Jewish Law And Legend.

mixture might be found in it , owing to want of redaction , it was essentially and emphatically a legal code , its law , civil and criminal , national and international , human and divine , forming a kind of supplement to the Pentateuch—such a supplement as a thousand years of a nation ' s life would produce . There were in it two principal divisions—one text , and the other commentary .

The first treated of all possible relations of life , of duty towards God and man , of the mine ar . d thine , of vows and sacrifice , of the rights and duties of royalty from a most constitutional point of view , of the tribunals and the judges . The second part explained and expounded the text ; but it set forth that there was a realm not to be touched b legislationthat there were ethical

y any , duties of the heart which , if fulfilled by all , would make all legislation superfluous . In this part the Talmud became poetical , and between the rugged boulders of the law there appeared the blue flower of romance . Mr . Deutsch proceeded , in conclusion , to give several interesting extracts from the Talmud , for only one of which we have space . "The Talmud , " he said , " does not

enlarge upon the duty of sobriety , but it tells a story of the planting of the vine by Noah . "While he was engaged in this work , Satan came to liim ancl offered his services , which Noah gladly accepted , He brought first a lamb and slaughtered it over the young plant ; next a lion ; finally a pig . Behold here the three stages of drunkenness- —firstsoftmildloving ; nextfierce

, , , , , savage , ferocious ; finally , wallowing in the mire . " On the motion of the Chairman , a cordial vote of thanks was awarded to Mr . Deutsch for his interesting and instructive lecture , and the meeting separated .

The Late Bro. Captain Barber.

THE LATE BRO . CAPTAIN BARBER .

TO THE EDITOR OF TEE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —The brief notice of the decease of the above brother , in your Obituary of last week , is incorrect in one or two particulars , His name was not Harley ( probably an error of the press ) but Harby , and he was not initiated in India , as stated .

Bro . Barber was the eldest son of the Rev . William Barber , vicar of St . John ' s , in this town , ancl he was initiated here on the 3 rd November , 1 S 56 , as a minor , by dispensation , in the John-o ' -Gauut Lodge , now No . 523 , then 766 , and in which lodge he was also passed and raised before going out to India .

Whilst on foreign service he was stationed for some time at Thayetiryo , and there , in conjunction with Bro . Capt . Colville , then of the 29 th Regiment , but now of Bodmin ( who had also been initiated in No . 766 , during his residence in England , whilst invalided after going through the campaign under Lord Gough ) ,

he had made all the arrangements for the establishment of a Masonic lodge , to be called the John of Gaunt in the East , hut which was nipped in the bud by the outbreak of the Indian mutiny . The mother lod ge here sent out a handsome copy of the volume of the Sacred Law for the use of the

proposed new lodge , and this , I believe , is now used by the District Grand Lodge of the province . After his return from India , Bro . Barber was also advanced to the Mark degree in the Fowke Lodge in this town , on the 20 th September , 1859 . He may probably have taken the R . A . degree in India .

Bro . Barber , who had for some time past been suffering from a very painful and dangerous , and , as the result proved , fatal disease , was only in his 31 styear .

The Late Bro. Captain Barber.

His remains were removed here for interment on the 10 th instant . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM KELLY , Senior P . M . No . 523 , and Prov . G . M . Leicester , Feb . 21 , 1870 .

Bro. Antoine De Kontski.

BRO . ANTOINE DE KONTSKI .

We are pleased to notice the immense success Bro . Antoine . ' de Kontski ( pianist to H . M . the King of Prussia ) has met with since we heard him play last July at the Hanover-square Rooms . On Thursday , the 17 th inst ., at Bro . Catalani's residence , ^ Bro . de Kontski played Beethoven ' s Andante

with variations , and a fantasia of his own on " Sonnambula . " Both pieces were admirably performed . The vocal music was intrusted to Mr . Charles Stanton and Mdlle . Luigia Leali ; the former sang Virginia Gabriel ' s " Only " in a very pleasing manner , and joined Mdlle . Leali in Arditi's duo , "Una Notte a Vonezea , " a charming duetand admirably sung . Mdlle . L . Leali

, sang a most effective melody , " How softly day is dawning , " composed by Bro . Catalan ! . We admire the composition , and also the manner in which it was sung . We must not forget to mention a valse composed expressly for her by Bro . de Kontski . Ib was beautifully rendered , ancl , judging from tho applause she received , it will no doubt become a fa / vourite .

The same evening Bro . de Kontski was present at Madame Puzzi's concert , given at tho Marquis of Downshire ' s , when ho played his fantasia on "Faust , " and his " Eevoil du Lion . " It is not necessary to go into the particulars of this concert , as tho name of Madame Puzzi is always sufficient to ensure a great musical treat . Her programme consisted of the choicest vocal

and instrumental music , and the artists all first rate , as only such are over chosen by this lady . Thc concert was brilliantly attended . Bro . do Kontski met with great applause , which he well merited . His performance of tho pieces above-mentioned was perfect . Tiie second of a series of ballad concerts took lace at

p St . James ' s Hall on Saturday last , when wo again hud the pleasui-o of hearing Bro . do Kontski play his arrangement of " Faust " also "Le Eoveil du Lion , ;> his own composition . His brilliant performtincG of these pieces won him a hearty encore . We congratulate him on his immense success .

Of this remarkable artist thc Era , in noticing the Saturday Ballad Concerts at St . James ' s Hall , says : —• " The chief novelty of the evening consisted of the first appearance of tho Chevalier Antoine de Kontski , pianist to tho King of Prussia . M . do Kontski ' s stylo is essentially didactic and Germauesque , but at the same time ho is not above creating fine effects with

very very simple means . Amazingly'startling and original , tho effect produced iu tho undulating melody is very remarkable . M . de Kontski's stylo of playing is essentially severe ancl learned . The music is never trifled with , never out up . This gentleman possesses something bettor than more musical execution—he owns the of breadthof true expressionaccompanied at tho

power , , same time by pathos . This was especially noticeable , not in tho first display or tho second , a superb pas redouble , but in thc piece which ho played as the result of the enthusiastic encore which he received . The power with which this air was rendered , under all conditions to which tho piano can bo subjected , elicited reiterated applause . "