The Theatres.

Opera Comiqiie . —The London playgoer demands that Thalia shall wear tho cap and bells , or is still better content if she borrow Grimalch ' s bismuth and rod lead , and stand upon her head to emphasize her hnmonrs . This being so , the more a comedy is less a cornedv and more a farce , so shall author , manager and public find

reason fi-r satisfaction . The Duke of Swindleton , produced at an Opera Comiquo matinee last Thursday , the 11 th inst ., fairly fulfils this condition . The plot is as preposterous as can be desired , tho characters are no less ridiculous . Tho .-e i ? a counrty mayor , fond of high society and words iu font- syllables , of the Mrs . Malaprop

style ; there is a lodging house widow to match ; there is the Duke , actually an escaped convict , who makes love to the respective daughters of these " confusers of epitaphs , " as he imagines the one or the other the better match ; there is his friend , a London bnrglar , who dissembles as a footman ; an Irish maid servant , the one instance

of genuine human nature in the piece ; tho two daughters , about whom nobody cares a jot , though they are adored by their respective lovers , represented by Mr . S . Buist and Mr . S . Herbert ; essentially brothers in misfortnno , for the feebleness of their actions and the force of their langnage bronght universal condemnation in

ironical laughter whenever they opened their mouths . The Mayor ' s part , which we imagine Mr . David James intends to adorn at some future time , was carefully played by Mr . Ben Greet , who succeeded in giving an air of sincerity and unconsciousness to the lines allotted him . Mr . Lestocq was reallv excellent as tho London rough , and

avoided the exaggeration which , at times , wo so much regret to see . Miss Cicely Richards was delightful as tho Irish servant , and Mr . Smily made his Swindleton Duke have an air of possibility . The actors engaged had evidently worked with a will , and for the timeidisgnised the weakness of the material supplied them . The

theatro was crammed , and at the close of the performance there were lond calls for the author ; in response , however , it was announced he was not in tho house . A friend of onrs suggested he had fled from the wrath of the two much injured " young premiers "

who had been mocked and derided for his sins . The play , if it is to take a place in the evening bills , mnst be rewritten in many of the scenes , the twaddle must be eliminated , and the young people rescued from deserved contempt .

The Grand . —Miss Lizzie Coote made her appearauce here on Monday last in " Cherry and Fairstar , " a musical extravaganza , written expressly for her by tho late Mr . Frank Green . Thongh there is little that is really fnnny in the dialogue , the principal items of the programme give ample scope for the display of pretty dresses ,

while the action is sustained by merry jigs , breakdowns , and excerpts from the mnsic halls . The story is not deep in its ramifications . Conrad , tho corsair , an extravagant pirate , has carried off the children of King Mopus , and has been wrecked on an island , where he is compelled to marry a witch , who dominates the isle . Oppressed

with a weighty secret as to the paternity of the children , he manages to escape from the island by aid of a sprite , and , accompanied by his young charges , repairs to sea . Followed by the vengeance of . the witch , he is again wrecked , and cast upon the shore of King Mopns's kingdom , where , after various vicissitudes , he is enabled to restore to

the king his royal progeny , thus defeating the evil machinations of tho monarch ' s brother , who hopes to place his own son ou tho throne . Mr . E . W . Royce , as the pirate , manages to sustain tho thread of interest when it is inclined to flag ; while Miss Coote as Cherry , and Miss Fanny Robina as the sprite Papillo , were most indefatigable ,

both with their songs and dances . Mr . Storey appeared as the King ' s brother , and Mr . Harry Parker gave Force to the witch Hagrimosa . Mr . Fred Walton was good as King Mopus , as also was the Misses Ida Rochester and Frances Weston , as Bright Face and Sunshine respecfcivela . The extravaganza was preceded by

Halliday's "Checkmate , " a comedy in two acts . Mia 3 Coote , as Martha Bunn , somewhat overacted her part , while Mr . E . W . Royce gave an amusing impersonation of Sam Winkle . Mr T . F . Nye was the Sir Everton Toffee , and Miss Clitherow Charlotte Rnsse . Next week " Boccaccio , " with a company from the Comedy Theatre , will be the attraction .

St . George ' s Hall . —Many and painful are the experiences of the devoted stalker of the " matinee ; " despondingly he goeth forth , and ofttimes sadly and sourly ho returnetb . Empty benches , or the too well known faces of extra ladies and gentlemen surround him in front ; while the voice of tho prompter runs an obligato to tbe Juliet

or Julia of the occasion . At St . George's Hall , at Miss Cowen ' s afternoon , on Friday the 12 th , a pleasant surprise awaited the jaded critikeer . Every seat was occupied ; the yellow hair and the smooth chin vowed to art was not present , but , instead , row upon row of pretty Oxford and Cambridge girl 'junioi-s" and " seniors , " all

evidently determined to enjoy tho delightful dissipation of a " real performance . " Here aud there , balancing tho harmless necessary chaperon , appeared the countenance of some well known Lord High Executioner ( dramatique ) . But such an one , looking round at those sympathetic and happy faces , felt his cherished captionsness desert

him . Though Miss Cowen ' s dramatic talent may be problematic , sho has the grace of excellent elocution , distinct and jnst emphasis , and if she will modestly forego pretension to "juvenile lead " she may do excellent work yet . Mr . Eric Lewis gave a very pleasant and sprightl y support iu the bright little duolngue , "A Lyrical Lover , " to Miss

Cowen ' s " heiress . " His subsequent musical sketch , describing the Camden Townlpy's private theatricals , was one of the brightest things of tho kind wo have heard for some time , and Brandon Thomas greatly delighted hid audience with " Ferdinando and Elvira . " J' ! i ? s Cowen phived Jane Dudley in tho dramatic fragment by Mr .

Bell with pxcHsent intention , and managed her rhymed lines with discretion , bnt her acting is marred by angularity and too much facial action . Asa reciter Miss Cowen has assured snecess , but on the stage she will perhaps find herself handicapped heavily by the 'ack of qualities which neither industry nor intelligence can give , nor even compensate for .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN LIVINGSTON , M . D ., P . M . 1385 . A brother with whom we have been intimately associated since our admission to Freemasonry has jnst passed to his rest , in the person of Bro . John Livingston , P . M . of the Gladsmuir Lodge , No . 1385 . He it was who took charge

of "us as Deacon during our admission to the several degrees , and many are the meetings we have attended with him . Onr deceased brother , at the time of his death , which took place on the 10 th instant , was in active

practice as a medical man , and had for many years past carried on his profession over a very wide area , which entailed an amount of travelling and bodily fatio-ne which doubtless has had some effect in

leading to his comparatively early decease . Brother Livingston , conscious of unusual fatigue on the Friday previous to his death , remained in bed the greater part of the day , but towards evening , in response

to what he believed to be an urgent call , rose aud went out on a professional visit , almost immediately returning , however , to seek his bed again . Symptoms of apoplexy soon became apparent , and on Sunday , after

consultation with a physician—called in by his assistant who had so far attended him—it was decided the patient was suffering from congestion of the brain . The attack was very severe , and the worst symptoms rapidly

developed , terminating with our brother ' s decease at halfpast five on Wednesday morning , at the early age of fortyfive . Bro . Livingston leaves a widow and four children to mourn his death , and to them we desire to offer our sincere

sympathy , feeling assured that in doing so we are but echoing the sentiments of all who were intimate with the deceased . Bro . Dr . Livingston was for many years the sure-eon of both the Odd Fellows and the local Court

of the Foresters , as also of the Police stationed at Barnet , while as honorary surgeon to the Barnet Volunteers he was invariably found on the occasions of church parade , besides taking a part in most of the public prize meetings

and social gatherings of the corps , especially the annual one at Aldershot . The funeral took place on Monday , at the Colney Hatch Cemetery , and was attended by a very

large concourse of personal friends of the deceased , pro > minent among them being the members of the Gladsmuir Lodge and other members of the Masonic Order . ———¦»—¦ M—JMHIM ¦ M . IIJHH . 1 . 111 ^ ¦ r ^ M * -Wt * 'r ^ - ^^^^ -3 ^ . rair- ^ " -f-rT--r' - —T ! -T- r .- ^^? -- "T J . — 7

The late Bro . Dr . Henry Hopkins has left one hundred guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , in the name of Lodge 43 , Birmingham , of which he was a P . M . ; and fifty guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for

Girls , in the name of the Sfc . Aubin ' s , Lodge , No . 958 , Jersey , of which he was a founder and P . M . His other gifts were paid before he died , save the large one to the Royal College of Preceptors .

The annual Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons foi the Province of Hampshire is to bo held at Southampton , on Thursday , the 2 oth instant . The business includes the

election of a brother to be recommended to the M . W . Grand Mark Master for appointment to the office of Provincial Grand Mark Master , in succession to the Rev . Canon . Portal .

The following dinners have taken place at the Freemasons' Tavern during the week ending Saturday , 20 th June : — Monday—Asaph Chapter . Tuesday—United Law Clei'ks' Society , Industry Chapter . Friday—The Buffs , 12 th Suffolk Regiment , 98 th Regiment ,

HOT . T . OW . V . Y ' Pir . t . s wn Ot . vntKNT . —Glad Tidings . —Some constitutions have tendency to rheumatism , and are , throughout the year , borne down by its m-otvueied tortures . Lot su -h sufferers batho the affected parts with warm bvi . no , and afterward . ml > in this soothing Ointment . They will find it tho best means of lessenin < r th"ir acronv . aud , assisted by Ifolloway's Tills , the

surest way of overcoming their disonso . More need not be staid than to request a few dav ' s' trial of this sale and so tliintr treatment , by which tho disease will ultimately bo comulctely swept awav . Pains that would mike a giant shudder are assuaged without difficulty by Holloway ' s easy and insxoensive remedies , which comfort by moderating the throbbing vessels and calming the excited nerves .