Correspondence.

rests of those who are seeking employment . I have stated theso facts in a plain and simple way , and I think the inference I would draw is plain . Taking it for granted that the Ancient Guilds wero our progenitor's , we have their example as to the value of union for trade purposes . No one can doubt the value of Trades Unions at the

present day in the same direction ; while the other subsidiary agencies prove their usefulness and necessity by the success they enjoy . Now , why should not our own Fraternity share the advantages of a system that has almost universal recognition ? I confess I see no reason against tho establishment of an Employment Bureau , but on the

contrary there are many arguments in its favour . Perhaps a word as to its necessity is desirable , although to me the whole case is apparent . The tendency always has been , and is now , more marked than ever to make Freemasonry the medium of advancing the trade interests of some of its members , and in order to secure this end various devices

are used . They are worn on the person , printed on circulars and cards , and often form a prominent feature on signboards . I do not defend this practice ; as a matter of taste it is execrable , and in policy most undesirable . But the practice exists , and it meets with no resistance in high quarters—sometimes it receives direct

encouragement . What is permitted to the trader should not be denied to the worker , especially when the claims of the latter are free from any of the objections that necessarily attach to the former . At present a Freemason , who happens to be a skilled mechanic or a member of some profession , unless he belongs to a Trades Union , or ia virtually

in possession of a monopoly , has no special means of getting employment . His Freemasonry does not take him out of the crowd of struggling men . He puts on a pin or a ring , or a charm to his watchchain , but theso things are regarded as ornaments , and have no practical value . It is considered by many vulgar to wear them , but why ,

in a moderate sense , I cannot conceive . Some are under the belief that these outward signs may help them through the world , and only experience convinces them that they are useless except as ornamen ts of the person . Now without disturbing the prevailing practice , indeed , I would

just leave it to take care of itself , I would make the fact of a man being a Freemason a substantial reality . I would establish a central agency , or bureau , in London , under official government , to which Freemasons who are employers and those who seek employment should be invited to come . A register should be kept of wants

in both cases , and a small fee should be demanded , so that by these means the interests of all would be served by a movement that should be self-supporting . An employer would be placed in no worse position than he is in at present . He could accept or refuse service , he could exercise the same scrutiny as to character and fitness , and

would be under no obligation to depart from any reasonable rule for the conduct of business . But how different would be the case of a brother seeking employment . He would begin with hope , and would have a fair chance of success . At any rate , ho would be face to face with those who could serve him , and it would be his own fault if he

did not succeed . Of course , I know it is easy to call spirits from the vasty deep , but will thoy come ? It might be doubted whether employers would favour an agency of tho kind I have suggested . If self-interest did not determine them , I should say they would be very bad Masons indeed who would not take a little trouble to further a

system that would inevitably work good all ronnd . As a medium of sympathy and help , I know of nothing that would equal it ; as a bond of union it would be irresistible . This bureau would complete the agencies for practical good in every direction , and many a man who now seeks work in vain , would find himself the richer by

employment . Tho necessity of appealing to the Board of Benevolence would be lessened , and who can tell but that many a brother , now doomed to despair and misery , would bo saved from premature death and consequent demands upon the Masonic Charities were snch a system as I havo named established . In these days of

hard struggling , when young men shoulder out their elders , not because they are more competent or useful , but because they are young , every assistance shonld bo given to the brother , especially when he has a family to bring up , and when employing him means no loss to the employer .

I have broadly indicated the mode by which the scheme could be carried out , but I am only pledged to the principle . I should certainly advocate that every want should be advertised in tho two Masonic journals , and I have no doubt that special terms could be

arranged . I am certain that were the scheme token up it would succeed , and that the true spirit of Masonry would receive such an illustration as would still farther convince its members and the world at large that it is indeed a blessed Institution . T fim Sir .

Yours fraternally , WATCHMAN .

Bro . Frederic Penna announces his Benefit Concert at the Steinway Hall on the 1 st of May ; he will be assisted by several eminent artists , vocal and instrumental , among whom we may mention Madame Osborne Williams , Miss Belval , Miss Pattie Michie , Miss Florence Coltman ( first appearance ) , Herr Pollitzer , Mr . Aquilar , and Bro . Maybrick .

HOLLOWAT . S PILLS . —Cure for Indigestion . —Indigestion and Constipation , with torpidity of the liver , are the sources of misery to thousands , who spend each day with accumulated sufferings , all of which maybe avoided by taking Holloway ' s Pills . Thoy strengthen and invigorate all tho secretive arid nutritive functions . TI cir action is essentially purifying and strengthening . They

may be safely taken without interfering with ordinary pursuits , or requiring much restriction in diet . They quickly remove noise and giddiness in the head , and dispel low spirits and nervous fears . These balsamic Pills work the cure without debilitating or exhausting tho sj'stem ; on tho contrary , tbey conserve and support the vital principle by substituting pure for impure blood .

The Theatres. Vaudeville.

THE THEATRES . VAUDEVILLE .

WE are told the gods rejoiced to see a good man struggling against adverse fortune . Was it the satiric influence of the April Festival that made the dwellers on the Vaudeville Olympus receive Mr . Thomas Thome's efforts as a disinterested Romeo with suoh scant appreciation . It is not long since another delightful king of comedy fell a victim to a like ambition , and our well-beloved Major

Wellington de Boots performed hia vanishing trick aa a romantic lover " Just in Time . " The cleverly-written aud ably acted drama of English modern life , " Saints and Sinners , " has made way for the new comedy , " Under Fire , " by Westland Marston . Much interest was excited at the appearance of a fresh work by an author whose

name will ever be associated with Macready's triumphs at Drury Lane . On the ominous 1 st the curtain rose on a very pretty set scene , Lady Fareham's house and grounds . A garden party ia assembled . Like too many garden parties , the guests suffer from hopeless dulness . But let ua introduce the dramatis personce . A

lovely widow , Lady Fareham , who began life on the stage of a Mar . seilles cafe chantant ; her daughter Caroline , with much sentiment but invertebrate ; Guy Morton , chivalrous and magnanimous , of noble simplicity , exemplifying all the rustic virtues as opposed to the wickedness and selfishness of the town representative , embodied in

this instance by the political adventurer , Charles Wolverly ; a Mrs . Naylor , who has quartered herself on Lady Fareham on the strength of the cafe chantant secret , and five other characters , represented by Mr . Sugden , whose business ib is to stutter aud wear an eyeglass ; Miss le Thiere , who is strong-minded , and talks of diet tables and

wears a billycock •Miss Kate Phillips , who has nothing to do but to flout at her inane admirer ( Mr . Yorke Stephens ) , whose business ifc is to talk about a mysterious embrocation . Miss Amy Roselle struggled hard to give vitality and interest to Lady Fareham , but the task was a difficult one . At one moment we are expected to regard the fair

widow as possessed of all tho virtues , including , of course , the most tender maternal affection , and the next wn find her willing to sacrifice her daughter's hopes of happiness should her own social status in the county be imperilled . Guy Morton offers his hand to Caroline , on the opening of the play , and is refused 5 Wolverly then

takes hia innings , though Mr . Frank Archer seemed ill at ease in thia tender situation . Lady Fareham learns that Guy has come in for a baronetcy , and as Mrs . Naylor has indulged in a little forgery known to Guy , her ladyship determines to secure the latter for a son-in-law , and so trump her antagonist ' s card . The interview between mother

and daughter is played by Miss Roselle with so much power that fche audience forget the miserable triviality of the motive . The daughter promises assent , but immediately after takes a farewell of Wolverly . Their conversation is overheard by Guy Morton . Here waa Mr . Thome ' s opportunity . In the agony of his disappointment and

humiliation ho forgives the girl who has wronged him . But , alas ! the pathos and magnanimity recalled memories of " Sainted Maria . " The second act gives a magnificent opportunity to Miss Roselle , when she defies her enemy ( Mrs . Canninge ) . The latter , however , rose to

the occasion , with scarcely less intensity of dramatic power . Here again the talent of the actress completely disguised the futility of the material . These ladies , by their magic spells , summoned a resplendent mirage to the sandy waste through which their comrades painfully toiled .

Opera Comique.

OPERA COMIQUE .

WE are to enjoy tha boon of " extended suffrage and redistribution " at the hands of Gladstone Semper Augustus . There be some who misdoubt the policy , and now David James is carrying oufc a benevolent little resolution among the " seats " at his new theatre , the Opera Comique . He spares the sacred fauteuils of the stalls , but ,

the dress circle is to be offered to tho great god Demos , and will give 500 better pit seats than any theatre in London . Matthew Arnold ' s middle-class Philistine , who of erst claimed the favoured place , may now betake himself to the second boxes . The theatre has been redecorated , and bright and brilliant ib looked on Mr . James ' s opening

night . Every seat was occupied , and a very hearty house-warming was provided by the friends of " our Mr . Jenkins . " The new piece , " The Excursion Train , " was originally produced ab that risky little house the Palais Royal , where , as " Le Train de Plaisir , " ifc carried laughter-loving Paris triumphantly for a long run to Monaco , but ,

alas ! in crossing the Channel it has " suffered a sea change , " the lightness and brightness , the delicious impertinence of the Parisian touch , is a thing that cannot be " adapted , " and even Mr . James , with his clever coadjutors—Mr . Irish , Mr . Gardener , Miss Cicely Richards , and pretty Miss Buckstone—put into these preposterous

personages , are evidently conscious of the absurdity of the whole thing , and with all their talent and good will cannot make these fantoccini seem living men and women . Mr . James , a prosperous butcher , as tie curtain rises , has just married , and starts with his pretty bride ( Miss Buckstone ) and three friends to Monaco . Here

they lose all their money at the tables , and in desperation for want of funds , offer themselves to a restaurateur as the five servants he is awaiting . ^ The genuine five servants shortly arrive , the friends are charged with imposture and sent to prison , but , as a matter of course , to be set free without a stain on their characters in the lasfc scene .

Mr . W . Irish , as the Commissionaire of Police , tried bravely to give individuality to fche part , and the station master , " as gruff as they make them " on the Continent , was well sketched by Mr . Corcoran ;

but 011 the whole tlie extra gentlemen who played the gendarmes were the most successful , as they wore spared the utterance of any dialogue . The piece is well mounted , ancl the scenery very true to local character ; especially beautiful is the sunlit bay of Monaco .