Original Correspondence.

But I do not deny that there are great difficulties in the application , in the concrete , of any such sentimental feelings . It does seem hard if a province , or Committee , or an individual , with no case this election , and yet knowing that by duplicating the voting powers , with the increment of purchased votes added in thc interim , the next

election may be secured , may not exchange votes this half year to make the election safe next half year . And , therefore , I suppose , that after all there is more in the idea than anything else ; and as it never does to be too faull-finding or too lidgctty , too uneasy or too strait-laced , matters can only be left where they are . I might allude to

other topics , such as persons who are not Masons or subscribers obtaining votes for special cases , and the great fear that too often the cases of the friendless and helpless are sacrified to the gain of those who have many friends . But , as I said before , the tone and temper displayed by "L . G . " are not such as to induce me to prolong the

dis-. I am not one of those who at all sympathize with the attacks on the Charity system generally . As a rule , the Charities that I know of are well conducted , with great care and fairness , and the one fear of all these spick and span cast-iron reforms is , that leaving the petty ills we

wot of , we shall fall into greater that we now know not of at all ; and that , while amid perhaps a few anomalies , there is an entire absence of anything like nepotism or jobbing , we , in anew select Committee system and private elections , only afford thc temptation and pave thc way for a state of things of which now there is , happily , no trace amongst

us , and which would , in truth , render our Charities little close boroughs , only amenable to the dictates and direction of one or two ruling spirits , and the private arrangements of a practically irresponsible Committee . Yours fraternally , ALIOUIS .

P . S . —I may add , that though " L . G . " may not like to believe it , my silence has proceeded from some matters of paramount importance to myself and others , to which I had to give all my time and attention , so that I could not indulge in the luxury even of a correspondence in the Freemason .

BLACKBALLING CANDIDATES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I shall be glad if you , orany of your readers , can * inform me if a lodge has power to exclude a member on such a charge as our Bro . H . H . mentioned in your last

issue . I was always given to understand that the ballot is abso lutely secret , and which no one has a right to challenge . Yours faithfully and fraternally ,

T . R . fit depends , as will be seen by our leaderette , on the ¦ " animus" displayed . —En . F . M . \

WHAT IS A TEST OF POVERTY ? To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A recent decision of the Committee of the Boys ' School seems to call for a few remarks in your columns , always open to reasonable complaints and proper subjects

of discussion . Only the other day , a poor widow's son was excluded from the benefits of that great Charity , the Boys' School , by a majority of one , on the ground that the income of the widow was too large to enable her to claim the benefits of the Charity . It seems that this relict of a brother is in receipt of something like £ Vo per annum , and

has two children to educate ; her husband having originally held a position in India , I believe , bringing in £ Co a month . This , to my mind , is a clear case of "alteredcircumstances j " and just now £ 70 per annum will not go far to pay for house rent , food , clothing , and give two children a proper

education . I venture to think too , that a view which is often put forth amongst us at the present moment , that an income of £ Co or £ 70 per annum disqualifies applicants for relief is a most misleading one , and , to say the truth , a most

unmasonic one . Whether in this case or others the income accruingbe the result of saving or a pension , it does not really affect the ¦ question . There is no safe test of true property , in my humble opinion , but what the special circumstances of the case disclose , for what is poverty to one is not poverty to

another , and vice vers . 1 . But my great objection to all such mistaken and unsafe definition of a poverty test is , that it seems to run counter to the genius and dictates of true Freemasonry . VVe give , because it is our duty to give , to a poor distressed brother who makes a fair claim upon our charity ;

wc help a widow because she is the widow of a brother who had a legitimate right to receive our aid ; we educate the child because it is the child of a deceased or decayed brother , and is one also otherwise to be properly educated . But we nowhere lay down a test of poverty ; least of all do we give because Bro . A . B . has subscribed to this Charity , or wished for that . VVe do not profess to offer a

return for value received . Wc in no wise imitate the £ s . d . condition of a benefit society . Many brethren seem determined to make English Freemasonry a pure l > enefit Order , and give because Bro . A . B . has given so largel y , or Bro . C . D . has done so much , and to refuse hel p because by some arbitrary test of their own inventing they decide that such and such an amount of money is a har to Masonic charity and help .

Original Correspondence.

With due submission to all such worthy brethren , their views appear to me out of place in ourgenuinely charitable Order , which is not , and , let us fervently hope , never will be , a benefit society ; and really and truly they more properly appear to belong to the members of the Society of Associated Odd Fellows , or energetic Buffaloes , or thc gentle and sucking doves of the Friendly Order of the Ark . I am , dear Sir and Brother , A LIFE GOVERNOR OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

THE COOK'S GUIDE . By C . E . FRA . VCATEI . U Fiftieth Thousand . R . M . Bentley and Son , New Burlington-street . The fame of Francatelli has survived so far , many normal and abnormal contingencies , in regard of the useful and needful culinary art , and he is still regarded , and justly regarded , as an " authority " alike on its disputed points and its matters cf fact . As a practician and as a professor

he is , as far as wc know , " second to none , " and his words come to us with a clearness and simplicity of expression which leave nothing to be desired , and are , indeed , most highly to be commended . VVe know of no more useful present to a good housewife , no better offering to a young lady entering upon the serious duties and responsibilities of matrimony than this well printed and thoroughly practical work . The time has pissed away , happily , never , let us

hope , to return , when those fair creatures who form the ornament and delight of so many happy homes could afford to be ignorant of the great and important science of the kitchen . Say what we will , let us be as ascetic , and as * " St .-Simeon-Stylish " as we like , a good dinner is a great ingredient in human contentment , a wonderful preservative of health , a marked expression of thoughtful care on the part of many a gentle " provedore . " Many a household ,

we make bold to say , would run smoother in all respects if its female head would bear in mind the vast importance of thinking about her husband's dinner . It too often happens that when men retire from the City or the Stock Exchange , from the lawyer's oflice or the editor ' s sanctum , they lind a bad dinner awaiting them , — uncooked , uncared for ; and then the little machine of matrimonial arrangement breaks down , and thc man goes

to his club to find a better meal and more sympathetic companions . Nothing can be worse for domestic life and happiness . Thc proper place for the married man is at his own family table , where with the wife of his bosom , and his little olive branches round about him , he may travel on the remainder of his allotted journey serene and satisfied . And then , again , there is all the difference for health in a well-cooked and badly-cooked dinner . Many of

us are suffering from almost irreparable dyspepsia , from constant indigestion , by having been compelled , through carelessness , indifference , or want of skill , to pasture for weeks and months on tough meat . Hence , then , both for domestic comfort and bodily health a well-cooked dinner is a necessity . VVe may be told that such matters are beneath our thoughtful consideration , and that it betrays a material or a sensual mind to occupy itself with what

we eat . But that , like other paradoxes of pure fanaticism , is just now happily yielding to thc truer regime of common sense . VVe have outlived the old and childish teaching which made religion a fetish , and which declared that either want of cleanliness , or unconcern for the needful care of human life were proofs of high religious culture . And , therefore , to-day , our better educated public are welcoming heartily all works which have a tendency to improve the simple

science of cookery , to promote personal health , and render our home associations and gatherings cheerful , welcome , and contented . VVe again commend Francatelli's useful " vadc mccum " to numerous good and thoughtful housewives amongst us . VVe need not allude to any of the receipts and directions—they will speak for themselves if duly and carefully studied . But as just now boating parties , and tennis meetings , and lawn assemblies are to * the fore , we give a very simple instruction for making

a cyder cup , which may not be without interest to some promoters of pleasant little assemblies . Pay attention . Cyder cup . —One quart of cyder , one pint of German seltzer water ( or soda , or Apollinaris , or Wilhelm ' s Quelle ) , a small glass of brandy , a bunch of balm , ditto of burrage , a sliced orange , and one ounce of bruised sugar candy . Place the ingredients in a covered jug , embedded in ice for an hour and a quarter , and then decanter the cup , free from herbs .

SUPPER DISHES FOR PEOPLE WITH SMALL MEANS . Simpson , Marshall and Co ., London ; Pawsey and Hayes , Ipswich . Curiously enough , while we were considering Fiancatelli's larger work , a worthy Confrere of ours , to whose communications we always pay attention , sent us the little work which heads this review . VVe have looked over it carefully , and can commend it to thc notice of many

amongst us . I'or the very modest price of sixpence , it sets before us 105 dishes , all of which are easily manufactured . The friendly little work is indeed a helpmeet for people of limited means , for those whose work keeps them late at the oflice and necessitates an early dinner , and who often wend their way home jaded and faint , and wondering what pleasant little supper their "ain gude wife" has in store for them . Lord Monboddo , the famous Scottish judge

and humourist , used , as Dr . Johnson tells us , to say , he liked nothing so well as the " supper , " the " c ; cna , " as he termed it , of the ancients ; and just now , with the change of times and usages of society , supper seems coming in again . It is in vain that our good medical friends shake their heads ; wc do not think that a light supper can harm any one . Practically , the dinner of thc "upper ten thousand" is a supper , as it very often does not

begin until S . 30 , the ladies _ and the gentlemen having in the meantime sustained exhausted nature with a good breakfast , a hot luncheon , and a comfortable tea , with one or two little glasses of bitters , & c , in the interstices of time . Many of us who work hard in the daytime , eat an earlylunch-dinner at I or 1 . 30 , and go home in the evening to the family supper , which becomes the rallying point for the various members of our domestic circle .

Reviews.

But as wc arc not all millionaires , and cannot afford to give £ f > ooo for a Marie Antionette table , or £ 3000 for two China vases , or £ 4000 for a picture , £ 0500 " for a cabinet , it is important for us that our suppers should be both inexpensive as well as easily made , and , above all , m facile digestion . These points the writer of this little useful and well-intentioned pamphlet has carefully

attended to ; and we call special attention to so seasonable a publication , for its obvious utility and on its own merits . Wc g ive four of the supper dishes out of the 105 for thc information of our readers , and recommend them to get the little work themselves , and con it over carefully for the improvement of their own suppers . Here are the dishes :

STEWED POTATOES . —Put in a saucepan over the fire a piece of butter or dripping the size of an egg , a teaspoonful of chopped onion , two ditto of parsley , quarter of a teaspnonful of salt , pepper , and celery seed , a small piece of mace . Cut half a pound of potatoes into pieces , put them into the saucepan with three tablespoon fills of water . When tender add quarter of a pint of milka tablespoonful

, of vinegar and Hour ; stir , and boil up . OYSTERS AMI TOAST . —Put into a small saucepan a piece of butter the size of a walnut , one tablespoonful of flour , a teacup of milk , the liquor out of a small tin of American oysters , two teaspoonfuls of

anchovy sauce , one of vinegar , and half one of pepper ; stir it over the lire till it thickens ; then add the oysters , boil for half a minute ; have ready two or three rounds of buttered toast on a dish , pour the oysters over , and put into the oven for live minutes . Good lard or beef fat may bc used instead of butter .

BEEI * STEAK AND SAVOURY BATTER . —Make one pint of French fritter batter , pour half of it into a well-greased baking dish , now lay about one pound of beefsteak in the dish , and pour over it the rest of the batter . Cook in the oven for an hour . This dish can bc cooked in a frying pan , thus—first put in the steak and thenthe batter . And as the question may bc asked , What is French fritter batter ? we also give the receipe for that .

I'Ri-N-cir BATTER I-OK FRITTERS , & C—Four tablespoonfuls of flour put in a basin with the yolk of one egg , a teaspoonful of vinegar , ditto sugar , a tablespoonful of very finely-chopped suet ( if the batter is to be used with meat , lish , or vegetables , add a little pepper and salt ) , add slowly half a pint of cold water , beating all up quite smoothly . Beat the white of the egg to a stiff snow , mix it with the batter very quickly the last thing before using it . May all our good friends enjoy their family meal .

THE GRAPHIC SUMMER NUMBER . 1 SS 2 . This is certainly one of the most remarkabl e issues which has ever appeared . Whether we regard the intense power of the illustrations , alikc in gracefulness of design , thoroughness of effect , and , brill ' iancv of outcome , wc can onl y feel how many with ourselves " must be gratified and delighted with this "Summer Number ofthe Graphic . " Ihe is also

letterpress very good , and most enjoyable reading . VVe especially commend ' * Mountain Mysteries " and " Aunt and Niece . " In the latter story , Nooney is so fascinating a young lady that wc could wish to make her personal acquaintance . If the fair writer uses her own name or a pseudonym it matters nothing . She gives in her most laughter-provoking tale tokens of undoubted power and " geist , " which deserve encouragement and notice .

THE LAST PUNIC WAR . By Bro . A . VV . BROADLEY , Wm . Blackwood and Sons , Edinburgh and London . By a most amusing and innocent use of words , we arc taken away by the able writer of these two volumes , in the current of electric thought and prevailing memory to old classic times , and pleasant hours of school and college reality . VVe are again in the spirit with Hamilcar and

Hannibal , with the two Scipios , with numerous other figures and shadows like Flaminius and Servilius , Cornelius Paulus and Varro , which come and go on the shifting scene . VVe hear famous " Mots " like " Punica Fides , " and " Delendam Esse Carthaginem , " though we think as the story of poor Carthage of old has onl y been told by enemies and conquerors , much may be said in favour of

tneir struggle with Kome . Hut our esteemed Bro . Broadley places us in the greatest difficulty . With all cur desire carefully to review , and fitly to commend , these two full volumes , admirably and curiously illustrated as they arc , we find ourselves estopped "in limine" by the imperious and unchanging laws of our Craft . Bro . Broadley , who played a not undistinguished " role" in some recent

nroccedings at I unis , plunges nothing loath " in medias res , " takes us at once to that debateable land , where , alas ! wc cannot in any wise follow the interesting and exciting topics of actual political difficulties and delicate international questions . It would be impossible for the Freemason to give a " precis " of a most ably written and exhaustive statement , which treats in lucid stle and

aniy mated tone of grave matters of dispute , affecting high matters of State , and , therefore , though regretfully we must halt , and carefully measure thc outcome of our pen , otherwise before we know where we are we shall have forfeited our Masonic neutrality altogether . The account of Kairwan is most interesting , and , as we said before .

the illustrations are most effective . To many of our readers outside their Masonic connections , ( but we write only for Freemasons ) , the work will have great and abiding importance , inasmuch as a chronicle of remarkable events , a record of strange episodes , it has in its two volumes e verything to call for attention and crave perusal .

Mark Masonry.

J-Earit iHasoitru

HAY WARD'S HEATH .--Southdown Lodge ( No . 1 C 4 ) . — The installation banquet in conjunction with the annual garden party , is arranged to lake place at the regular lodge meeting house , Station Hotel , on Friday , thc 28 th inst . The future of this lodge promises well under

the able mastership of VV . Bro . C . VV . Hudson , G . M . Steward , who is very popular with the brethren of the province . Ihe banquet and garden arrangements arc placed in the hands of the worth y host , Bro . ' C . Jolding , Sec , whose previous catering has gained for him a name in which every pleasure and comfort is considered to bc associated .