of Terror during the first French revolution , and this , coupled with the fact that Mr . Steele Mackaye ' s drama of " Paul Kauvar" has been running for the last four years in the United States , doubtless induced Mr . Wm . Terms to try the fortune of

the piece before an English audience , and it must be acknowledged that it was accorded a favourable reception on Monday evening . The hero originally an artist , is at the opening of the play an officer of tbe devolution , bnt giving shelter to the Duo de Beanmont , whose daughter Diane he has secretly married . The Marquis de Vaux ,

a villain of tbe deepest dye , desires Diane for himself , and by his intrigues succeeds in bringing the Duke to trial , and then causing Kauvar to impersonate him on the scaffold . The scheme is upset in a somewhat clumsy manner , bnt Kauvar escapes , and after being again condemned to death , is finally restored to his loving wife , while to the tender mercies of mob

De Vaux is handed over a republican . Many of the incidents recall memories of former plays , notably * - " All for Her" and " The Dead Heart , " but the piece runs briskly along , and its imperfections are not too noticeable . Mr . Terriss plays the part of Paul with considerable vigour , indeed it might be toned down

in some scenes with advantage , but taken altogether it is a character worthy to rank with his other popular impersonations . Miss Millward has certainly the most onerous dnty to perform , as D iane , and she comes through it satisfactorily . Her acting in the third scene where she announces her marriage to her father , and defends her husband , was

admirable , and elicited the hearty applause of the audience . Mr . Henry Neville was dignified and natural as the Duo de Beaumont , and Mr . Arthnr Stirling played the small part of General Delaroche with much feeling , but Mr . Chas . Hudson would be mnch moro effective ns the Marquis if he did not attempt to imitate the Lyceum

manager . Miss Edith Bruce was lively as Nanette , and Mr . Victor Stevens was as funny as possible as Potin , while Mr . Hendrie , Mr . Lewin and Mrs . Clifton efficiently sustain the minor parts . The play is splendidly mounted , and the stage arrangements of Mr . Augustus Harris aro well executed .

Criterion . —Goldsmith s celebrated comedy , " She Stoops to Conquer , " as produced here on Saturday last , partook more of the nature of a farcical comedy than what we were led to expect . In a word it was the old comedy aa originally written by Goldsmith , bnt revised by Mr . Wyndham . Many an one would have hesitated before

venturing to alter , in any respect , one of the recognized masterpieces of English dramatic literature . Fortunately , however , for the success of tbe piece , the effort resulted successfully , and secured the approval of a fairly good audience . The original five acts of the comedy have been condensed into three ; there have also been some changes made

from the original dialogue , but it is questionable whether the piece has been improved in any way . As Young Marlow , Mr . Wyndham evidenced that he understood his part , but if we except Miss Mary Moore and Mr . Geo . Giddens , the ' samo cannot be urged as regards

other members of the company . Mr . Giddens' personation of Tony Lumpkin was splendid , thongh it might have been improved by being less boisterous . Miss Mnry Moore is especially to bo congratulated on her conception of the heroine .

Nineteenth . Century Art Society . —Thero aro not many striking figure pictures in this exhibition , althongh there is much ' promise in some . The landscapes aro in good force . Tho full length portrait of "Mrs . Sam Lewis" ( 141 ) , by H . J . Thaddens , is an important work , bright and carefully painted . " In Disgrace "

( 158 ) , by E . Dixon , a pretty child , is worthy notice . " The Bargain " ( 65 ) , by T . K . Pelham , fhherwomen bargaining , is a gem . " The First of October" ( 66 ) , by Blanche Macarth ' ur , a boy carrying pheasants slnng on his back , is good ; and a " Peasant's Home , Brittany , " ( 74 ) , by Charles Fisher , is carefully piintcd and full of

interesting detail . ( 49 and 53 ) studies of dogs and puppies are worth ¦ attention , for t , ilf > - ,. iinmonr . « y . ] Morning : Moulin Houet , ¦ f-nernHny , " (») , byT . W . Eyres , is noticeable for its admirable ren-™™ g of clouds , rocks , and seaweed . " Night in tho Highlands " ( 70 ) , by Alfred W . Williams , is a fine and ambitions piece of be

( 7 £ f ^ 8 loom is depicted in a grandly poetical style , Moonlight : in Tor Bay " ( 85 ) , by Noel Smith claims attention , ¦ nnd for many and various qualities 107 , 110 , and 142 deserve more ™ ' Phasing glance . Perhaps for vigour , brightness , and breadth , When the Wind bloweth in from the Sea" ( MO ) , by Holy A . M . Wraith fishermen

, hauling in a boat , is tbe best in the exhibition , lue water colour drawings are fully up to the average , and the prices ot all the works are remarkably low . Anew play , by Mr . Henry Arthnr Jones , entitled "Judah , " will be produced on Wednesday next , the 21 st inst .. nt , thn Shaftnahnrv . Wo

near mat Mr . Willard has a good part , and will be well snpported . The Royalt y will re-open , under the management of Miss Violet weinotte , to-night ( Saturday ) , with the successful farcial comedy . ine . Barrister . " It will be preceded by a comedietta by Mr . Fred W . Broughton , entitled "The Bailiff . "

nf fir ' , P arnley will shortly produce , at a matinee to be given " ^ errys , n , three act farcical comedy " Wanted , a Wife . " on ' w-mT jimPsj ° r 9 " reaches its 100 th performance , at Terry ' s , OH Wn-rl fi 01 "'« w |» o i ^ ° J-UUUII yciiui . ujituut ; , ; tu xt-jrry tf , 21 sfc

nlavr - nJ J'r ins t-, or , which occasion Mr . Alfred Bishop will the SbaftSb oselthwai ;; e > in P Iaco of Mr - F - Kerr , who goes to Grt . nofc , slightest truth in the report that Miss Sho Trt ?\ 8 horfc * y Producing a new play by Mr . Carton , increasing P n pla ^ b ? this gentleman , but owing to the for Old » . ? nccess at ) d heavy advance bookings for "New Lamps tbia vSr P rodDc tiouof Mr . Carton's play may not tako place

The Theatres, &C.

The French Exhibition at West Brompton opens to-day ( Saturday ) , and tbe Directors have decided that Fine Arts and Industries shall form the principal features of the Exhibition proper . The Fine Arts section is expected to be of exceptional excellence . Nearly one thousand pictures , all by well known French painters , will be on

view . The "Wild East" Exhibition will also prove one of the greatest attractions of the season , one hundred Arabs ( men , women and children ) , from a region somo six days journey beyond the borders of Algeria , have already , arrived , with their horses , camels , goats , cats , & o .

Whitsuntide Railway Facilities.

WHITSUNTIDE RAILWAY FACILITIES .

THE Great Western Railway Company announce that a fait excursion train for the West of England will leave Paddington at 745 a . m . on Saturday , 24 th May , reaching Exeter in 6 i hours , and Plymouth in 7 J hours , and that exenrsons will also be run on the same day to Bath , Bristol , ' Dorchester , Weymouth ( for the Channel Islands ) , Gloucester , Cheltenham , Worcester , Malvern ,

Hereford , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Shrewsbury , Chester , Liverpool , Manchester , Cardiff , Newport , Swansea , New Milford , and other Stations on the Great Western System ; passengers will also be booked at excursion fares to certain Stations in the South of Ireland . Excursions will also be run to London from most of the principal

Stations , and cross country trips have also been arranged . To meet the expected additional traffic by the ordinary trains on Saturday , 24 th May , the Company will run in duplicate , the 90 , 11 * 45 a . m ., 1-0 , 30 , 5-0 and 90 p . m . trains from London to the West of England ; and the 345 and 6 * 30 p . m . trains from London to the North ; the 10 * 20 a . m ., 12 * 0 noon and 9-15 p . m . trains to Weymouth ,

Hereford and South Wales . The first portions of the 9-0 am ., 50 and 90 p . m . trains will leave Paddington afc 8 - 55 a . m ., 4 * 55 and 857 p . m . respectively , but the first parts of the other trains will leave at the advertised times , and the second a few minutes afterwards , the long distance passengers being as far as possible taken in the first portion , but with a few exceptions both trains will stop at

the advertised stations to take up and set down passengers . Passengers for Windsor , who are usually conveyed by the 6 * 20 p . m . train from Paddington , will be taken by tbe 6 - 30 p . m . train instead . On Bank Holiday Excursions will be run to Reading , Bath , Bristol , Oxford , Leamington , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , and other stations . Arrangements have been made for the issne of tickets during the

week preceding Whit Sunday , nt the Company ' s City and West End Offices , viz .: —193 and 407 Oxford-street , 23 New Oxford-street , Holborn Circus ; 29 Charing Cross , 269 Strand , 26 Regent-street , 5 Arthur-street East , London Bridge ; 82 Queen Victoria-street , 43 and 44 Crutched-friars , 67 Gresham-street , and 4 Cheapside . The booking offices at the Paddington Station will be open all day on May 21 st , 22 nd , 23 rd , and 24 tb , when passengers can obtain tickets at any time for use on either day .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masouic Benevolent Institution held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , ou Wednesday . Bro . A . H . Tattershall occupied the chair , and there were present Brothers James Brett , Garrod , Bolton , Dilly , Hill , Freeman , West ,

Cotter , Mullord , Webb , Mercer , Newton , Daniell , Smith , Kempton , Cubitt , Bullen , Fairchild , Jones , . Daniel , Hogard , Making , Bywater , Forsyth , Hubbert , Ferryman , Durrant , Stean , Hogg , Hobbs , Everett , Haslip , Mead , H . Miller , Brooks , and James Terry ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the

previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of a male candidate and a widow annuitant . The Warden ' s report for the past month wns read . The annual report , as prepared by the Committee appointed to draw it up , was read and approved , and it was

ordered that Bro . Smith ' s report should be incorporated in it . The applications of two widows for half their late husband ' s annuities , were acceded to , and tbe usual vote of thanks to the Chairman for his services in presiding having been passed nem . con ., the Committee adjourned .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire will meet this yeai " , by permission of the Dean , in the Chapter House of Gloucester Cathedral , going thence in procession through the Cloisters to the Cathedral , where a special service will be held , the sermon being preached by tho

Dean . Whit Tuesday , the 27 th inst ., is the day appointed by the Provincial Grand Master , Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , but a little delay in the issue of the regular summons to tho

brethren is unavoidably caused by the recent absence of the Dean from England , and some difficulty in determining , thus far in advance , the hour which the Provincial Grand Master ' s other engagements will enable him to fix for tho ceremony .

We regret our report of the installation meeting of tho Samson Lodge , No . 1668 , which took place on Tuesday—Bro . H . Moss bjiug installed—is unavoidably held over until next week .