Masonic Night At Hull Theatre.

MASONIC NIGHT AT HULL THEATRE .

MR . J . L . Toole ' s interest in Freemasonry is well known , and it it perhaps exceeded only by the interest which the members of the Craft take in the veteran comedian . This friendly feeling is reciprocated in many ways , not the least pleasing of which is Mr . Toole's practice of having what are termed Masonic

nights . On these occasions he is wont to give his Masonic Brethren the choice of what he shall appear in , and they in turn attend the theatre in their hundreds . Such was the case at the Grand Theatre , Hull , on the 25 th ult . The announcement that the performance would be under the patronage of the Worshipful

Master , the I . P . M . ( Lord Londesborough ) and Brethren of the Constitutional Lodge of Freemasons , No . 294 , had its effect too on the general public , and , the inclemency of the weather notwithstanding , the building was crowded . Dion Boucicault's dramatisation of Dickens' " Dot" was the Masons' selection , and

in this Mr . Toole took his original character , that of Caleb Plummer . Everyone is familiar with the role , and most of the comedian ' s admirers with his interpretation of it . His performance was splendid , and delighted the large audience . — " Eastern Morning News . "

o o o Alhambra Theatre . —Under the able management of Brother Douglas Cox this popular place of amusement presents a very attractive programme which nightly attracts large audiences . The beautiful dramatic ballet of" Sita " has recently been supplemented

by an amusing pantomime entitled " The Monkey Island , " invented by M . Agoust , and the music composed by Mr . Walter Slaughter . A party of sailors landing on the island for a supply of water are met by the tribe of monkeys who show fight with sticks and cocoanuts . They are quickly driven off , when a charming girl is

discovered , who appears to have been brought up by the animals . Of course the Lieutenant immediately falls in love , and eventually carries off the maiden to civilisation . Several laughable incidents occur in which the Bos ' un , the Jimmy Ducks , and the monkeys take part , their antics causing roars of laughter and liberal

applause . The cordial recognition extended to Miss Mary Lynne for her old but pretty ballads sufficiently justifies her engagement ; while the witty caricaturist Robert Ganthony , the clever Fred Horman , and the sprightly Sisters Levey are well received . The Hugassets , aerial gymnasts , who are making their first appearance

in England , remind us of the graceful and daring Leotard , and an exceedingly clever , but somewhat painful perfoimance is given by the two Donatos , each of whom has lost his left leg . A new and varied series of Living Pictures illustrating subjects of a domestic and heroic nature have been presented during the week .

0 0 0 The three hundredth performance of the delightful farce " The New Boy " will take place at the Vaudeville Theatre next Monday .

Train Service To The Riviera.

TRAIN SERVICE TO THE RIVIERA .

THE Winter Service of through trains from London and Paris to the South of France , by the Dover and Calais route , will begin on the 3 rd of November . For the convenience of English passengers desiring to travel through with the least possible fatigue , a special " Nice Express " will start from Paris ( Nord Station ) daily at 7 * 44 p . m ., in

connection with the 11 * 0 a . m . service from Victoria and Holborn via Dover and Calais , and run through to Marseilles , Cannes , Nice , Monte Carlo , Mentone , Ventimiglia , & e . The train will be composed of first class lavatory carriages , without extra charge . It will also have " Lits Salon " carriages and Sleeping Cars attached ,

and one " Coupe Lits Toilette" carriage will run through from Calais . A special feature of this new train will be a Dining Car , which will be attached to the train during its passage over the Ceinture Railway from Paris ( Nord ) to Paris ( Lyon ) . By this means a comfortable meal can be had under all circumstances .

The Mediterranean Express , in connection with the 8 * 0 a . m . service from Victoria Station , will run twice a week , on Tuesdays and Saturdays . This train will be composed entirely of Dining and Sleeping Cars , and will run through from Paris ( Lyon ) to stations on the Riviera .

The London , Chatham , and Dover Company s splendid steamers " Calais-Douvres , " "Empress , " or " Victoria , " run daily ( Sundays included ) in the 11 * 0 a . m . service from Victoria , Holborn , and St . Paul's . A through first class carriage with " Fauteuil-Lits " compartment will also run from Calais to Ventimiglia daily , in connection with the 8 * 15 p . m . Mail Service from Victoria .

MANY and various inquiries are being made as to the present condition of the boa which has gorged itself into such notoriety , and a packet has been received by the manager of the Zoological Gardens , London , bearing the Liverpool postmark , containing a slip of paper , on which is written : — " A dyspeptic who has suffered frequently from overfeeding , out of compassion for the 9 ft . boa

constrictor , whose waistcoat must be unduly tightened , begs acceptance of a large box of Beecham ' s Pills , which he strongly recommends being given to the reptile without delay . He has often heard Beecham ' s Pills are used for birds and beasts , and their effect on reptiles will surely be equally satisfactory . Should the box be given in its entirety , in the interests of science a keeper Bhould watch until the lid comes off . "

Train Service To The Riviera.

A new Masonic work is in preparation by Bro . John Yarker . The object of the work , as stated by the author , is to give a broad but condensed view of the various traces which are to be found amongst the ancients in their religion , in their art , and in their buildingscivil , sacred , and military—of a Speculative system such

as is now embodied in Freemasonry . The printing of the work , however , depends on whether there will be a sufficient number of subscribers at 10 s 6 d to justify the outlay . The author claims that the work is the most complete account ( of necessity short ) that has ever been written upon the associations bearing on Freemasonry .

It would indeed be a pity if the work , with such promise and claims , should be lost to the Masonic student . o o o

The Kendal Lodge of Freemasons has suffered a severe loss by the fire at their Hall . It is not only the pecuniary loss , although that is considerable—some say about £ 300 . All the portraits of Past Masters and various other office holders have been destroyed , and in many cases they cannot be replaced . The

organ , too , has been spoiled , which had only been played on once . o o o

Commenting on the above , the " Westmoreland Gazette " paragraphist says : It is fortunate the accident did not happen until after the late rejoicings . But I do not believe those wags who say that the fire would

not have occurred at all if the poker had not been made too hot at an initiation ceremony on the previous night ; do you ?

The members of the Lodge of the Marches , No . 611 , Ludlow , arranged a Masonic ball last week at the Town Hall , and a pleasant and successful meeting resulted .

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