The Theatres, &C.

Emmeline . Mrs . W . Sidney played with artistic method as an elderly housekeeper for the bachelors ; bnt Miss Ira Elcho was somewhat childish as Sophia Moody . Miss Minnie Hare and Messrs . Otho Stuart and A . H . Cree were also in the caste . Tho Comedy has considerably livened up since its first , performance , and with that capital curtain-raiser—Dr . Davy , with Mr . Hermann Vezin in the title role—secures a very enjoyable evening ' s entertainment .

Grand . —In hopes of securing a subject the treatment of which has not before been attempted , Mr . Frank Harvey has selected onein " Life and Death" —that we are afraid follows too close to the line of French plays in general to be acceptable to the majority of playgoers . Mr . Harvey , iu his rieBire to produce a piece full of

ingenious snrprises and dramatic situations , has erred in his judgment of what the English stage requires in tho shape of interest , and he presents us with a play in which our sympathies lean rather toward the woman who really causes all tho trouble than to the heroine of the play . The anthor reminds us , that in France a child born out

of wedlock can be made legitimate by marriage of one or both of its parents . With this fact impressed on our minds we are made acquainted with a Count Paul do Valmont , who has married a Spanish adventuress , who has a husband living . There is a child born of this marriage which the father is anxious should bear his

title , and just when he is bewailing the deception practised on him by the adventuress , a doctor suggests marriage with one of his patients , named Madeline , who , he believes , cannot live more than three months . The invalid , who is the daughter of the Dnke de

Courcelles , a poor nobleman , is secretly in love with the Count , and is overjoyed when her father consents to the marriage . Dolores , thadventuress , meantime nrges on this marriage , in order to enuoble her child . When Madeline learns that she is the victim of a mer .

cenary bargain , she is terribly shocked , but , to save her parents from poverty , she consents to the marriage ; she , however , does not fail to fling scornful reproaches at the Connt . He takes Madeline to Italy , and here we find her being slowly poisoned—because she does not die quickly enough—by a man who is in tho toils of Dolores .

Madeline detects the poison , and thinking it has been prepared by the Count , takes the draught . It turns out to be arsenic , and we are told by the friendly doctor this drug sometimes enres consumption . In the present case , instead of killing the heroine it does the opposite , it cures her . Dolores , thus failing in her plans , and

finding the Count has ceased to love her , plots to have Madeline assassinated , but , while tempting her servant Barbet by the sight of money , suggests that he should use the knife against herself , and by this means secure more than the sum offered . With Dolores thns disposed of , Barbet caught in the act , and Madeline assured that the

Count did not attempt to poison her , the curtain falls , on a piece we may pronounce not only improbable , bnt disagreeable . So badly are the characters drawn that we have the audience sympathising with the adventuress because she loves her child , while the heroine supplants her in its affections . Scarcely any humour is brought into

the piece ; still Mr . Harvey's company is too accustomed to their business to make such a play uninteresting ; but , as we have already said , the result is disappointing . Mr . Frank Harvey , as the Conut , has a part which does not suit him ; Miss L . Baldwin , as Madeline , succeeded in rousing tbe / mthnsiastn of her audienco by her earnest

and realistic acting . Mr . J . Carter Edwards was uncertain as tbe Duke de Courcelles , while Miss Eyre Ilobson was forcible as Dolores , but at times gave way to undne emphasis . The Doctor of Mr . E . Shirra was weak , while Miss Polly Hunter and Mr . A . H . Kingslcy worked hard to sustain the little comic element that was introduced .

The piece is well mounted , but will be withdrawn to-night ( Saturday ) , when th « " Beatrice" Company ' s engagement terminates . On Monday a new drama , entitled "With the Colours ; or , the Black Seal , " by James Mew and Elliott Galer , will be presented , for tho first time .

¦ AlhamTbra . —At this time of the year , when ont-door amusements are supposed to possess special attractions , it is not often we see a programme drawing such good houses as the one offered at this

popular Theatre of Varieties . The success that attended " Cupid " on its first representation is maintained , and on the evening of our last visit it went as well as ever . " Le Bivouac" is also given , to the full satisfaction of the audience . These two ballets alone would

repay a visit to the Alhambra . The management , however , has not neglected the other part of their programme , and with such artistes as the Sisters Matthews , the Merry Macs , Mons . Trewey , tho Albert and Edmunds troupe , tho Donnuls , the Sisters Clifton , and Jenny Hill

, a thoroughly enjoyable evening is assured . Wo are bound also to give a word of praise to Mons . G . Jacobi and his colleagues for the splendid music they provide . To conclude , we recommend our readers not to miss the pleasure of listening to the selections they are now offering .

Bro . William Macdougle , who bas carried on business as a draughtsman , illuminator , and engraver for many years past , at 6 Paternoster Buildings , Las relinquished Lis partnership with Mr . Dolling , and will iu futnro continue

business on his own account at 11 Newgate Street , Bro . Macdougle is a true artist , find his productions display exquisite taste , while his invariable attention to tho wishes of his patrons has secured him many friends . We wish him every success in the new venture he has embarked oa .

SEASIDE HOME , with EDUCATION ' , and Mother ' s ( Widow of i O Freemason ) care fiv Girls . Aifo (' , om 0 to It . En ' - 'Rsh , French , CWma-i Piano and Violin ( with Master ) . Tc .-m .-i Moderate . References e . culian <* ed ' Address— " MUSIC , " Tlia Clarendon Library , Boscombe , Bor-.-iiBffiouth , °

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

ON Tuesday Miss Davis , Head Mistress of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , was the recipient of an expression of thanks and congratulation from the Committee of the Institution on the completion of her twenty-fifth

year of service at the School . The presentation was made in the presence of the House Committee and the pupils of the Institution , by Bro . Frank Richardson , who addressed those assembled in the following words : —

" Children , —We meet this evening on a very important occasionan occasion important to all of us , and I hope it will be indelibly engraven on your memories . On this day twenty-five years ago , when Miss Davis took np her residence as Head Governess , this School was in a very different position in all respects to what it is

to-day . This hall had not been bnilt , or even thought of . There were only 81 scholars to be looked after . Education was considered secondary to household duties , and £ 2 , 600 only was about the amount annually collected at our Festival . Now we have 241 of you to look after ; an education is given which will not only hold its own with

that of any kindred institution in the country , but with very many private schools , and unless at our Festival we collect £ 12 , 000 or £ 13 , 000 , we think ourselves ill-treated . Now I venture to say that a part-of this great success is due to Miss Davis . No doubt the fact of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales being Grand Master has induced many

to join our ranks , and hence a great increase of subscriptions ; but had we not had a lady here capable of preparing you for your examinations , and bringing the School to its present creditable state of efficiency , it is only reasonable to suppose that the subscribers would have been dissatisfied , and that a large portion of

the money which has fortunately found its way into our coffers would have gone elsewhere . The House Committee , as the legally elected representatives of the subscribers , as yon know , take a great interest in everything connected with this Institution and of all within its walls ; they therefore consider themselves well

qualified to judge of the excellence or defects of any one ; but so satisfied are they with the state of efficiency into whioh that lady has brought this School , that at their last meeting they unanimously passed the following resolution : 'That , on the completion of the 25 th year of Miss Davis ' s appointment as Head Governess , the

Committee desire to record their high sense of the eminent services rendered by her to the Institution , and their appreciation of the ability , the attainments , and the religious and moral influence by which she has raised the School to its present most creditable state of efficiency . The Committee trust that for many years to come tho

School may continue to benefit by the services of Miss Davis , whose merits they so fully recognise , and to whoso influence the high standard of tone and bearing , which are among the most notable characteristics of the scholars , have been maintained . ' The resolution , Miss Davis , expresses in far more eloquent terms than I can use the

feelings of those whose mouthpiece I am this eve ling . I only preside in consequence of the absence , through illness , of our esteemed Brother Mather . I could have wished a brother more eloquent than myself had been in the chair ; but , whatever my shortcomings may be , I must ask von to attribute them to the head , and not to the heart , for

I can , with all sincerity , : issuro you that no member of the House Committee could have enjoyed more pleasure and gratification from making the presentation than myself . In your commencement of life , I fear , you suffered from the great misfortune of not being the daughter of a Mason . After ,

however , having so well and so worthily done such good suit and service to tho Craft , and resided amongst Masons for twenty-five years , we now look upon yoa as one of ourselves , and feel that both in heart and spirit you are so . We have , therefore , adorned this volume with some of our symbols , while within you will

find the colour that prevails is that in which our children are clothed , and which all Masons so justly love and reverence . It only remains for me to deliver this into your hands . Those of us who are present have affixed our signatures ; the others , as well as the Trustees , will do so shortly , when I trust you will think it worthy

of your acceptance , and that it will be something to remind you that , Bven in this world , merit does not always go unrecognised . Although you have been with us so many years , you are only now iu the very prime of life , which does not often fall to the lot of many of us , but it gives the Committee hope that you may for many years be spared

to continue and perfect the work so well begun , and that you may enjoy thorough health for it . " Miss Davis , who displayed considerable emotion , acknowledged the presentation , and thanked the Committee very warmly for the gift . It was , more acceotablo to her than auvthim' else could have been ,

and , in addressing die children , she said it was a happy day for her when , twenty-live years ago , she came into that Institution . She had thoroughly enjoyed her life amongst them during that time . It was tho greiit aivu of her life to help them , and she desired only to know that her counsel and example had resulted in good to them .

She told them not to bo afraid of work , it would make them ao much happier , iu every wny , to ho industrious . It was , as they might imagine , a great pleasure to her to have iior services ackuuvv' edged in this way — she little thought they would f . iiA'o been so appivciat- 'd . "In conclusion , she expressed a

hope that there were many years of usefulness before her . Bro . Joshua Nunn also offered his congratulations to Miss Davis , aud hoped that many of those present would witness tho completion of another twonty-live years of her genial rule . The address , with tho

Mgualiues , occupied four pages , elaburate ' y illuminated on vollnin , and was b . mud iu russia , having ou the aide Miss Davis ' s monogram , with appropriate emblems . The ohastcness of design arid execution woro much admired . It was produced at the office of our contemporary , the Freemason ,