The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Olympic . —" The Governess" was the play chosen by Miss Grace Hawthorne , the new lessee of this theatre , as the piece in which to make appearance before an English audience . This Miss Hawthorne did on Thursday evening with considerable success . Whether the choice of such a melancholy play as this For her opening

night was wise we cannot say ; we think not . To ensure success with a play of the "East Lynne" type , the artistes engaged must possess talent oF an order we rarely seo now . "The Governess , " from the French of Adolpho Belot , ia a drama in a prologue and four acts . As wo have foreshadowed , signs of " East Lynne " were at an early

stage visible , bufc the similarity in the loading motive of Mrs . Wood ' s novel and " The Governess " may be only a coincidence . However , in the piece before ns the action is restricted to the repentance of the wife . The author haa trior ! to secure sympathy for the lady who haa canaed all the misery withont offering any excuse for her

behaviour . The framework of the piece is weak , and wo must get a stronger actress than Miss Hawthorne before we can make such a play tolerable to an English audience . Miss Molton acted imprudently in seeking to re-enter the home over which she had east so deep a shadow , and she was wrong in

allowing her jealousy to get the better of her judgment . In the prologue we are introduced to Dr . Osborne and his sister Arabella , the former of whom has just returned from France , where he haa been in attendance on a patient . Miss Sarah Multon is staying with the Doctor , and having expressed a desire to obtain a

situation , the doctor , while in France , procures for her one as governess in the family of Maurice de la Tour . At first tho lady refuses to accept this proffered offer ; her reasons for so doing being her dislike to children ; but from the description given of the family by Dr . Osborne , she learns that the children are her own , she having left

them and her husband some six years since . After a while ahe conaents to go , and in the first act ahe arrives at the house of Manrice de La Tonr , where she is at once recognised by an old servant , who advises her to leave before anyone else seea her . During the conversation that results , Sarah learns that Maurice ,

thinking her killed in a railway accident , haa married again . She refuses to leave , and on her appearing before her husband , he introduces her to his children , bnfc does nofc recognise her . Now follows a touching scene ; the children , like their father , do not recognise their mother . Six months ia now supposed to elapse , during which

time Sarah has acted as governess fco the children , and has necessarily suffered severely , owing fco the peculiarity of her assumed position . During conversations with Mathilde , the second wife of Maurice , she , on more than one occasion , nearly betrays herself . Meanwhile , growing daily weaker , her nerves give way , and she is at

last obliged to tell Mathilde who ahe ia . The confession is overheard by Maurice , who informs Sarah that if sho reveals herself to her children she will blight their happiness , and he leaves her to choose whether she will tell them or not . This is a severe rebuke , but not wishing to destroy the children ' s happiness , she leaves for England .

On her arrival afc Dr . Osborne's house a dangerous illness supervenes , and the doctor seeing ahe cannot live , writes to Maurice , and desires him to bring the children to see their mother . Thia Maurice does , bnt at first he will not let Sarah tell them she is their mother . He , however , at length conaenta , and after Sarah has embraced them

fondly , she dies . The play may be described as sympathetic , more especially in the third and fourth acts , when Miss Hawthorne , who essays the part of the guilty wife , rises to the situation admirably . Her movements are graceful , while she has the invaluable gift of expression . Miss Hawthorne was undoubtedly strong in the

pathetic parts , but we shonld prefer to see her in a more spirited piece than " The Governess . " In the course of the play hononrs were decidedly scored by two young actresses . Foremost of these were Miss Olga Brandon , as Mathilde de la Tour ; the other was little Phoebe Carlo , who thoroughly realized a difficult part for so

young an actress . Bred to the stage from her infancy , this little lady ia quick fco perceive the value of correct and telling emphasis . She has a splendid delivery , and made a grand success of the part of the child Jeanne . Mr . Frank Wood was natural aa Dr . Osborne , while Mr . George Temple , Mr . Stanislaus Calhaem , Miss Gladys

Ffolliett , Miss Queenie Norman , and Miss Lydia Oowell gave the necessary colouring to their several impersonations . Calls wero numerous during the evening , and several floral tributes were

bestowed on Miss Hawthorne . " A Little Rebel" preceded the piece of the evening , and in this Miss Lydia Cowell disported herself with much brightness and simplicity . This lady received valuable aid from Mr . Frank Wood , who was exceptionally good as Poppinoourt .

Surrey * . —Mr . George Conquest , the popular manager of this theatre , produced his autumn drama on Monday last , to a house that was crowded from floor to ceiling . " Saved from tho Streets , " is tho name chosen for the piece , and Messrs . G . Conquest and E . H . Eaton are responsible for its authorship . These gentleman have gone

in not so much for original material , as for a collaboration of exciting events which they know full well will please the audience thafc is wont to patronise the Surrey . As long as they manage to present something startling , and let the contrast between villainous craft and injured innocence be as wide as possible , their patrons are

content . It might be difficult to explain how one or two of the more exciting incidents are brought about , but that is not absolutely necessary so long as excitement bo forthcoming ; the audience is ready both to hiss or to cheer as circumstances demand . After the

curtain was raised , it was soon evidenced who were to be the villains , and who tho heroes . The well-dressed Amos Haythorne's jaunty bearing pronounced him as thorough paced a scoundrel as ever figured on the stage , while Dr . Dobell , although but a silent spectator in fche first act , has to take his share of the villainy , Also ap-

The Theatres, &C.

parent was it that Hob Eedburn , an ^ escaped convict , and ticket assistant at Greenwich Pier , would turn out better than his surroundings at first warranted , and materially help fco overthrow tho wrongdoers . Ifc is shown that Amos Hayfchorno throws his relative Peter Pepper into the Thames , and accuses Harry Halford of the murder .

Harry is arrested , and is sentenced to penal servitude for life . Amos now consigns Harry ' s wife Edna to Dr . Dobell's asylum , in tho hope that sho may die there ; as by that event occurring Amos would succeed to the property of Mr . Pepper . Edna gives birth to a child while in the asylum , which Dr . Dobell places in the keeping of a

woman whom Amos has at an earlier period wronged . Amos , however has the child stolen , but the thief who has been engaged finds two children lying together , consequently he steals both . Tho children are afterwards seen in Covent Garden Market , and later on at an Industrial Homo . Amoa manages to get these children from the Home , and

conveys them to a cellar adjoining the river , which cellar he awamps , by removing a few bricks from the wall . The water ruahea in , bat reacue for the imprisoned ones is at hand . Aa usual in such pieces , villainy is eventually overthrown aud virtue triumphant . Several old favourites of the Surrey form the caste , aud receive considerable

encouragement from their patrons . Mrs . Bennett , aa Edna , acted with intense feeling ; her scene at Dr . Dobell's asylum waa especially good . Mr . T . F . Nye was once moro in his element as Amos Haythorno . Thia gentleman starts on bis woz-k with snch calmness and dexterity that he well earns the applause bestowed on him . Mr . E .

Gurney exhibited considerable power as Harry Halford , while Mr . C , Cruikshanks gave the necessary colouring to tho part of Dr . Dobell . Mr . G . Conquest , as Rob Redburn , has a part that does nofc stand out so conspicuously as some that have fallen into his hands , still he gives a powerful and effective rendering of it . Miss Annie Conway

presents with good effect the part of the girl whom Amos has ruined j while the Misses Katie Barry and Marion Humm , give a true and life-like picture of the waifs , who necessarily turn out to be tho

stolon children . The comical business is well sustained by Mr . G . Conquest jun . and Miss Jenny Lee , who personate a kind-hearted married couple . At the conclusion the authors received an enthusiastic call before the curtain .

Mohawk Minstrels . —The popular interlocutor of this troupe of Minstrels , Mr . Harry Hunter , announces that his annual benefit is fixed for Wednesday , the 27 th instant . Mr . Hunter has written 20 songs for the occasion , and will have tbe assistanoe of some of the best London variety artistes .

New Music.

NEW MUSIC .

" So near to me , " song , written by H . W , Ingram , composed by Odoardo Barri . Loudon : J . B . Cramer and Co ., 201 Regentstreet , W . THIS song , published in Messrs . Cramer ' s well-known excellent

style , haa some very appropriate words , written by H . W . Ingram , and will undoubtedly become popular . Bro . Odoardo Barri has supplied the music , Avhich is both pleasing ancl catchy to the ear . We feel sure that during the forthcoming season " So near to mo " will often be found in requisition at our drawing-room reunions .

Brother Charles Greenwood ( son of Brother Charles Greenwood the late Deputy Provincial Graud Master for Surrey ) was , on the 20 th instant , unanimously elected and appointed Steward of the Manor of Old Paris Garden , Southwark .

The consecration of the Derby Allcroft Lodge , No . 2168 , will take place on Tuesday , the 2 nd November . The ceremony will be performed by V . W . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , who will be assisted by Bros ,

Thos . Fenn , President Board General Purposes , as S . W ., Edgar Bowyer , P . G . S . B ., as J . W ., Rev . J . Simpson , P . G . C , as Chaplain , and Frank Richardson , P . G . Deacon ,

as Director of Ceremonies . Bro . John Derby Allcroft , P . M . P . Grand Treasurer , is the W . M . designate , and Bros . Thomas Eccleston Gibb and J . P . Fitzgerald , P . M ., Z ., & c ., the Wardens designate .

At the Grand Lodge meeting of Mark Master Masons , to be held on 30 th November , Bro . John Laurence Mather , P . M Old Kent Lodge , ancl a member of the General Board , will be nominated for the office of Grand Treasurer . Wo wish

Bro . Mather every snecess , as we believe the rule now followed in Craft Grand Lodge , of electing a new Grand Treasurer each year , should be adopted in the Grand Lodgeof M . M . M . The Mark deyree is now so flouri 3 hinp ; that there

is creat difficulty in finding offices for worthy and distinguished members of the Order . The position of Past Grand Treasurer cannot but be regarded as honourable in the Mark as in the Craft degree .

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FUMcRALS properly carried out and personally attended in London or Country by Bro . G . A . HTJTTOJKT , 17 jSTewcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .