Correspondence.

ns , without a good knowledge of the Continental languages , German and Erench ? Italy , too , has burst her fetters , and has , I verily believe , a future great and glorious before her . As " a new country , to the commercial Englishman , she will be an object of the greatest interest . She has a language , on which ere long great demands will be madefor the

inter-, course of the nations , as she has a literature , which is hardly second to any . These languages , especially the two first , should be taught by native professors colloquially , and with a special regard to commerce . No pains should be spared to make the

mathematical training complete . A discriminative reference should be kept here towards the counter , the desk , and the office .- A banker once complained to me , that when youths entered his establishment , they had to be taught anew , as it were ; they were , as a rule , ignorant of the simplest forms and matters which might so easil y be taught them at school ; and which

, if taught them in the last few months of their stay there , would make them very much more valuable . Every boy should have been made to keep books , as a part of his school career , and it is surprising how willingly boys generally take to the subject . Landsurveying demands the same assertion . Our school should , if for nothing else , become

noted for its scientific knowledge . We might train engineers , and produce chemists , not self-sufficient nuisances with a little smattering , but thorough working students . Eor a good foundation in all these things our boys do not leave the institution too soon , provided that in their earlier years they have had all the careful training needful . Eor all this

, good apparatus and every other appliance is wanted ; but the thing will grow gradually and easily , if once determined upon , and commenced . Drawing and music should never be absent from the curriculum of such a school . Surel y MASONS should never forget their pretensions to the fine arts .

But here I must stop . I want to do good , not to engross your pages ; to provoke discussion to ventilate the subject , and to raise our educational tone . If you permit me , I shall say a little more another time . I trust I shall elicit from other brethren a view or two upon the subject . I shall be content if

I only succeed in placing before the Craft the fact , that now , thanks many and warm to Bro . Binckes , we are capable of doing a great deal more than we have done , rapid though of the last few years our progress has been . I know he would rejoice if we had , what , I repeat it , we ought to have , a , if not THE , model middle class school . I am , yours fraternall y , W . N . Knr .

Mons. Victor Hugo's Annual Charitable Festival.

MONS . VICTOR HUGO'S ANNUAL CHARITABLE FESTIVAL .

10 THE EDITOR 01 ? THE _ nt _____ -AB 03 . S' JUGAZIXE AST . ___ S . S 0 _ . I 0 MIEHOB . _ DEJIB SIE AND BEOTHEE , —As your correspondent ni this district , seeing that in the institution of Ereemasonry so much attention is paid to the relief of distress , ancl the feeding , clothing , and education ° * _ children suffering from poverty or orphanage , 1 think it well to call your attention to some circumstances here in Guernsey of a kindred character , tnough the promoter of them is not a member of our Orait . Still , were it possible , as has been suggested ,

for us to make honorary members of such as are not initiated into the mysteries , his talents , his writings in the cause of humanity , his widely-spread influence , his practical and sustained efforts to relieve distress , would well entitle him to the distinction ; indeed , the benefit would be reciprocal , for his name would be an additional guaraatee for the honourthe usefulness

, , the reputation of our system . On Thursday last I made it a point to attend the annual festival , given ab the residence of Mons , Victor Hugo , to upwards of forty children , to whom he has for some years , at stated intervals , given a substantial meal , half of them meeting at his house

on alternate Wednesdays . By advertisement all persons interested in the subject had been invited to attend , and thus I found a considerable party of ladies and gentlemen assembled . The proceedings were carried on in three , rooms in succession . Irs the firstthe children had a special repast of

sand-, wiches , cake and wine at noon , in addition to the periodical dinners . This having evidently been thoroughly enjoyed , and visitors having been courteously invited to participate , the children were transferred to another apartment , accompanied by as many of the visitors as could be accommodated . Here

substantial warm clothing was distributed to each child ,. after which an address was delivered by Mons , Victor Hugo , explanatory of the principles on which he acts and the motives by which he is guided . A third room was subsequently visited , from which daylight had been excluded , and that of gas substituted . In the centre a Christmas tree was displayed

, the articles upon which , were appropriately distributed to the children , ancl afterwards a few of greater value hy lottery . One little girl received a doll as large as a baby , handsomely dressed in clothes which formed a strange contrast with those of the happy recipient . The proceedingswhich lasted about two hours

, , terminated with the presentation , by Mons . Victor Hugo , of a considerable number of pieces of music to the young ladies present , as souvenirs of the day . I hope I am not committing a breach of hospitality when I say that the rooms which were devoted to this noble purpose for the occasion , afforded subjects

of great interest to the , visitors , from the peculiar style of the fittings-tip , in tapestry , fine carved black oak , and articles of vertu , each apartment different from the others , ancl all indicative of wealth , taste , and originality . I send herewith the published account of the proceedings , with the address of Mons . Victor Hugo , as it appears in tho Guernsej' Star newspaper of this clay , of which you can make such use as you think

proper . The narration now given through your pages may , perhaps , induce some members qf our Craft , who have opportunities and ample means at their disposal , to follow the example of Mons . Hugo , and thus accomplish his object in the publicity of tho annual reunions ; for though as Masons our sympathies

are especially enlisted iu favour of our body , wa are at the same time stimulated to do good to others in proportion to our means , at all times to endeavour to alleviate the sufferings of the poor , and " to pour the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of tho distressed . " Yours fraternally . H . H .