The Theatres, &C.

compelled to record that they were doomed to disappointment , for it would be hard to conceive a more absurd and ridiculous play than " The Queen of Manoa . " After the good work that Messrs . C . Haddon Chambers and W . Outram Tristram have already done for the stage , it was doubly disappointing when it was found that the

new play contained nothing that could possibly be expected to meet with public approval . The first two aots are made up of sonseless talk , and it is not until the end of the third aot that one foels at all engrossed , and then the interest dies outin tbe last act with an ending that is not at all clear . It will serve no good purpose to give a full

description of the play , bnt from the following brief outline it will easily be seen of what material the authors have depended for success . Lady Violet Malvern is giving a reception , and among the invited guests is an Armand Sevarro , who has just returned from an hunting expedition , and who is likely to be greatly

lionised during the ] season . On Sevarro s arrival Lady Violet takes him in hand , and after being acquainted with him but a very short timo , he tells her how , when a boy of sixteen , be had formed an ideal woman in his mind . It will easily be seen that Lady Violet puts him in mind of his ideal , aud notwithstanding that

he is engaged to be married to a Miss Dorothy Blair and that Lady Violet ' s husband is still alive , Sevarro falls desperately in love with her . In the third act her husband sees that something is wrong , and gently but firmly protests . Lady Violet then turns Sevarro politely out of the house , but he returns later on to tell her he loves her , when she

throws herself in his arms . This brings the third act to a conclusion , and in the last Sevarro , who is still hanging about the gardens , comes across Lady Violot , and begs her to leave the country with him . She , however , refuses , although she loves him , so that not oaring what becomes of him , Savarro walks towards the river , and

indifferent to Lady Violet's entreaties , deliberately throws himself in . Sevarro now being ont of the way , the audience are left to suppose that Lady Violet returns to her husband , and that all will go on as before Sevarro came on the scene . It will be seen that no one has many opportunities , bat Mrs . Langtry makes

the most of what she has . She looked wonderfully nice in the first two acts , and acted well in the last two , but it was a thankless task . Mr . Lewis Waller made the most of the part of Armand Sevarro , who causes so much trouble . The best pieoe of acting was undoubtedly shown by Mr . Cyril Maude , who , as an old Baron who wanted to

know everybody's business , scored au undoubted auocess . Carefully got up in every detail this rising young actor showed abilities that would have done oredit to men of far greater experience . Miss Marie Linden acted prettily as Dorothy Blair , while Mr . Herbert Flemming was good as Lord Chudleigh , who will not have Dorothy Blair ' s affections , trifled with . Numerous other parts were in good

hands , but they were irrelevant to the action of the play , if we except Mr . Edmund Maurico , who acted well as the Right Hon . Richard Malvern . We are very doubtful whether " Tho Queen of Manoa " can ever be made into anything approaching a good play , and we shall doubtless soon have something fresh anuounced for production , when we trust Mrs . Langtry will be fortunate enough to get a play that will suit her .

Tbe production of " Haddon Hall , an original light English opera , the words by Sydney Grundy , the music by Sir Arthur Sullivan , will take place at the Savoy this ( Saturday ) evening , at eight p . m . The following is the caste : —Messrs . Courtice Pounds , Richard Green

Charles Kenniugham , Rutland Barrington , W . H . Denny ; the Misses Lucile Hill , Roairtu Brandraui , Dorothy Vane , and Nita Colo . The opera has beon produced under tbo stage direction of Mr . Charles Harris . Tho opera will be condnoted by the composer on the first night .

Miss Estelle Burney will appear in a new and original comedy entitled " The Awakening , " on Saturdoy , tbe 1 st October , at the Garrick . '

A Masonic festival will take place at Durham , on Tuesday next , in connection with the Province of Durham . Tho annual Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at the Town Hall , at two o ' clock in the aftemoou , when the

Provincial Grand Officers and other members of the Provincial Grand Lodge are desired to attend . The Provincial Grand Master ( Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart . ) , is announced to address the Lodge .

Ou Tuesday , 4 th October , the annual Provincial Graud Mark Masters' Lodge of Northumberland and Durham will be held at the Masonic HaU , Toward Road , Suuderland , by ' command of tho Rev . Henry Baker Tristram , D . D ., F . R . S ., Provincial Graud Mark Master of Northumberland and Durham .

Ou Saturday last , at the Town Hall , Wokenham , the Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire in charge consecrated a new Lodge , designated the Dowushire Lodge , and numbered 24-37 on tho roll of the Grand LooVe of England .

Lord Arthur Hill , P . G . M . Down , wns installed as the first Worshi pfnl Master . The Consecrating Officer , Bro . John Ihorulull Morland , M . A ., was supported by a numerous attendance of tho brethren from the Reading and other Lod ges in the Pr ovince .

From Labour To Refreshment.

FROM LABOUR TO REFRESHMENT .

WHEN the work of creation was finished , it is recorded that God rested on the seventh day . The husbandmen raise food for man . They finish their

work when growth ia exhausted and verdure ia changing into the sere and yellow leaf , and the death of the season is come , and cold and ice and snow bury the vital forces of the earth then labour rests .

This is the lesson for man . It is written in every field , on every tree , in the plains and valleys , everywhere ou the earth ' s surface . It is a lesson . He who reflects , who seeks wisdom in these object teachings , he who translates this sign language that he may understand obtains knowledge .

Labour and rest are corollaries ; they are co-relative , and the deductions which come from a study of this lesson which embodies the demonstration of the proposition , that rest is the antithesis of labour . The results of labour are to be both examined and

investigated . Thus its character and value are known . Whatever of improvement can be found in the method whioh labour adopts is only obtained by a survey of its results . Rest is therefore beneficial , that the products of this labour may be ascertained , by this investigation and examination .

To the Freemason , Labour and Refreshment are ordained by the custom of the Craft—wisely , too . The work of the Lodge must be critically examined . It may be that for lack of this examination errors come in , the work is performed without due regard to its conformity

with the laws and regulations , that carelessness enervating the rigid adherence to the " true work" and thus unobserved and without correction may become a precedent . Hence the want of uniformity is manifest to the injury of

the completeness and perfection of tbe work of the Lodges . Uniformity , rigid adherence to the established regulations , is the test of Lodge work . If it fails in these requirements , the labour yields imperfect , defective and unwholesome fruits .

So refreshment , the rest , is the opportunity to examine what the work has accomplished , and how it was performed , and needed corrections made . This is the time for Refreshment which Masons understand . In the fraternal and social communion of Lodge members , at which

the old , experienced Past Master , the thoughtful Masonio student , the old Mason who has for nearly his adult lifetime attended Lodge meetings , and has the traditions , the

law and the landmark and the ritual stored in his memory , these seasons of Refreshment are periods for monition and admonition . Out of this use of Refreshment comes Strength and Wisdom .

Freemasonry has built its system on the " Great Light , " and wisdom was thus to be obtained—Solomon was so wise , as , to be a proverb , as wise as Solomon . So Masons have ever been taught to seek wisdom . It is therefore that the Institution of Masonry has never been overthrown from its foundations .

Iu this ordering of Labour and Refreshment in the Lodges , Masonry has exemplified its wisdom . All Masons teach , all they demand , all they require , by their rules and

regulations if tested by tho Plumb , Level and Square , will show that by the Labour aud Refreshment : enjoined , they havo learned wisdom and obey its commands . —Keystone .

The Lodges iu Hamburg have subscribed the sum of fifteen thousand marks , value £ 750 sterling , towards the fund for the alleviation of the distress among the working classes .

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