Reviews.

Rambles , " by Sarcelle , and " How the World Wags , " by Rapier , are among tho best of the occasional papers , the last containing criticisms dramatic , artistic , literary and meteorological . Guy Eoalyn ' s poem , " Old Lovo and New , " is not tho least of this month ' s attractions , nor should Mr . Henry Blackburn ' s paper , " On some Illustrated Gift Books , " in which are discussed the merits of such works as " Dore ' s Atala , " " Our British Landscape Painters , " by W . B . Scott , and others , be lost sight of .

The contents of the Argosy are worthy of all praise . Whether we turn to the serial tales— " Darkwater , " and " A Secret of the Sea , " —to " Margaret Rymer , " by Johnny Ludlow , to "Madge ' s Sacrifice , " by E . M . Alford , or to " Bound about Barmouth , " by the author of "A Welsh Ramble , " we shall find ourselves equally pleased .

The Gentleman's maintains the high character it has so long held , and especially under the present editorship . Mr . Justin M'Carthy ' s " Dear Lady Disdain , " and Mr . Frank Percival's Al Lyn Sahib , " are becoming more and more interesting as the features of the two stories gradually develope themselYOs . Mr . D . Christie Murray ' s contribution of "A Scrap of Crimean History , " Camille Ban-ore ' s " Mademoiselle Desclee , " and Mr . Arthur Olive ' s " Trammels of Poetic

Expression , are also to be commended . Belgravia contains a contribution by Mr . Sala , " Cobbett's Comedy , " " Ballets and Ballet-dancers , " by Dutton Cook , "A Model Epic , " and an article " On Pains and Anodynes , " by Charles Kidd , M . D . The " Notes from a German Band" is an affecting story , effectively told . The serials aro " Hostages to Fortune , " and Mrs . C . Reade ' s "A Study in Gray . " We must not omit to state that the illustrations are admirably drawn .

In Eraser is continued the account of "The Early Kings of Norway . " Among the other contributions we must single out the papers on " Vegetarianism , " by Mr . Newman ; on " German Home Life , " anenfc the subject of "Furniture ; " on the "Brussels Conference , " by Mr . Henry Ottley ; and on "The Finance of New Zealand , " by the Premier of the Colonial Government . The first of these will find many readers , but we do not anticipate any very

considerable abandonment among our brethren of their early instilled regard for flesh food . We do not admire vegetables less than we ought to do , but meat seems more acceptable , and , to our mind , more nutritious likewise . Not the least valuable of the contributions this month is a singularly well written paper by Mr . Forsyth , "On the Limits of Science . " We are sure our readers will be highly gratified with the ability displayed by the writer . Karl Blind's " Personal Recollections about Ledru Rollin " is worthy also of praise .

We can single out from the Contemporary but two or three articles which are likely to prove of general interest . These are , Principal Tulloch ' s sketch of " The Author of Thorndale , " Mr . Newall's " The Municipality of London , " Mr . J . FitzJames Stephen's remarks on " Tho Laws of England as to tho expression of Religious Opinion , " and Father Bridgett ' s Paper on " Tho Sanctity of Dirt , " iu which .

as we think , he fully vindicates tho Church in the Middle Ages from Dr . Lyon Playfair ' s aspersions . Father Bridgett is evidently master of sufficient facts to upset the ex-Postmaster-General ' s statements . There is , moreover , in the worthy Father's method of handling his Bubject , a marked geniality of manner which cannot fail to influence the reader in his favour . The rest of the number is undoubtedly interesting , but to the select circles of the learned only .

Baily can never , by any possibility , be otherwise than capital reading . It always contains a good selection of subjects , and these are invaribly well-handled . " The Turf in Ireland , " " Sport in the Italian Alps , " by "the Old Shekarry , " and Country Quarters , together with " Our Tan ; " these are the principal attractions of tho present number , which is further adorned with au apparently lifelike portrait of the " Earl of Pembroke . "

The opening and closing papers of Cornhill are devoted to fiction—Mr . Black's "Three Feathers " heading , and " Miss Angel" concluding the programme . The intermediate articles are highly interesting . " Have we two Brains ? " is discussed very learnedly , and " Thoughts about Thinking " will probably set our readers thinking , even if they do not go somewhat further , and admire the thoughts of tho present writer . There is also a paper on " The Coming Arctic Expedition , " ¦ with the purport of which very few will bo found to disagree .

Tinsley's is chiefly devoted to serial fiction— " With Harp and Crown , " by the authors of "Ready Money Mortiboy , " and Mr . Farjeon ' s " Love ' s Victory , " being the most attractive . Dr . Maurice Davis ' s " The Social Status Quo , " and " Full Measure , " by Minnie Young , are perhaps the best of the occasional papers . But the whole number is , as usual , excellent .

Wo havo received the first number of the Boy s Athenwum , a new periodical commenced this year . From the prospectus , forwarded some weeks since , we gather that tho intention of the promoters is to provide a better class of magazine for boys of middle age , who were

certainly placed in a gulf between Little Folks and the usual class of magazines . If the promise of this number is realised in the future , we think this requirement will be satisfied . The contents are varied , and the style , tone , and matter are generally good . The Boy ' s Athenwum has our very good wishes for its prosperity .

The December aud January numbers of Le Monde Martinique , — an organ of French Masonry—contains au admirable collection of news , both local and foreign , of great interest to our readers . Some excellent details of Swiss , Italian , and American news will be found in its pages . The article , indeed , on Masonry in Italy , is so encouraging that we have had it rendered into English , and it will be found in another part of our columns .

Macmillan ' s opens with a review , by Sir Samuel Baker , of " The Last Journals of David Livingstone , " which will be donblyintercsthig from the eminence achieved by both the journalist and the reviewer in the samo field of labour . Among the other articles , Mr . Munro ' s on " Recent Latin Terse , " —a criticism on a recent article thereon ,

Reviews.

Mr . W . Baptiste Scoone ' s " On tho Civil Service of England , and A . H . 's brief , but excellent obituary of Charles Kingsley , aro chiefly to be commended . Cassell ' s Family Magazine contains further chapters of tho "

Manchester Man" and " Pretty Miss Bollew , " besides a capital selection of papers on various subjects . Among them may be noted Mr . Payne's very sensible article on " Kitchen Economy , " and Mr . J . E . Taylor ' s " English Forests under tho Sea . "

In the Leisure Hour , Sunday at . Home , All the Year Round , Good Words , Good Things , a . nd in Little Folks , The Quiver aud otherperiodicals issued by Messrs . Cassell and Co ., will be found tho usual quantum of readable matter . A word as to the Popular Educator , the new edition of which , after a course of three years , is completed this

month . No more useful work of this kind exists , so far as we know , embodying , as it does , all tho best information obtainable on nearly every subject under the sun . Shortly tho first number of the Technical Educator is announced to take the place of the Educator . Wo doubt not its success will be quite as signal as that of its predecessor .

Answers To Correspondents.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .

All Letters and communications must be addressed to the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , 67 Barbican , London , E . C . SuuscitiBEB ( York ) . —Thanks for your suggestion . We have con . sidered the matter and will see what can be done .

J . G . L . —Why not purchase the book ? Bro . Kenning will supply it } the price is Is Cd . R . A . B . —Thanks for your commuuication , which you will see we have made use of .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . We do wot hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents !

THE ARCHAEOLOGY OP THE CRAFT

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —Your article on the above subject has impressed me very deeply . Having devoted much time to tho study of the History and Antiquities of Egypt , I have long held tho idea that tho real birthplace of Masonry as a Science is the valley of tho Nile . Recent research has clearly demonstrated that tho ancient peoplo

who lived at the head of the Mediterranean derived the elements of science and civilisation from Egypt . It is well known that Greece was indebted to the land of tho Nile for tho principles of Art . Tho severe beauty of tho Greek temple is merely a refinement of the massive outlines which characterised the temples of Memphis and Thebes . Tho hand of tho Greek gave to Egyptian forms

a beauty they did not before possess , and the stiff conventional forms of tho Egyptian artist were transformed , by tho skilful hand of tho Hellenic sculptor , into those graceful outlines which are still the admiration and despair of the artistic world . In proof of this wo have only to turn to any good work on the grammar of art , aud we shall find that the shaft , base , and capital of tho column , for example , aro

substantially the same iu Egyptian and Greek architecture , 'l'ho Greek improved the proportions of tho shaft , added the plinth , and reduced the capital to these severe and beautiful outlines , which are models for the architects of the modern world . The people of Tyre undoubtedly derived the arts from the Nile , and their architecture of course partook of the main features of Egypt . I have taken the

trouble to compare the ground plan of the great Egyptian temples , as given in Fergusson ' s Handbook of Architecture , with the very full description of Solomon ' s Temple in the Book of Chronicles , and I venture to affirm that the main features of the latter are identical with those of the former . The so-called porch , was , no doubt , as

its proportions show , merely an obelisk , or , at all events , a tower , akin to the architectural fronts of the Egyptian temples . Trusting that you will pursue this most interesting subject further , I remain , dear Sir , yours fraternally , Lincoln , 4 th February . ROYAL ARCH .

P . S . —Josephus affirms that fhe Grecian style of architecture was used in the building of the Temple at Jerusalem , but the proportions of the porch do not agree with any of tho structural features of Greek architecture .

Ar00704

THE LIFEBOAT ENDOWMENT

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHKONICCK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The effort being made , through tho medium of your columns , to establish an Endowment Fund for the Lifeboat which has been presented to the National Association

is worthy of support , and I hope to see that steps will shortly be taken to carry out this laudable movement , to assist in which I will contribute the mite of Yours fraternally , A YOUNG MASON .

CLDB HOUSB PLATIXG GAUDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pnefc , lis per dozen packs . Do . seconds is per pack , lis per dozen packs . If by post ljd per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , Be > , iquD , Ecarttf , & c , lIo"iil Quality lOd per pack , 9 s per dozen pasks . —London : W . W . Morcnti . 87 Barbican . E , 0 , ,