Holiday Haunts.

bis office as Paymaster of the Forces dnring fche reign of Q ^ e " Anne . Like the great Churchill he fattened npon the pp ™ " '" of war and a warlike policy , bnfc , nnlike the hero of Blenheim , he his left ¦¦ character for folly antl extravagance . He bnilt tho Oan"ns , n mansion thafc , with its furniture and decorations , is said tn have

cost a quarter of a million of money . The Dnke beQ- an to bm'Id in 1712 , in 1744 he died , when the mansion waa sold in lots . The estate was purchased by a cabinet maker , whr > erected a more modest building , which was afterwards the home of Denis 0 'Kellv , who came over to England a raw Irish lad in 1748 , nnable to read or write ,

and died a wealthy man . His career was more remarkable than honourable , and were it not that he was fche owner of * he most wonder , fnl racehorse ever known—Eclinse , his name would have been forgotten long ago . " The Grand Duke , " as Jamea Brvdees wns called , lives in marble—and as an example of vanity and ext' -nvju / aneo

Handel lives in marble too , bnt ho also lives in Art . Wh'ch will survive the shock of time ? We leave this to the judgment of our readers . We mnsfc hasten our journey also j bnfc before leaving Whitchurch a tombstone , erected in 1868 , at the south-east corner of the chnrch .

yard , is worth a passing notice . It bears the following inscription . ¦ ' In memory of William Powell , the Harmonious Blacksmith , who was buried 27 February 1780 , need 78 years . He was Pnri . h C'f rk during the time the immortal Handel was oreramsfc of this church . " A short distance from the chnrch is an iron gate , through which are

some extremely pretty walks to Great Stnnmore , a charming village , nobly situated . No greater contrast between country and town could be fonnd than this delightful spot affl-r > s . City life is loft behind , although almost within sight . The views from the higher ground are rich and varied . Wood , farm , church , hall , and lowlv

cot , swelling hills and deep valleys , with here and there a patch of water , make up a panorama thafc gratifies the eye and makes the heart long for a full purse and perpetual summer . Among the many pleasant places in this Middlesex village is tbe Abercorn Arms , tbe views from which alone are worth a visit to enjoy . We were

rather surprised afc the capacity of this old wayside hostelry . Bro . Veal , the proprietor , was a member of the old coaching fraternity , although his connection with it mnst have been in its latter days , for mine host is a hale , vigorous man , able to build his own hav rick , and to take his part with the strongest in the work of honse

and farm . The grounds attached to the hotel are extensive , and serve the purposes of pleasure and profit . A well-kept flower £ _ a den stretches along the side of the house , abutting on which and the road side are the vegetable and fruit preserves . In the latter a bee industry ig situated , and woe betide the stranger who shonld be so

unlucky as to come within the length of the sting of these busy animals when in a had temper . Onr host warned us to keep a safe distance . " But what about you ? " we remarked . "Oh , " said he , " they know me , " and such appeared to be the fact , although ho was obliged to protect himself from his friends when he went to capture

some runaways who had swarmed in a tree close by . A well-wooded field at the back of the gardens is nsed for lawn tennis . It fs admi . rably adapted for the purpose , sheltered , cosy , and picturesqne . Adjoining is a large meadow , with a lazy pool , well stocked with fish , afc one corner , a shady walk round ifc , and

stables flanking the ofcher side of the house . It is jnsfc the spot for parties and for private families . Comfort , quiet , and change come naturally afc this pleasant retreat , which is not less fitted for those who keep up the old-fashion of yearly ont . ings called bean-feasts . To Freemasons the Abercorn Arms ought to

be regarded as their summer hannfc and home . The Abercorn and Sub-Urban Lodges and the Stanmore Chapter meet here , and those who are fond of the country as well as of the Cra t , who prefer the light and softness of summer to the coldness and depression of winter for Masonio work , shonld visit Bro . Veal ' s bouse before

selecting a place of sojourning . He has jnsfc enlarged the banqueting room , which , with his other rooms , afford all the necessary accommodation for privacy , convenience , and comfort . We have already indicated some of the sights and enjoyments of tbe locality , and were we not afraid of unduly extending our

remarks we might refer to many more . We cannot , however , leave the subject without calling atfcenting to Stanmore Church . The old fabric is now a venerable ruin , clad in ivy and evidently tended with care . The new church offers a striking- contrast , but it is not altogether out of harmony with its predecessor . The situation

is pretty , and unlike that of Whitchurch tbe churchyard at Stanmore is a pattern of neatness and trim beauty . We like to see Lych gates afc the entrances to God ' s Acres . There is one afc Stanmore , erected by the Kelk family . The Lodge to the right is a pretty little structure , aud helps to harmonize the whole picture , which combines

art and nature in an intelligent and pleasant form . We leave our snbjpcfc here , with the remark that those who wish to go to Stanmore can take the Great Northern line to Edgware , or book a seat in that admirabl y served coach the Wonder , which leaves Piccadilly of a morning , and passes Bro . Veal ' s house on its journey to St . Albans , returning in the evening .

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY . —The London Cottage Mission is most desirous of giving some thousand or fifteen hundred children belonging to its Sunday School ** , Bands of Hope and Rngged Schools , & e ., from the slnmsof Stepney , Liriiebonse , and tho East End of London , Iheir

annual excursion one day in fresh air , either in the country or at the seaside , as results may permit , and an earnest appeal for sp e cial fnnds for this purpose is now made by Mr . Walter Austin , Managing Director of the Mission , 44 Finsbnry Pavement , EC , who " will gladl y receive and acknowledge all donations for the purpose .

Bright Days" is the title of tho Cabell ' s Magazine special holiday number , to be issued at fche end of this month . The first of -he group of nine complete stories will be contributed by the author of "Whoia Sylvia ?"

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All 13 oolcs intended for . Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , _ NT . — : o : — " Proceedings of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the granting of

Warrant 459 to African Ledge , at Boston , Mass ., Monday , Sept . 29 , 1884 , under the auspices of the M . W . Prince Hall Grand Lodge F . and A . Masons . M . W . Thomas Thomas Grand Master . " Boston : Franklin Press . Rand , Avery and Company . 1885 .

Tins pamphlet , of forty pages , is not only a record of the centenary inniversary of African Lodge , bat , is also a brief history of the - •{ Torts made by tho founders and others in freeing their swarthy brethren and sisters from the bondage of slavery . Prince Hall was tbe first VV . M . of African Lodge , claimed to be "the mother of all other true

Lodges of coloured Masons in the United States . From this Lodge , and others warranted by it , sprang the Prince Hall Grand Lodge , which we take to be the governing power of all tho black Lodges . It is interesting to read the accounts of the doings of some of the brethren in connection with the War of Independence , and it ia

gratifying to notice the respect in which the Grand Lodge of England is held by the coloured br . thien . They owe their Masonic birth to fchis country , and they evidently feel proud of their parentage . Regret is expressed that tho " garden of peace , liberty , and equality is yet enenmbered and choked up with the wee Is of pride , envy ,

tyranny , and scorn , " bnt hope is strong thafc th ^ y " may all live , as one great family , enjoying to its fullest extent all the beauties of it . " To which we fervently add — So mote it be . The black population of America have passed through severe trials . Some of these people have risen to eminence , and we are glad fco find thafc aa a vl _ si they are

giving their attention fco education and works of charity , without which , they assert and believe , the Craft cannot flourish in their midst . These are signs of advancement which mnst gladden the hearts of all lovers of equality , and if the feuds of race still linger , they have considerably diminished in severity . Time will bridge

over the boundary that separates white and black , aud if the temper of African Lodge , as evidenced in the record before us , is continued , the time is nofc far distant when iu troth ifc may be said thafc Freemasonry has succeeded in uniting all races in the " Fatherhood of God and the •brotherhood of man . " Onr black brethren are very

susceptible of kindness , and they are warm in their acknowledgments . We find among those they wish to honour is Brother Jacob Norton , whose strong arm lent them assistance years ago , and ia still vigorously and earnestly used in their behalf . They say , "he ifc was who exposed the sham pretenders upon this side of the water ,

and thereby carried fresh encouragement to our friends on the other side . " Some interesting episodes are given in fche pamphlet , and as a record of a great event arising oat of peculiar circumstances ifc is

well worth reading . The subject is a fine one for reflection , but want of space forbids the indulgence . We can only say , in conclusion , thafc we rejoice with our coloured brethren on the ofcher side of the Atlantic , and sincerely hope thafc their aspirations may speedily be realised .

Grand Entry Into Bokhara.

GRAND ENTRY INTO BOKHARA .

WE quote the following from the recenb work published by Messrs . Sampson Low on " Russian Central Asia , " from the pen of Bro . the Rev . Henry Lansdell , D . D ., Past Master of fche Royal Somerset Union ancl Inverness Lodge , No . 4 , P . G . S .: — I have a dim recollection , aa a child , of hearing Dr . Wolff lecture

on b'S travels—I suppose soon after his return—and a better remembrance , as a boy , of hearing him preach . How little , then , I dreamed thafc I should be the next of the Queen ' ., subjects to enter fche city of Bokhara ! Yefc , on llfch October 1882 I found myself approaching the very gate by whioh I presume Bnrues had entered

fifty years before . The sight of tho crenelated walls , eight miles round , with holes through which archers might shoot , guarded by a thin clay defence , and supported on triangular beams , struck me aa curious indeed for Anno Domini 1882 . Everything , however , was in keeping therewith . Ifc was nofc like a street ; of

Old London , erected in a modern exhibition , or an assemblage arrayed in ancient costumes whilst surrounded with 19 fch century furniture . Dr Wolff , who escaped with difficult ^ from the clutches of fche present Emir's father , wore hia gown and hood into Bokhara , carried a huge Bible under his arm , and annonnc > d that he was the

great dervish of Enuland ; and ho p-irtlr a ^ tribu'e » his saf-. fcy to having maintained throughout his ecclesiastical character . I hid some thot . j . ' } i r , therefore , of t-ikintr aleif from bin bo > k , and the m > re so because Russians had told me that tho Emir would not distinguish between my clerical coat and tha . of a Russian merchant , aid

that aU the Russian dignitaries this Asi itic sovereign h _ •!. cm vv-re in unif'I'm aud decorated with medals . This suggeste ) to mo thafc it might bo des irable , if I could , to combine in my raiment , the splendours of ec'df-d-i . fcieal ves'ment-. and niili'fi' -y uniforms . But wh' ri- was the Emir ? Was he living close by , onr house being a pirfc

of the palace , or was he . a mile , off ? Becanse , if I were going to _; efc myself up very gorgeously , and his Majesty were living close by , ifc niitrht be more convenient to walk . Mv inquiry had reached the great , man's ears , and he seemed to have tiken it as a trait of humility on my part that , [ did not think myself worthy to corne mounted to h

his presence . He therefore sent , me a message to say » had heard I talked of walking to the palace , but that he desired I w-all ride . So I proceeded to nnk-. ready , .-n- ' fir . fc pn on my cas-o-k th . fc did duty when I went to the Court of St . . Tamos ' s . Over thia I put on a gorgeous gold embroidered waistcoat , adapted ftom a garment I