Round And About.

And what is this about another school for our boys and girls ? Our contemporary speaks of " The coming boys' school election '' and "The coming girls' school election , " and I have heard nothing about them . * * *

Let me take this opportunity of repeating what a very great authority upon scholastic matters thinks respecting the administration of the Masonic Schools . Of the Boys ' , he says , Bro . Binckes and his Committee have been asked to undertake work of which they possess no knowledge , hence the condition in which the school is found . That the selection of the head-master to succeed

Dr Morris should be in the hands of not more than three scholastic men of high position , who should be asked to select , entirely on their own judgment , the man to fill that position .

* * * Beyond an excuse for a jaunt up to town and a little outing for the " kiddies , " both big and little , the Lord Mayor ' s Show- is about as barbarous an affair as was the sticking of skulls on the poles of Temple Bar . I love the old associations which cling to

the filtered belongings of a past age . The " milestones of custom " have nearly all disappeared , or have been transformed and modernised be 3 'ond recognition , for everything nowadays is splutter and speed . We no longer respect the grandeur of a woman , for men now smoke and spit in her presence , and many swear . The

glorious and splendid pageantry of a century ago is dead , and with it most of the public ceremonies that appealed to the holida } ' - maker for success . The May-pole dance and " Jack-in-tlie-Green " are fading from our memories like the visions wherein we beat the bounds of the parish' and sent our little sweethearts our paper

compliments on'February 14 . Dear old Feb ., what a happy month that used to be if we could find a valentine more " scenty " and with better " words" than our hated rival , young Brookes . We remember even thrashing that boy C 11 minings because lie " said something" to our particular friend the upper housemaid at

"Gordons , " who used to make us coffee on the sly and smuggle up some bread and cheese before the " head " had paid his final nightly inspection . 4 i" -tr ~ fc

But we don ' t thrash men for insulting women now—we laugh Chivalry , like Jack-in-the-Green and the pageantry of old , is dead . We have only the Lord Mayor ' s Show , and that destroys everybody ' s business , everybody ' s sentiment , and everybody ' s liver . * * *

I notice an announcement from Bro . Gordon Smith , M . A ., appears in our advertising columns , calling the attention of the subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institute for Boys to his candidature for the forthcoming vacant position of Secretary to that Institution . Mr . Smith is a gentleman of educational powers , and

has distinguished himself in several branches of the law . He is possessed of a private income , and is prepared to devote the whole of his time to tlie duties of the otiice . It is gaining force with bretliren of the Masonic institutions that the various positions connected therewith would be better placed in the hands of men who have

had the benefits of classical education , and whose wide experience of educational matters place them on more equal terms with the teaching staff of the schools . Be that as it may , it is devoutly to be wished that , if the post in question is to command no larger salary than , £ 300 a year , a gentleman of income will be found to occupy it ; but I strongly maintain that ^ 300 a year is not sufficient .

* * * Our contemporary , the Freemason , calls us precocious . Well , we admit it , but our precocity is the work of our supporters . It says it is free from that peculiar form of flattery—the flattery of being imitated—and we quite believe it ; and it finishes by stating that its

" process of improvement has been one of gradual evolution "—an " evolution" of twenty years ; and nobody , perhaps , is surprised . It has not denied that it borrowed , for a brief space of time , several

features from these columns , so on this head nothing more need be mentioned ; but it refuses to admit that our advent influenced its external appearance . It is , after all , a very trifling matter , and cannot , I hope , tarnish the good opinion that should exist mutually between us ; but that our birth did alter its appearance , by the aid of a blue wrapper , new type , and new headings , with all the interior advertisements reset , is a fact I strongly adhere to .

* * * The Freemason has never stood upon a footing of pure journalism . It has cleverly carried out the purpose for which it was created , and has proved a mighty medium to its proprietor in furthering his desire to elevate the appearances of Freemasonry . It has never

possessed or influenced any opinions , and has never striven to raise the tone of our glorious Craft one inch in the estimation of the world . It , therefore , has no connection with journalism whatever , and refuses to accept advertisements from firms which manufacture goods appertaining to the working of Freemasonry .

That its proprietor and editor are men of character the world of Masonry admits , but it never will admit that the paper has ever done aught but chronicle the ephemeral events of the Craft—events which can positively have no vestige of interest but to those few whose names are printed in its pages—and that it met the first issue of the MASONIC REVIEW with anything but a change of front disclosing

more authoritatively these well-known facts . That this journal carries out its aim of not trespassing upon the preserves of the twenty-year-old publication is my sincere wish , but that it fulfils its mission of elevating Masonry in the hearts of Masons , and provides them with all the food that the Craft can from month to month offer them , our readers will be the better judge .

* * * I have been devoted to the usefulness of the camera for years . and have looked upon the little apparatus known as the " detective " as opening up a serious opportunity of bringing photography to bear upon the worst iorm of blackmailing . By an extraordinary chance ,

which comes but to one man perhaps in a century , I have become possessed of the particulars of a horrible affair in high life , and which may seriously affect several magnates of the Craft . The situation is too terrible to contemplate and must be left to die , if it ever can .

THE DRUID . WHAT would I have you do ? I'll tell you , Kinsman : Learn to be wise , and practise how to thrive ; That would 1 have you do , and not to spend

Your coin on every bauble that you fancy , On every foolish brain that humors you . I would not have you to invade each place , Nor thrust yourself on all societies , Till men ' s affections , or your own desert ,

Should worthily invite you to your rank . He that is so respectless in his course , Oft sells his reputation at cheap market . Nor would I you should melt away yourself ¦ In flashing bravery , lest , while you affect

To make a blaze of gentry to the world , A little puff of scorn extinguish it , And you be left like an unsavory snuff , Whose property is only to offend . I'd ha' you sober , and contain yourself ;

Not that your sail be bigger than your boat ; But moderate your expenses now ( at first ) As you may keep the same proportions still . Nor stand so much on your gentility , Which is an airy and mere borrowed thing , From dead men ' s dust and bones ; and none of yours , Except you make , or hold it . BEN J ONSCN ,