The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

Benefit Performances . —On dits for the coming season . TWO benefit performances have been given during the past week , bnt neither of them was as snccessful as the respective managers most probably wished and expected them to be . At the HAYMARKET , the play performed was The School for Scandal , in which Miss Neilson sustained the part of Lady Teazle ; the

performance was for the benefit of Mr . Charles Walter , the acting manager . At the OPERA COMIQUE , tho performance was for the benefit of Mr ; Charles Hastings , the acting manager of the P RINCE OP WALES ' S THEATRE , and comprised a new comedietta , entitled , A Love Test , interpreted by Mr . Lin Rayne and Miss Kathleen Irwin ; and the late Lord Ly tton ' s comedy of Money . The house was very poorly attended ,

and we fear Mr . Hastings would reap but little advantage from the performance . The air is full of rumours of changes aud novelties for the coming dramatic season . DRURY LANE , it appears , is to return to its old love , Shakspeare , and Mr . Barry Sullivan is expected to appear in his favourite character of Richard the Third . The QUEEN ' S , under the

management of Mr . Coleman , the tragedian , is also to be devoted to legitimate uses , and Henry the Fifth is announced for the opening piece . The LYCEUM will afford Mr . Irving another opportunity for making his mark in Shakspearian tragedy , and we have thus , therefore , threo theatres which promise to devote themselves to the works of the immortal bard . Passing to the other theatres , the PRINCE OF

WALES ' S has in rehearsal an English version of Nos Intimes , which it is hoped will prove as successful as A Scrap of Paper , at the EOYAL COURT . The principal parts are to be allotted to Mr . and Mrs . Kendal , Mr . Bancroft , Mr . Sugden , and Miss Lucy Buckstoue ; and the small part of Raphael is , we hear , to be played by a son of the late Mr . Frederick Younge , the original representative of the Hon .

George D'Alroy , in Caste . The HAYMARKET will produce a new comedy , by Mr . W . S . Gilbert , with a company strengthened by the addition of Mr . Hermann Vezin and Miss Kathleen Irwin . The GAIETY has in hand a comedy by Mr . H . J . Byron , in which the author himself , Mr . Terry , from the STRAND , and other favourite actors will appear . But we will continue the programme next week .

The Crooked Foot.

THE CROOKED FOOT .

A MASONIC INCIDENT , BY JEFFERSON . From the " MASONIC ADVOCATE . "

" Think not the good , Tho gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done , Shall die forgotten all ; the poor , the pris ' ner , Tho fatherless , the friendless , and the widow , Who own the bounty of thy kindly hand , Will cry to heaven and pull down blessings on thee . "

A SMILE may make sunlight ; a little word uttered in the spirit of humanity , or a ready deed done in kindness , often turns back the tide of darkness from a troubled soul , and gives to the hopeless a fresh hold on the horns of the altar . It may be that the deed of kindness may seem small to the performer , because it is not sinister —it is not done to be seen of men , being the gift-offering of an humble and generous nature . Bnt no matter how they come , or from where ,

good deeds of blessing to life ' s unfortunates are always the purest incense ever offered to heaven . The angels of the world beyond are all "ministering spirits . " They find their life , their happiness , their heaven , in their multiplied deeds of good . This is heaven's order , and it is also the law of life here , and , therefore , he that lives for others lives for God , no matter

what may bo his name , his faith , or his mode of devotion . We have here a little story in the line of these sentiments , which " may point a moral , " and we give it to our readers with this view , because it is also a Masonic incident . Crissy Wcimer , of Maples , is the youngest daughter of a poor widow , and the orphan child of a Master Mason . Since the death of

her father her mother has had to struggle bard to raise her large family of children ; and to add to her afflictions the youngest , Crissy , was deformed with a terrible crooked or reel foot . Well and beautifully developed every other way , and full of the promising spirit of a noble womanhood , this blight , this deformity , weighed upon the mother ' s heart with the threatened pressure of a lifelong misfortune . —

What to do she knew not . Poverty forbid expenditure , and the only alternative seemed an humble submission to the order nature had forced upon her child . Some few months over a year ago , Mrs . Weimer and her little daughter wero soon by a brother of the Fraternity on the train of the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Eailroad . He noticed the reel foot of

the little unfortunate . The sight of such a deformity on the limb of a littlo girl of nine summers made him feel sad . "Poor chid , " said he , "that foot is too badly deformed . It should be si raightened . " How F Where ? " queried the mother , with evident feeling , for she loved the child as a mother only loves her latest born . Its future

was dead , and she was left on the battle-side of life without means . " How , and where ? " she repeated , with a despairing tone . " At the Surgical Institute , in Indianapolis , " responded the Masonic brother . " That might be , said the good woman , solemnly , " if I had the

means to pay for it . " Alas ! how often it is that misfortunes like this befall the poor . Nature seems not to recognize the differences of wealth and poverty , and oftentimes the inmates of the cottage are made to drink of the cup of Buffering , while the palaces ofi xamrj are without a single

The Crooked Foot.

affliction . Philosophers tell ua that " time makes all things even , " and it may be so ; but then , we know that " the mills of the goda grind slowly , " and the orders of nature , even then , are not always clearly seen . " Yes , " said the brother of mystic sympathy , " at the Surgical Institute that foot can be made straight , and then that child can

grow up to tho beauty and strength and life of womanhood without a shadow over her . " " I would give my life , almost , if ifc could be done , " responded tho poor woman , " but I have no means—I am poor . " "That's enough , " said the mystic stranger ; "I'll see that that foot is made straight . "

Eeturning to Indianapolis he called at the Institute , where he saw Doctors Allen , Johnson and Minnick , aud told them the story of the poor widow ' s daughter . " Tell her to come , and bring her child , " said they ; " we'll do up the job without the charge of a dollar . " He then called npon that solid " railroad philosopher , Superintendent

C . C . Gale , of the Bee Line , who without a word wrote out a pass for Mrs . Weiraer and daughter from Muncie to Indianapolis and return . He then wrote to W . W . Worthington , superintendent of the Fort Wayne and Muncie Eailroad , who gave a like pass over that road . These passes were sent to Mrs . Weimer with directions for her journey to the capital , and the result is now seen in the following note from her own hand : —

Maples , Allen Co ., Ind ., 30 th May 1876 . To the Masonic Advocate : I wish to give Dr . Allen ' s Surgical Institute the praise it is worthy of . I went to the Institute the first day of last November with my little daughter , who had a reel foofc , and it was very difficult for her

to get about . Her foofc was operated upon , and a brace was placed upon her limb . I am to-day more than happy to say , she is now with two straight feet , going to school and enjoying herself well . Heaven bless tho Institute and the good doctors , for the lame are made to walk and the blind to see . Respectfully , M . WEIMER .

We may add , in finishing up ihis little story of humanity , that every man who touched this case is a member of the mystic tie—Gale , Worthington , Allen , Johnson , Minnick , Carey , McHenry and Maple . Besides all these , the Lodge in Ohio , of which her husband was a member , sent Mrs . Weimer a clever sum to bear her expenses .

The little girl might now be set down as the Masons' daughter , for insignificant as the deed of service may seem , she feels that ifc was the life-boafc that has carried her over her darkest river , and her little heart , she says , will never cease to pray that God may bless all those good Masons for their kindly services . 12 th June 1876 . v

TREES OF THE NEW FOREST . — Mark Ash ia one of the most favourite spots in the New Forest ; and the paths used by the forest charcoal burners leads also to Boldrewood , and the Knyghtwood Oak . In this neighbourhood the high eminences afford magnificent views of woodland distance , with occasional glimpses of the Downs of the Isle of Wight . The Boldrewood oaks are exceptions to the

allegation often mado against the New Forest trees—namely , that they are not renowned so much for their size as for their harmoniua proportions , The oaks at Boldrewood are even finer than the tree at Knyghtwood , which is generally put forward as the "lion , " par excellence , of the place ; and the curious name of the "Twelve Apostles , " given of old to the largest of the Bnrley oaks , shows that

local opinion was divided as to the merits of the respective claimants for notoriety . The beeches around the site of Boldrewood Lodge are admirable specimens of that beautiful tree , and from the high ground which they render conspicuous from afar , the finest views—as many think—of characteristic New Forest scenery may be obtained . The beech groves are the favourite feeding-place of the gaunt and ravenous

New Forest hog , droves of which in season roam , under supervision , to fatten upon the mast and acorns The beech-mast is equally beloved by the deer , and its fattening qualities , according to old writers , gave such repute to the winter venison of Boldrewood Walk , that a stranger would have " difficulty in getting a king ' s warrant for a doe executed in it . "—From Picturesque Europe for August .

Ad01403

THE THEATRES , & c . COVENT GARDEN .-PROMENADE CONCERTS , at 8 . 0 . ADELPHI . —At 7 . 30 , THAT BLESSED BABY . At 7 . 45 , ARRAH-NAPOGTJE . At 10 . 30 , OR ? ON . STRAND . —At 7 . 30 . THE DRESS' COAT . At 8 . 0 , LIVING AT EASE . Afc 9 . 30 , THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD . GAIETY .-At 8 . 0 , No . 1 ROUND THE CORNER . At 8 . 30 , ALL FOR HER . VAUDEVILLE . —At 7 . 30 , A WHIRLIGIG . At 8 . 0 , OUR BOYS , and a FEARFUL FOG . ' CRITERION .-At 8 . 0 , MARY'S SECRET , and THE GREAT DIVORCE CASE . ALHAMBRA .-LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE , & c . ALEXANDRA PALACE . —This day . FIRE PROOF DRESS , ILLU . MINATIONS , Ac . Open daily , PROMENADE CONCERTS , BROEKMANN'S CIRCUS , SKATING RINK , & c . CRYSTAL PALACE . —On Thursday , Fireworks , Races , & o . Onen daily , AQUARIUM , SKATING RINK , CIRCUS , & c . ROYAL AQUARIUM SUMMER AND WINTER GARDEN Open daily . CONCERT , SKATING RINK , & c . EGYPTIAN ( LARGE ) HALL . —MASKELYNE AND COOKE , dailv at 3 . 0 and 8 . 0 . J ROYAL POLYTECHNIC . — BURNING AND COMBUSTION , and CROOKE'S DISCOVERIES and APPARATUS , HEINKE'S DIVING APPARATUS and SUBMARINE LAMP . TYPE WRITER . HOGG'S PATENT VENTILATION . BATEMAN'S COLLECTION OF MODEL STEAM ENGINES . BIDDER'S MAGNETIC LAMP . TISLEY'S COMPOUND PENDULUM , & c , & o . ALICE IN WONDERLAND . A WALK THROUGH THE TOWER . WONDERS OF THE MICROSCOP W . Mr . TAYLORS WONDERFUL BOY . ( LAIRVOYANCE AND PLATE DANCING . SOLOS ON THE VIOLIN . Admission to tha whole , Is ; Schools , and Children under 10 , half-price .