The Theatres.

We are rejoiced to hear that Mr . Daly has again taken the Lyceum for ten weeks from the ist of Sep tember and is bringing over his distinguished company of comedians to play their repertoire , commencing with " A Night Off , " which has always , both here and in America , been so popular . We trust they

will also give us "The Taming of the Shrew , " " Needles and Pins , " " Casting the Boomerang , " " The Railroad of Love , " and their other pieces which vve have always witnessed with such p leasure since we made their acquaintance at Toole's Theatre some years ago , and renewed at the Strand , Gaiety , and last year at the Lyceum . It was

announced that Mr . John Drew was leaving Mr . Daly , but we are glad to say he will at any rate be leading man again this season . Mr . Fisher , alas ! is no more , having gone over to the great majority . Miss Ada Rehan will again win all hearts . At present she is resting in Naples ; when she re-appears at the Lyceum may we be thereto join in the hearty welcome she will have accorded to her .

* * * The popular prices at the New Olympic Theatre , now known as "The People ' s Theatre of London , " have hit the public taste , and crowded houses nightly have proved the wisdom of Mr . W . W . Kelly ' s bid for the favour of the masses . In consequence of the great

success of its revival at a West-end theatre , " Theodora " will be played until the end of the present month , and on and after Saturday next will be preceded by a new farce written by Mr . Murray Carson , entitled " Two in the Bush . " * : ¦ : : ' :

Mr . David Christie Murray has altered the title of his play , to be produced at the Globe Theatre on the 27 th inst ., from " Chums " to " Mates . " This change has been necessitated in consequence of Mr . T . G . Warren having a prior right to the former title .

^ THE CONGRESS OF HEALTH . At the above Congress on Wednesday Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , M . R . C . S ., read a paper on the "Sanitation of theatres , " and as he has inspected 20 Metropolitan houses , besides a number in the provinces , he may be taken to speak with some authority , and the paper read , therefore , was listened to with much interest .

He acknowledged the courtesy of lessees and managers in enabling him , in conjunction with his friend , Mr . Ernest Turner , Fellow of the Institute of British Architects , to visit the theatres under their control , only two in the Metropolis having met him by a peremptory refusal . In many of the 20 theatres which he had visited ,

the arrangements from a sanitary point of view were the reverse of satisfactory , due for the most part to structural causes , for which the blame should rest rather with the architect than with the proprietor . With hardly an exception , however , the theatrical managers have endeavoured to overcome the defects

of the situation . Against the results of bad workmanship in the sanitary fittings no amount of supervision is of much avail . In many theatres , both in the provinces and in some of the largest London houses , heaps of dust and rubbish accumulations are found in many corners . Whilst theatrical managers are enjoined to afford

protection from the risk or alarms of fire , the London County Council , in its elaborate requirements , seems to have completely ignored the far more important subject of the health not only of the actors and actresses , but also of the general public . Speaking as one whose professional work for the last quarter of a century has

brought him into direct communication with members of the theatrical profession in all its branches , Bro . Lennox Browne is able to say that behind the scenes insanitary conditions are to be found in their most objectionable forms . The general health of the actor suffers to a marked extent when he is compelled to

breathe constantly the vitiated air of hot , crowded , unventilated and ill-situated dressing rooms ; the lowered state of vitality predisposes him in a marked degree to bronchitis , pneumonia , phthsisis , and diseases of the respiratory and circulatory organs generally , to dyspepsia , to so-called acute rheumatismand typhoid

, fever , deaths from which last are b y no means uncommon amongst actors , especially amongst touring companies . The subject was illustrated by a number of diagrams drawn for the occasion by Mr . Ernest Turner , who is architect to the Royal Academy of

Music , illustrating types of good and bad arrangements in the threatres visited . Finally , Bro . Lennox Browne , in regretting the necessity for representing the pessimistic view , said that the sanitation of theatres is not any worse than is that of music halls , conventicles , or institutions for the purposes of Christian association .

DAY STEAMER TRIPS . The Victoria Steam-boat Association has exhibited a good deal of enterprise since its formation , and this year , in addition to the services previously organised , it has started the well-known saloon steamer , Glen Rosa , on a special trip to Herne Bay on Saturdays , Sundays , and Mondays during August and the first week in Septemberreturning the same

, j * ' ' . * P artit"ulars of which will be found in our advertising columns . This is the first time passenger steamers have been put on this line for nearl y 30 years , prior to which there was a pier three-quarters of a mile in length , and a large passenger-steamer trade with London . Given favourable weather this ought to be one of the most attractive trips of the many organised b y this company .

The Theatres.

UNITED NATIONS CLUB . Clubland is to have yet another addition to its already large territory , and the newcomer is to open its portals to all the world , with no restriction of class or country—an honourable record vouched for by responsible friends is the only claim to membership . The cosmopolitan character of this institution

is unique in the history of clubs , and should in the hands of the influential Committee which has been formed to establish it be an unqualified success . In these days of easy travel , even such institutions as the London clubs need broadening , and we can see no reason why the United Nations Club should not

rival the best of its fellows . The premises acquired are admirably adapted for the purpose , and are situated in Piccadilly Circus , forming the greater portion of the building known as " Piccadilly Buildings . " Liberal arrangements have been made for the introduction of

friends visiting London from the provinces or abroad , and the high social position of the promoters is a substantial guarantee that it will be carried on on such lines as will ensure success . The opening is expected to take place next month .

> EXAMINATION OF VISITORS . Masonry claims to be a society universal in its recognition and sympathetic in its fellowship . Such a claim implies that an utter stranger from any part of the world would be admitted to any lodge as a visitor , provided that he could show that he was a Master Mason in good standing . The agency by which the lodge carries on its negotiations with the visitor is a

Committee . Seeing it is a position of great responsibility , inasmuch as that Committee may reject a worthy man or admit into the lodge room an impostor , the members of an Examining Committee should consider their position one of great honour . The following points are given , showing how a Committee should approach a visitor : — 1 . You have either to deal with a Mason or an

impostor . 2 . Be cautious , courteous , and firm . 3 . Do not approach the visitor as a suspect . 4 . You are not expected to do detective or prosecuting attorney work . 5 . Put on no airs of superior knowledge .

6 . Play no tricks by pretending answers are not correct when they are . 7 . Don't indulge in catch questions . They are the slang of Masonry . 8 . Give no hints . Correct no mistakes . 9 . Don't be unnecessarily strict . Ideas are better than

words . 10 . Accept all you get without comment . 11 . If you reject do not indicate why . 12 . Judge by general results . 13 . A very desirable visitor may answer poorly .

14 . Answers correctly given may be a cause for suspicion and rejection . 15 . Do not imagine your catechism of questions to be the only correct form , and all departures from it to be errors . 16 . There is no set way of conducting an

examination . 17 . It is your business to get , and the visitor ' s to give information . — V . W . Bro . George Tail , in Canadian Craftsman .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GEORGE HENDERSON . We regret to announce the death , on the gth inst ., of Bro . George Henderson , one of the founders , and the first Secretary of the Scots Lodge , No . 2319 , London . Bro . Henderson was 54 years of age , and for the last ten years was the Secretary of the Scottish Corporation , one of the oldest charitable institutions in the

Metropolis , and under Bro . Henderson ' s able management the charity has had an increasing and successful subscription list . Bro . Henderson may be said to have been one of the victims of the influenza epidemic . For a couple of years he has had ill-health , which caused him to resign office in the Scots Lodge , and he never

recovered from an attack of the plague this spring , and ultimately succumbed to dropsy and congestion of the lungs . He was buried at Norwood Cemetery on Thursday , the funeral being largely attended by the Governors of the Scottish Corporation and by the brethren of the Scots Lodge .

The Duke of Clarence and Avondale , in command of the first detachment of the ioth Hussars , numbering 150 officers and men , arrived in Dublin on board her Majesty ' s troopship Assistance , on Saturday last . The detachment landed at the North Wall and proceeded to the Portobello Barracks , headed by the band of the 5 th Lancers .

The Canterbury cricket week was brought to a close on Saturday last , when the second match of the week—between Kent and Surrey—terminated in favour of the latter by 10 wickets , Kent which was 100 runs to the bad on the first innings and had to follow on , being unable to compile more than 104 . This left Surrey only five runs to win , and the required number was hit off during the first over .

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