The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

At Her Majesty ' s , in the Haymarket , a more interesting style of entertainment is being given , in the form of a genuine ballet . There are no words spoken nor songs sung ; but the whole evening's performance is devoted to the nimble art , danced most gracefully to pretty music by an Italian company . An excellent band gives a good taste of its quality in the execution of Rossini ' s " La Gazza Ladra " overture between the first and second acts .

The author of the libretto—if we use such a word when no one speaks—has sought to depict the great struggle between progress and retrogression . The action commences at the date of the Spanish inquisition , and is meant to show the subsequent progress of civilisation . The drilling of the dancers is simply perfect . No one is engaged on account of her good looks ; we should say good looks have not been considered at all . The corps de ballet are all ¦ dancers .

On Saturday last , Mr . Sydney Grundy ' s new comedy , "The Silver Shield , " was put on at the Comedy Theatre , under Miss Violet Melnotte ' s management . Mr . Grundy can well lay claim to his play being original ; it is not adapted from the French , for its matter deals with English life and habits . Mr . Grundy is a shrewd observer of human events , and not only takes in all that goes on in the

world , but makes a note of , and reproduces his impression in , his own satirical style . " The Silver Shield " is a running bitter satire from beginning to end . It attacks Society , the Siage , the Church , and Art each in turn , and one cannot deny that there is a great deal of truth in the sweeping sarcasms , even if they are exaggerated . Mr . Grundy is nothing if he is not attacking some one or some conventionality . It might be said of Mr . Grundy that if

other authors have chastised with whips , he chastises with scorpions . He seems to say he has met with no mercy , so he will give none . In the "Glass of Fashion " the same author " went for Society papers ; " in his new piece he lets them alone . But it must not be supposed that because " The Silver Shield " is so cynical that there is no amusement in it ; it teems with fun . . With its bitterness there is much mirth . Its most scathing dialogue is provocative of

laughter , though one feels the hitting is too hard sometimes , and what one would only expect from a pessimist . No wonJer , after its being played at a matinee at the Strand a month ago , that its smartness made the managers rush to produce it . The cast now is nearly the same as at the morning performance . Mr . Arthur Roberts has taken the place of Mr . C . Groves , we should imagine — though we were not present at the

matinee — not for the better , and Mr . Percy Compton has taken Mr . Rutland Barrington ' s part of the cleric . The motive of " The Silver Shield " is its weakest part , but one forgets that in the clever repartee , the easy force and natural humour of the dialogue are obvious , the characters are selected judiciously . We congratulate Mr . Grundy on having written one of the most brilliant plays of the season . Had the author contented himself with more

homely themes , and not confined himself to slogging at art , the stage , and critics , he would have achieved a still greater success . The weakness of the plot consists in a husband having read a letter of his wife ' s to some one who admires her , and whom she is begging to leave her alone . But this device is made use of twice , for another wife picks up a letter of her husband , in very affectionate terms , addressed to a lady . The wife never seems to have

imagined , that though she knows her husband wiites plays , that this could be a part of a play—which it is—though it seems odd , that while the MS . of the play is written on ordinary paper , yet on the desk with the play this letterpart ot the comedy is written on paper with the address headed . The keenest interest is retained to the fall of the curtain in the manner of the long foreseen revelations , whereby a jealous young wife is restored to an

affectionate husband , and that through a woman who from her own bitter experience knows what it is to be the victim of jealousy . It may be urged that there is too much " shop" in the piece , and that the public do not care to know the relations ex . sting between a theatrical manager and his actors and actresses . However , on Saturday night the public laughed heartily at the character of Mr . Dodson Dick , personated by Mr . Arthur

Roberts , who , we think , forgot that he was playing comedy , and not comic opera . The ordinary public now-adays delight in knowing all they can about the theatrical profession , and the private lives of those who walk the stage , so that they cannot but be amused with the dialogue between Mr . Dick and Miss Alma Blake , an actress , most ably pourtrayed by Miss Amy Roselle , a part that exactly suits her , and whom we have not seen play so well since

her engagement at the Prince of Wales ' s . Miss Kate Rorke is the young wife , and she took her audience by storm . At the Criterion she has often delighted us ; but never so much as on Saturday , Her representation of a young wife's passionate sorrow was so wonderfully true , and so touched the . whole audience , both men and women , that one may be assured that in Miss Kate Rorke we have an exceedingly talented actress , who will not be long before

= > ne takes her place in the front ranks . Mr . Beauchamp and Miss Maria Davis , in minor r 6 Ies , gave much assistance . Mr . Lyndal and Mr . Arthur Uacre are good as the two husbands , and Mr . Compton , as the reverend doctor , is splendid ; he has copied the character from life . We know , at least , one such person who will not allow anything good about the stage or its belongings , and who sees sin in everything but himself . We are inclined to hope that there are not to-day such managers as Mr . Dodson Dick : hence w think

Mr . Roberts was not such a success as the other ladies and gentlemen . After each act the audience—not a packed one- called for the company , and at the final fall of the eurtain the author was vociferously cheered and came of . ' ° , 'he curtain . Then Miss Roselle was called again , atill , the people would not leave until they had had Miss K . « orl < e once more before them to congratulate her on her splendid piece of acting . There was an array of first nighters , which included Sir Arthur Sullivan , Mr . W . Wilde brother of Mr . Oscar Wilde ) , Miss Kate Munroe , Miss Mk ? T-iu rl , e ' ¥ / ' Jose P h Kn'Kht , Miss Camille D'Arville , « iiss Tilbury , Miss Lydia Thompson , and Bro . G . R . Sims .

Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

VVe are asked to announce that the meetings of the Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodgeof Instruction , No . 1602 , havebeen adjourned until the first Wednesday in September . Bro . VVm . Mackie will be installed VV . M . of the Wilson lies Lodge , No . 2054 , at the Four Swans Hotel , Waltham Cross , on the 7 th July next . Prince Albert Victor of VVales will visit the

Guildhall on Monday next , when the freedom of the city will be presented to his Royal Highness . The fund for the widow and family of the late Bro . C . VV . Thompson , Vacant Lands Officer of the City of London , has already reached to close on £ 1000 . The ceremony of installation will be rehearsed

at the Chiswick Lodge of Instruction , No . 2012 , on Saturday , the 27 th inst ., by Bro . E . Ayling , when the lodge will be closed until the third Saturday in August . Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., and Sheriff Phillips will attend the re-opening to-morrow ( Saturday ) of the organ at St . Mark ' s Church , Walworth , when a short service will be held in honour of the occasion .

Bro . the Very Rev . E . R . Currie , M . A ., Dean of Battle , P . G . Chap . Sussex , was installed W . M . of the Abbey Lodge , No . 11 S 4 , on Thursday , the iSth inst ., at Battle . Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., p resided at a

meeting held at the Mansion House on Friday , the igth inst ., for the purpose of promoting the interests of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps . The first afternoon party this season of Alderman Sir B . S . Phillips and Mrs . Sarah Phillips will take place at 17 , Grosvenor-street on Thursday next , the 2 nd

proximo . Bro . J . D . Allcroft , P . G . Treas ., in the unavoidable absence of Bro . the Lord Mayor , presided at a meeting held at the Mansion House on Monday in aid of the work of the Church of England in Paris . Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., opened a bazaar at New Barnet on the 17 th inst ., the object being to reduce the debt on the Congregational Church from £ 5200 to £ 2000 , so that a conditionally-promised sum of / . 500 may become available .

Bro . Sir Thomas Brassey , K . C . B ., M . P ., presided at the 23 rd meeting , held in Westminster College Hall , on Saturday afternoon last , of the Working Men ' s Club and Institute Union , Bros . Lord Balfour of Burleigh , and Holland , M . P ., were among those present . Notice of motion was g iven at the Court of Common Council on Thursday , the iSth inst ., to the effect

that it be referred to the General Purposes Committee to provide a suitable tablet or brass to mark the place of interment in St . Paul ' s Cathedral of Bro . Alderman Nottage , the late Lord Mayor , the cost not to exceed At the Court of Common Council , on Thursday , the 18 th inst ., Bro . Altman submitted a statement of the accounts for the year 1 SS 4 of the City of London School

Committee . The report , which was so far satisfactory that £ 1000 less than the previous year was asked to be transferred from the City's cash , was agreed to . The Prince of Wales attended a meeting held at the Mansion House on Tuesday under the presidency of Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., P . G . W ., in furtherance of the Beaumont Trust . His Royal Highness gave a cheque for

£ 100 towards the object ofthe meeting . Bros . Alderman and Sheriff Whitehead , Alderman Cowan , and E . Terry were among those present . By command of the R . W . P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Suffield , a Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the

Town Hall , Yarmouth , on Thursday , at 13 a . m ., to transact the business of the province . At 2 . 30 the brethren assembled in the Priory Hall , and from thence proceeded in their Craft clothing to Divine service at St . Nicholas Church , at three o'clock . A banquet was afterwards held at the Town Hall .

Bro . Sir J . McGarel Hogg , Bart ., M . P ., gave his annual dinner to the members of the Metropolitan Board of Works , at Willis ' s Rooms , on Saturday last , Bros , the Lord Mayor , Alderman and Sheriff Whitehead , Baron H . de Worms , M . P ., the Right Hon . G . J . Shaw-Lefevre , M . P ., Lord Egerton , Sir E . Watkin , Bart ., M . P ., Lord Brabourne , Sir G . Elliott , M . P ., and Sir F . Herschell ,

Q . C , being among the principal guests . Bros . Lord Claud Hamilton , M . P ., Baron H . de Worms , M . P ., Alderman Staples , Alderman Savory , Alderman and Sheriff Whitehead and Mrs . Whitehead , Bro . Alderman and Mrs . Evans , Bro . Alderman and Mrs . Cowan , Bro . Sir W . A . and Miss Ogg , Bro . Lieut .-Col . T . Davies-Sewell , Bro . Major Joseph , Bro . G . P . Goldney

( City Remembrancer ) , and Bro . S . da C . Andrade were among the guests at the complimentary dinner given at Grocers' Hall on Thursday , the 18 th inst ., to Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., P . G . W ., and the Lady Mayoress . We are requested to announce that the second Summer Outing and Ladies' Day , of the Corinthian Lodge , No . 1382 , is fixed to take place on Thursday , the 23 rd

prox . The rendezvous is again fixed at the Crown Gardens , Broxbourne , whither the brethren will repair in brakes , starting from Bro . W . Clark's , George Hotel , Millwall , at 9 . 30 a . m . prompt . Any profit that may accrue will be again devoted to Masonic Charities . Single tickets 12 / 6 ; double tickets , for lady and gentleman , 21 / - ; to be had at the George Hotel , or of the Honorary Secretary , Bro . S .

G . Bonner , 2 , The View , Millwall , E . Brethren are cordially invited to participate in the above mentioned outing . 3 , 000 , 000 tins of CHAMPION'S MUSTARD were sold in London alone during the past year . Why was this so ? Because the themselves it the best and

public , havingsatisiied was cheapest gave it a preference over all others . —ADVT . £ 20 . —Tobacconists commencing . —A pamphlet ( 80 pages ) How to open respectably from . _ 6 . _ io ; three stamps . H . Myers & Co ., Cigar and Tobacco Merchants , Euston-rd ., London . Telephone No . 7541 . —[ ADVT . ]

Masonic And General Tidings

Prince Albert Victor will shortl y take his commission in the 10 th ( Prince of Wales ' s own ) Hussars . The Prince of Wales has accepted an invitation to visit Birmingham during the autumn for the purpose of opening the Suburban Hospital at Erdington . The half-yearl y election of children into the London Orphan Asylum took place on Monday at the

Cannon Street Hotel . Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York , after a recess of some fifteen months , has been re-appointed manager and editor of the Yorkshire Gasette , one of the oldest newspapers in the North . Bro . Thomas Clarke has purchased from the splendid stud of the late Earl of Dudley , a magnificent pair of carriage horses at the somewhat high price of , £ 650 .

Bro . H . B . Marshall , P . G . Treas ., presided on Tuesday at the 41 st anniversary of the Asylum for Fatherless Children , Riedham . The report was very satisfactory , and the proceedings of the day most interesting . The Prince of Wales has appointed Captain the Hon . Alwyn H . Fulke Greville , of the King ' s Royal Rifle Corps , to be an Equerry in waiting to Prince Albert Victor of Wales .

Bro . Sir VV . and Miss Ogg , and Bro . C . and Mrs . Barry , were among those present on Saturday last , at the celebration of the 280 th anniversary of the foundation of Dulwich College . Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., presided on Tuesday at Willis ' s Rooms at the anniversarsary festival of the

London Fever Hospital , the amount of the subscriptions reaching £ 25 16 . The brethren of Perseverance and Cabbell Lodges , having in mind their enjoyable summer trip to Cobham Hall in July , 1 SS 1 , are desirous this year of taking an extended excursion by rail to Ipswich , and thence by the river Orwell to Harwich , on Tuesday , the nth August next .

Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., P . G . M . Essex , was to preside at the 58 th anniversary festival of the Royal Infant Orphan Asylum on Thursday , among the stewards being Bros . J . Derb y Allcroft , P . G . T ., and Alderman Sir F . W . Truscott , P . G . W . Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., and Miss Fowler , Bro . Tyssen-Amherst , M . P ., and Mrs . Amherst , and others were present at Divine service in St . Margaret ' s , Lothbury , on Sunday last , when the Bishop of Carlisle preached on behalf of the North-Eastern Hospital for Children .

Bro . T . Loveridge was heartily greeted on attending on Thursday , the 18 th inst ., for the first time since his serious illness the meeting of the Court of Common Council . R . W . Bro . Lord Kensington , M . P ., P . G . M . South Wales ( West ) ,, and Lady Kensington were present on Tuesday when the Princess Louise laid the

memorialstone of a new out-patient wing of the Victoria Hospital for Children , Chelsea . The following dinners took place at Freemasons ' Tavern , for the week ending Saturday , June 27 th . Monday—Staff College . Tuesday—Old Paulines' Club . Wednesday—Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers ; Manchester New College .

Bro . Lord Kgerton of Tatton , and Lady Egerton , gave a dinner party at their residence in St . James ' s-square , on Thurday , the iSth inst ., Bro . Sir Welby Gregory and Miss Welby , and Bro . Sir James Fergusson , being among the guests . Bro . Alderman Savory , one of the Wardens of the company , and Bros . Justice Cave , P . G . W ., E . Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br ., and R . Gooding , M . D ., P . G . D ., were

present at the annual dinner on the 17 th inst . of the Court and Livery of the Poulters' Company . Bro . the Lord Mayor , immediately on the news reaching him of the terrible colliery accident which occurred last week near Manchester , telegraphed to the Mayor of Manchester his readiness to open a subscription at the Mansion House for the relief of the sufferers by the calamity .

Bros . Lord Muncaster , Sir James Fergusson , Bart ., Sir A Campbell , Bart ., W . A . Burdett-Coutts , Alderman Sir R . Hanson , and Alderman Evans were among the guests at the banquet given by Bro . the Lord Mayor , M . P ., at the Mansion House , on Friday , the igth inst ., to the Conservative candidates at the next election , who are not at present Members o £ Parliament .

Her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice will be presented with a Grand Piano ( made b y Messrs . Brinsmead and Sons ) , at Buckingham Palace , on the 4 th prox ., when Bro . J . Brinsmead will attend to explain to the Princess its mode of construction . The p iano , which is one of a new description with all the latest improvements , has during the week been inspected by several members of the

Royal Family . Bros , the Lord Mayor , M . P ., P . G . W ., Alderman and Sheriff Whitehead , Alderman Sir R . Hanson , P . G . Stwd ., J . D . Allcroft , P . G . Treas ., and H . B . Marshall , P . G . Treas ., were among the stewards of the recent festival of the Sons of the Clergy , who were entertained at dinner at Lambeth Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury

on Wednesday , the 17 th instant . On Tuesday afternoon the Prince of Wales attended a meeting at the Mansion House , in support of the Beaumont Trust Scheme for providing amidst the dense population in East London , opportunities for rational amusement , by the erection of a library , reading-rooms , winter garden , concert hall , promenade , gymnasia and

swimming baths , and for promoting technical education . Bro . the Lord Mayor presided . HO _ . I _ OWAV ' P ' . —Nervousness and Want of Energy . —When first the nerves feel unstrung , and listlessness supplants energy , the time has come to take some such alterative as Holloway ' s Pills to restrain a slight disorder from developing itself into a serious disease . These excellent Pills correct all irregularities and

weaknesses . They act so kindly , yet so energetically , on the functions of digestion and assimilation , that the whole body is revived , the blood rendered richer and pnrer , while the muscles become firmer and stronger , and the nervous and absorbent systems are invigorated . These Pills are suitable for all classes and all ages . They have a most marvellous effect on persons who are out of condition ; they soon rectify whatever is in fault ; lestore strength to thc body , and confidence io the mind . — [ ADVT . ]