The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

! JHaymarket . —A brilliant and numerous audience gathered afc this theatre on Tuesday to honour the debut in this country of a lady who for some time has been well known in America . Mrs . Brown-Potter has been connected with the amateur stage for some considerable time , but we believe appeared as a professional actress for the first

time last Tnesday . The piece selected for the occasion was Wilkin ' s Collins " Man and Wife , " a play well remembered afc the old Prince of Wales's ; but tbe choice was unsatisfactory . We have lately had plays innumerable dealing with the Sootch marriage laws , and but for one or two episodes the present story lacks interest . Never .

fcheless , there is something to be brought one , and with the talented company that now plays it the work ought to prove attractive for some time . The part of the governess , Annie Silvester , has been entrusted to Mrs . Brown-Potter , but she has scarcely grasped the character . There is strong emotional power required for the part ,

and certainly the lady does not lack this , but , on Tuesday , her emotion was rather too strongly developed . She is attractive to look at , but has some peculiar mannerisms that really mar her performance . These faults doubtless will soon be amended , for certain is it that Mrs . Brown-Potter has material in her

composition , and only wants it brought out . She has much to learn , and for that purpose should study ; when this is realized we may be able to speak better of her style . Mr . William Herbert , the only member of the original caste who now takes part in the revival , essayed the part of Arnold Brinkworth , and displayed a true touch

of natural feeling . Mr . E . S . Willard acted magnificently as Delamayn , and thoroughly deserved the honours he received . He made his unpleasant assumption acceptable , and to do this an artist is required . Mr . Charles Collette gave an amusing Bketch of the

Scotch waiter , Bishopriggs , while Mrs . E . H . Brooke was capital as Mistress Inchbare . Mr . H . Kemble made a prosy and natural Sir Patrick , Miss Agnes Hewitt a winning Blanche , and Mis 3 Henrietta Lindley a good Lady Lundie .

Opera Comique . —Running on the lines Miss Kate Vaughan laid down when she took the management of this theatre—a change of programme every fortnight—last Saturday , Tom Taylor and Charles Reade ' s comedy " Jiasks and Faces " was revived . To produce such a piece is certainly a bold step , but if success be

secured tbe more praise is due . If we say our highest anticipations have been surpassed , we shall not bo wrong ; a smoother or a better all-round performance of this old comedy has not been seen for years . The principal points have been well brought out , the different parts well studied , while the staging of the piece was

admirable . Miss Vaughan has grasped the character of Peg Woffington ; and has endowed ifc with all the grace and good nature requisite . A more fascinating Peg could not be wished for ; indeed to our mind Miss Kate Vaughan was seen afc better advantage in this character than any she has yet essayed . Mr . James Fernandez

acted splendidly as Triplet ; he was natural and effective , but when required light and easy . Mr . Forbes Robertson , as Sir Charles Pomander , gave a good idea of what a fop was supposed to be in the by gone days . Mr . Lewis Waller was well suited as Ernest Vane ,

while Mr . Lionel Brough gave a quiet yet effective reading of Colley Cibber . Miss Julia Gwynne was excellent as Mrs . Vane , and the Kitty Clive of Miss Susie Vaughan is well worthy of note . The other characters were all carefully portrayed .

Prince Of "Wales . —Although the hundredth performance of " Dorothy " has long since been given , the piece is almost as attractive as when it was produced at the Gaiety . Who has heard the charming music of Mr . Alfred Cellier and does not long to hear it again ? Notwithstanding several changes have taken place in the

cast since its production , the different scenes go perhaps better than of yore . Miss Marie Tempest has wide scope in which to distinguish herself as Dorothy Bantam , and this she does not fail to take advantage of . Miss Tempest ' s charming voice is heard to advantage in

both solo and concerted pieces . Mr . Ben Davies has succeeded Mr . Redfem Hollins as Geoffrey Wilder , and materially assists tho piece , while Miss Grace Huntley makes a bright and vivacious Phyllis . Of the other representatives we have before spoken ; we can only add they are as good as ever .

Ye Antiente Fraternitie offe Ye Rahere Almoners held their final Smoking Concert for the winter season on Monday , the 28 th nit ., afc "Ye Olde Belle" Tavern , Doctors Commons , E . C ., when a large gathering of Fratres and their friends enjoyed a pleasant evening . The chair was occupied by Frater Sangster , C . C ., the Most Worthy

Prior , the vice-chair by Frater Hollinghui-3 t M . W . P . P ., and amongst the members of tho Council present wore—Fratres James Stevens V . W . C ., Griffiths M . W . P . P ., Emrlen W . P ., Capfc . Robertson , Hards , Green , & c . Tho musical portion of the entertainment was well carried out by members of the Fraternitie , Professor Glessinj ;

presiding at the pianoforte , and songs and recitations wero given by Messrs . Robertson , Saulsby , Lindley , Mnrrow , Stevens , E . Jones , Emil Marks , Cooper , J . W . Sydney , J . Payne , A . Payne , C . Cozens , Callau , and others . Before the close of tho entertainment Frater Stevens delivered a farewell address , in the course of whioh thanks

were voted by acclamation to the host Frater Hodges , to the members of the Council , and to the vocalists who had given their services throughout the season ; and , referring to the good work which the Society had done in relieving distress during the past winter , it was stated that tho voluntary contributions at the several concerts lately

held had added materially to tho funds of the Almonry and had enabled the Council to make many more charitable gifts than they otherwise could have granted . After the usual compliment to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman tho proceedings , which had been throughout of a most hearty character , terminated with tho National Anthem sung iu grand Jubilee style .

Railway Arrangements For Easter.

RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR EASTER .

[ T will be seen by reference to our advertising columns that special arrangements are being made by the North Western and Great Western Railway Companies for tho accommodation of the public during the Easter holidays . These arrangements are on an increased scale of liberality this year , and ifc will be no fault of the service if excursionists do not gratify their migratory propensities during the

next ; week . On the Great Western line cheap excursion tickets will be issued on Good Friday , Saturday , Easter Sunday and Monday , to Windsor , Taplow , Maidenhead , Cookham , Bourne End , Great Marlow , Shiplake , Henley , and other delightful Thames-3 ide resorts , where , if the weather be fine , abundant means of recreation and enjoyment is

always to be found . The cheap Saturday to Monday tiokets will be acceptable to many classes of holiday keepers , especially to those engaged in business establishments . Similar advantages are offered by the London and North Western Railway Company , who announce special express trains on Thursday next for Birmingham , calling only

at Willesden , Rugby , and Coventry , thus completing the journey from Euston in less than two and a half hours . The midnight train from Euston on Good-Friday will be extended to Warrington and Px-esfcon ; and other special arrangements are advertised for intending excursionists to various other parts of the North Western service .

EXTRA RAILWAY FACILITIES . —In order to meet the convenience of the public the Great Western Railway Company have made arrangements for the issue of tickets afc their City and West End Offices , viz ., 193 and 407 Oxford Street , 23 New Oxford Street , Holborn Circus , 29 Charing Cross , 26 Regent Street , 5 Arthur

Street , London Bridge , 82 Queen Victoria Street , 43 Crutched Friars , 67 Gresham Street and 4 Cheapaide , afc any of which places tickets can be obtained during the week preceding Easter . The booking office afc Paddington Station will be open for the issue of tickets the whole of the day on Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday and

Saturday , before Easter . Tickets obtained in London on any day from 4 fch to 9 fch of April will be available for use on either of those days . Cheap tickets , at special low fares , and available from 7 th to 13 th of April , will be issued from London to the Yeovil and Weymouth districts , and to principal Stations in the West of England , and it is

announced that a fast excursion train will leave Paddiugfcon on Thursday , 7 th April , reaching Exeter in 5 ^ hours and Plymouth in 7 \ hours ; also that other Excursions will be run to other principal Stations on the Great Western system . The Newspaper train , leaving Paddington at 530 a . m ., will run on Good Friday as usual , as far as Oxford , Exeter aud Swansea , and the usual intermediate Stations .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JAMES CURTIS . r -PHE funeral of this worthy Mason , who died at Brighton after a - * - brief illness , took place on Wednesday , the 23 rd March afc the Extra-Mural Cemetery , and was attended by a large concourse of brethren , the deceased was , at the time of his death , Parliamentary Secretary and Editor of the " Oddfellows Magazine . " Bro . Curtis also held several public appointments at Brighton , and was Secretary

of the Brighton Parliamentary and Literary Society . The time fixed for the interment at the Cemetery was one o'clock , and by that time a large assembly met at the gates and formed a procession . First came the Freemasons , each wearing a sprig of acacia , and then followed a large body of Oddfellows ( the deceased had been Grand

Master ) , including the Grand Master of the Order Brother Stockall , and the principal district Officers , with representatives from nearly all the Brighton Lodges , each wearing a sprig of thyme . The rear was brought up by a number of private friends of the deceased , and representatives of the Brighton Press , with which the deceased was

formerly connected . The procession made its way , preceding the hearse , to the Cemetery Chapel , where the officiating clergyman , Bro . the Rev . W . A . Tooth , opened the service , which was chorally rendered by the choir of Holy Trinity Church , assisted by several local amateurs . The Psalm was chanted , and after the Lesson , the

hymn "My God , my Father , while I stray , " was sung to Troyfce's chant , On leaving the Chapel , the choir sang the hymn " For thee , 0 dear , dear country , " and on the conclusion of the service "Now the labourer's task is o'er . " The service was most impressively read by the Rev .

W . A . Tooth . The coffin bore the inscription : — "James Curtis ; died 17 fch March 1887 , in his 57 th year , " it was covered with floral wreaths , amongst others one to which a card was appended bearing the words " With respect , from the Brighton Press . " The Loyal Waterloo Lodge , and the Parliamentary and Literary Society also sent wreaths .

We fcake the following from a volume of Masonic sonnets , now in the press , by George Markham Tvvedclell : — BEAUTY .

Love thou the Beautiful , aud thero will be A Mine of Wealth discover'd in thy Brain Which none can rob thee of . It is quite vain To seek the Secrets of Freemasonry , Unless all Beauty has for thee a charm

Which worldly rninds ne ' er know . The vnriod forms Of Beauty must be prized ; all that deforms The Soul must be abhorr'd ; all that can harm Ourselves or others shunu'd . True Beauty ne ' er

To Wickedness belongs . A sacred thing Is Beauty ; no mere phantom to take win " When needed most ; through all the changing year 'Tis in thee and around thee , if thy Mind Only has Culture the great Boon to find .