Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE usual summer entertainment to the residents wns given on Thursday . There waa a very fair attendance of ladies and brethren , friends and supporters of the Institution , among whom wo may mention : —Bros . C . J . Perceval , VV . Eokersall , C . H . Stone , T . Cubitt , J . G . Tongue , G . F . Cook , E . S . Bonlter , J . Newton , 0 . F .

Hogard , W . VV . Morgan , G . Plncknett , A . H . Tattershall , VV . Massey , H . M . Hobbs , James Stevens , J . S . Fraser , C . G . Hill , H . G . Thompson , Hugh Cotter , A . T . Fanll , J . E . Terry , J . A . Farnfield , E . Terry , H . A . Lovett ; Mesdamea Jas . Terry , E . Eokersall , Stone , Newton , Tongue , Morgan , A . R . and C . Massey , Stevens , Hill , Clara Cooke ,

Cisaie Crutch , K . S . Terry , M . Rucker , Aula Crutch , Jessie Terry , Lillian Rucker , Cotter , Angelina Hill , Lovett , & c , & c . The majority of the party left Charing Cross and Cannon Street Railway Stations respectively at 322 and 3-32 p . m . On reaching tho Institution the nsual house to house visitations took place , and the ladies in

particular gave expression to the austained interest they individually take in the comfort and welfare of the residents . The Supreme Council 33 ° considerately renewed their thoughtful gifta of tea and sugar to the females , and tobacco to the male residents . The Misses Cotter ( daughters of our genial Brother Hugh Cotter P . M . 554 ) again

evinced their interest and forethought , —on this occasion they presented their aged sisters each with a pot of jam . Later the party partook of high tea , and still later a very enjoyable musical entertainment , nnder the direction of Bro . A . G . Pritchard , who was assisted by Miss Emily Pritchard , Miss Lizzie Holmes , Miss Frances

Grahame , Mr . John Cross and Bro . George Cronin . The entertainmenfc waa divided into two parts , and was of a very successful character throughout . Bro . Pritchard has secured a high reputation as a versatile mimic , and hia " Swiss Experiences " on this occasion were most heartily relished . Miss Holmes waa enthusiastically

applauded after her song , " The Old Sun Dial , and responded to a demand for an encore with " The Miller and the Maid . " For the second part Dibdin ' s Ballad Opera , "The Waterman , " had been selected . As Tom Tug Mr . John Cross gave a manly representation , and sang the several songs allotted him in a hearty and spirited

fashion . Bro . Cronin waa entrusted with the part of Robin , and he displayed a true sense of comedy , without vulgarity , in the way he gave expression to that worthy market gardener ' s peculiarities . Miss Emily Pritchard was the Wilhelmina , and this lady charmed her audience by the manner in whioh she sang the songs " Cherry

Ripe , " and '' Tell me , my heart , " while as an actress she gave signs of careful training .. Bro . Pritchard was a capital Bundle , and made the moat of hia opportunities . As Mrs . Bundle Miss Lizzie Holmes was everything that conld be desired j we venture to predict that at an early date this young lady will secure a

position at one or other of our London theatres . At the close of the evening a cordial vote of thanks was given to Bro . Pritchard and his party , for their services . This compliment having been gracefully acknowledged , the visitors shortly

afterwards took leave of the residents , and returned to town . Wo have omitted to refer to Miss Francos Grahame ; this would indeed have been a fault . This lady proved herself a brilliant player , and her associates can be complimented on having had the services of so competent an accompanist .

Holiday Haunts.

HOLIDAY HAUNTS .

WE have already spoken of the circular trips arranged by the Great Eastern Railway Company in tho neighbourhood of Yarmouth , Lowestoft , and the rivers of Norfolk . Too much cannot be said in their praise , for they havo really opened np to the ordinary tourist a very pleasant district , which was hitherto all but

inaccessible—only to bo enjoyed by those who could personally charter a small yacht , and not always an unmixed enjoyment then , as thoso who have found themselves some dozen miles or so away from home , without a breath of wind , can well testify . During the summer season well appointed Saloon Steam Boats leave Yarmouth , every

week day , on the arrival of the 8-30 a . m . train from Lowestoft . Tho first of these , which starts from Yarmouth Bridge about 9-10 , travels via the River Bure , aa far aa Wroxham , a distance of twenty - seven miles , from whence train is taken to Norwich , which is reached at 1 ' 15 p . m . Tho tourist may at ouce return to either

Yarmouth or Lowestoft , or may spend a few hours in tho county town , returning by any train the same clay to the coast town from which ho started . The fares for this circular trip aro 4 s 6 d and 3 s Gd , for 2 nd and 3 rd class respectively , from Lowestoft ; and 3 s 6 d and 2 s 6 d respectively from Yarmouth .

The second boat leaves Yarmouth Bridge about 9-30 a . m . aud proceeds via tho River Yaro direct to Norwich ( also a journey by boat of twenty-seven miles ) , arriving thereabout 12 ' -10 . As is tho caso with tho other trip , the traveller may avail himself of any train tho same day for tho return journey , the first available being timed to

reach Yarmouth at 2 ' 25 p . m . and Lowestoft at 2-30 p . m . The fares by this route are 4 s and 3 a respectively from Lowestoft , and 3 s and 2 s respectively from Yarmouth . The return journies of tho boats is taken advantage of to provide circnlar trips from Norwich and Cromer , tho boat travelling via

Ihe Ftvjr Yare , arriving ab Yarmouth Bridge abonfc 5- ^ 0 , and tbat via the River Bure at about 5 - 5 U . This affords ample timo for a brief stay at Yarmouth , tho last train leaving that town for Norwich at 10-22 p . m ., and for Cromer afc 7-20 p . m . Tho faros for tlie Norwich to Norwich trips aro 'the same as those charged for

tlie Yarmouth to Yarmouth one ? , while from Cromer to Yarmouth and back the charge is 4 s second class , and 3 } third class . % availing himself of those trips , tho tourist is enablod to spend a very pleasant holiday on the Norfolk rivers ; has an opportunity of

viewing the sights of tho district , and afc the samo timo can enjoy a , h & lf-day at Norwich , a city which possesses many items of interest , aud will well repay a visit . To visit tho famous Broads of Norfolk wo must again avail oui-Balves of the Great Etoafrevu system * Onlton Broad is

Holiday Haunts.

but a short journey from Lowestoft , and is oloae to the Oulton Broad Station , on tho Yarmouth and Lowestoft direct lino . Fritton Broad is in the samo district , close to the St . Olave ' p , station on the main line , and afc either of theso resorts there is ample accommodation for fishing , boatine , picnics ,

and other rural enjoyments , lo reach Ormosby , Iiltjy , and most of the other popular Broads , we had best first reach Yarmouth , and then travel either by road , or the new Eastern and Midlands Railway , to our destination . Ormosby Broad ia perhaps the most favoured of the many which abound hereabout , and a most enjoyable placo it is

whereat to spend a holiday . Afc the noted "Eels Foot , " of which Mr . Ed . Monsey is the proprietor , every accommodation ia available . Comfortable apartments can be secured , dinners and teas are pro . vided , there ia no lack of good boats , while fishing tackle , bait , & o .,

may be procured . Above all this fche lover of angling may rest assured thafc ifc is next to impossible for him to cast hia line anywhere without speedily securing the attention of one of the many members of the finny tribe whioh are here so plentiful .

The Midland Railway.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY .

THE difficulty of the present age is not so muoh to find a place where a pleasant holiday may be expected , aa it is to make a selection from the many centres of attraction , and meana of getting about that are now provided . Tho Midland Railway Company has alwaya been provertial for its go ahead proclivities , and ifc ia but reasonable to expect that in the matter of Tourist and Holiday

arrangements ifc is well to the front . The Tourist Programme of this Company provides ua with particulars of fche principal Holiday Resorta of the United Kingdom . Ireland being reached via the Barrow and Belfast route , or via Liverpool and Dublin . Circular tours are arranged , embracing the principal attractions of tb . 9 Lake

District and the North of Ireland , and , indeed , everything that ia possible ia done to attract the visitors to tho sister Isle . The route between London and Scotland via Settle and Carlisle offers nnny attraefciona to fche traveller , not the least of which is the magnificent scenery of the Peak District , and if a few minutea onger ia spent

over Jhe journey to Edinburgh , Glasgow and fche Highlands , than is tho case if either the West Coast or East Coast route is selected , ifc is in a measure compensated for by the variety whioh a change of route affords . Derby , Matlock , Buxton and the Peak District are among the

especial attractions of the Midland Railway system , and many timed have we enjoyed the journey whioh business or pleasure has renderes necessary in this neighbourhood . But ifc is not here alone that the Midland Railway Company ia able to offer tempting allurements fco the holiday seeker , the line is such an extended one that there ia

hardly a placo of any importance which ia not in communication with some one or more of fche special attractions of our country , and in every case the Midland Company may be said to second , as far as they are able , the advantages which nature has provided . In the matter of accommodation the Midland is also prominently to

the front . Pulman and Saloon carriages are available on the principal day trains , while for tho night service luxurious sleeping carriages are provided . Iu the former case tho saloon carriages are arailable for first class passages withont extra charge , while for a berth in th ) sleeping cars a small extra charge is made . Special

facilities aro provided by this lino for the conveyance of passengers ' luggage iu advance , so as to avoid the trouble inseparable from having a number of packages to look after ; the journey may bo broken at various points of interest on the route , and in facfc , every concession , that can reasonably be expected is provided .

Great Western Railway.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY .

IN accordance with their nsual custom , the Great Western Railway Company have made arrangementa for the issue of tickets during the week preceding the August Bank Holiday , at thoir Cifcy and West End Offices , viz .: —193 and 407 Oxford-street , 23 New Oxford-street , 269 Strand , Holborn Circus , 29 Charing Cross ,

26 Regenfc-sfcreefc , 5 Arthnr-street-east , London Bridge , 82 Queen Victoria-street , 43 and 44 Crutched-friars , 67 Gresham-street , and 4 Cheapside . The booking offices afc fche Paddington Station will be open all day ou Wednesday , Thursday , Friday , and Saturday , and passengers can

obtain tickets afc any hour for use on either day . To meet the expected additional traffic by the ordinary trains on Saturday , 3 rd Angnst , the Company will run , in duplicate , tho 11 ' 45 a . m ., 3 ' 0 , 5 ' 0 , and 90 p . m . trains from London to the West of England ; aud the 12 ' 0 noon and 54 5 p . m . trains to Weymouth ,

Hereford , and South Wales . Tlie first portion of the 5 ' 0 p . m . train will leave Paddington at 4 ' 55 p . m ., bufc tho first part of fcho other trains will leavo at tho advertised times , the second a few minutes afterwards , the long distance passengers being as far as possible taken in tho first portion , but , with a few exceptions , both trains will

stop at the advertised stations to take np aud sofc doivn passengers . On Thursday , 1 st August , an Excursion train will leave Paddington afc 85 a . m ., for Gloucester , Cardiff , Newport , Swansea , New Milford , & c . ; passengers will also bo booked at excursion fares to certain stations in tho South of Ireland . Fast Excursion trains for West of England will

leave Paddington at 8 * 5 a . m . and 3 o p . m . on Saturday , 3 rd August , reaching Exeter iu 5 } hours and Plymouth in 7 i- hours ; and Excnrsiona will also be run on tho same day to Bath , Bristol , Dorchester , Weymouth ( for fcho Channel Islands ) , Cheltenham , Worcester , Malvern , Hereford , Birmingham , Wolverhampton ,

Shrewsbury , Cheater , Liverpool , Manchester , and other Stations on tho Great Western' . System . Cheap tickets are issued daily from Paddington , and from most of tlie Stations ou the Metropolitan , Districfc aud North London

Railways , to Windsor , Tiiplovv , Bonrno End , Cookham , Henley , aud other riverside resort ? . A service of Omnibuses has recently been established between Slough and Burnham Beeches , and cheap through tickets are issued daily by certain trains from Paddington .