Prov. G. Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

sonal one , and he fully endorsed Bro . Kelly's remarks as to the appointment being more especially intended as a recognition of the Province itself . In conclusion , Bro . Partridge expressed his grateful acknowledgments of the many

fraternal congratulations he had received , and referred with thanks to the special interest which he understood had been taken by Bros . M . J . Walker and R . Waite in connection with the arrangements for the presentation .

An invitation was offered by Bro . W . H . Goodwin W . M . to hold the next meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge under the banner of the Vale of Catmos Lodge , No . 1265 , Oakham , which the Deputy Prov . Grand Master promised to submit to the Prov . Grand Master for consideration . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in form , and the usual banquet followed .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

THE ART OF "MAKING-UP . " PASSERS along Russell Street , Covent Garden , cannot fail to be attracted by the strange aud grotesque collection of " masks and faces " that is displayed by Bro . Charles H . Fox , the world-known theatrical , mechanical , and private wig maker . The heterogenous array of "make-up" faces in the window is enough to provoke a smile and keep the spectator lingering there , alternately pondering

over fche grave and gay , the lively and severe ; but on a closer inspection of the premises what a hoard of mystery , and whafc may be described as " behind the scenes " secrets are unveiled ! It is a trite saying thafc there are "tricks in every trade , " but we shonld imagine thafc the art of making men and women assume a guise

diametrically opposed fco their natural " form " calls for an extraordinary amount of tact and ingenuity . We have before us the fourth edition of Bro . Pox's illustrated catalogue , which must prove a source of interest not only to those ladies and gentlemen who have adopted the stage as their profession , bnt also to amateurs who have

histrionic predilections , and aU who desire to " strut their brief honr " before the public in any capacity . Although this firm has only been established some eight years , yet it is requisitioned by the principal artistes at all fche London theatres , including most of the West-end Houses , whilst large cousignmects of wigs and " make-ups " are also

sent abroad . In the interesting little brochure before us there are given a few words on the art of " making-up , " which is , of course , the very embodiment of histrionic success , and which requires the most scrupulous care and attention . Whether it is for tho gratification of the audience or as giving confidence to the actor , there must be a

good and characteristic " make-up . " _ N " o actor or actress would ever dream of appearing on the stage au naturel . Here the marvellous ingenuity of the wig maker comes in , and Bro . Pox seems to have achieved the highest possible success in that important branch of tho dramatic art . As the compiler of tho

catalogue observes : — " The face is naturally the mirror , so to speak , through which the passions of the soul are seen—rage , terror , love , despair , and every other emotion incidental to humanity are at various times depicted there—consequently it is imperative that the face should receive all the assistance that art can bestow . The use of

pencils and pigments mnst therefore be brought into play , for the countenance is the actor's canvas , as ifc were , on which , with the aid of false hair , he paints his characters , and according to the skill displayed therein , sinks his personal identity . " That is precisely where Pro . Pox has made his great " hit , " and furnishes us with the

reason why he is so sought after by professional men and women whose avocation is the display of their culture and accomplishments npon the itage . There are many other points in this little work to which we should like to draw attention , did space permit ; bufc tbe chapter on "Advice to Amateurs" ia well deserving careful considera

tion by all who have an inkling that way , for the counsel administered is most wise , impartial , and judicious . The book is fall of illustrations , showing the effects produced by the wigs and " make-ups " manufactured by Bro . Pox , as they are familiar to the play-going pnblic jnsfc now . Many of tho most promin _ ufc of our artistes are

sketched to the life , —not as they really are , but as they " appear , " after submitting to the manipulation of tho Covent Garden wig-maker . The likenesses are wonderfully good , aud the various characters admirably portrayed ; so that , apart from its intrinsic value to fche artist , ifc affords capital relaxation to the ordinary reader .

Some of the cuts are remarkably good , notably Mr . J . L . Toole as " Paul Pry" and "The Butler , " Mr . W . J . Hill in " The Pickpocket " and the " Private Secretary " - Miss Kate Vaughan ns " Lady Teazle "; Mr . Henry Irving aa Benedick in " Mitch Ado about Nothing "* ¦

Mr . Charles VV ' yndham as " David Garrick " Miss Sophie Eyre iu "Youth "; Miss Sylvia Grey in " Jack Sheppard , " and many others . We commend thia little work to the attention of all who are interested in theatrical representations , either amateur or professional , as a very interesting and useful book of reference .

The G-rosvenor G-allery . — -The English visitor to Art Exhibitions is inclined to distrust elaborately arranged accessories , somewhat in accordance with the old adage that " good wine needs no bush , " and in consequence he will be rather disconcerted on

entering tho Grosvenor Gallery wbile nnder its present aspect j the stuffs of Persia and of India drape the walls in luxuriant profusion , pieces of armour hang trophy-wise in many and various corners ,- the principal gallery is verdant witb shrubs , and moreover presents somewhat the aspect of a small museum , with its glass cases con-

The Theatres, &C.

taining curios of various descriptions—fche spoils of Mr . Vassili Verestchagin , " painter , soldier , traveller , " as we are ii . formed by ihe notes on his life ; from these also we derive the information thafc " he was born in fche Province of Novgorod , in 1842 , of a well-to-do family of la * idowners . Tho son wished to be an artist ; the father

wished fco make him an officer of marines . Aa the shortest way ont of the difficulty he became both . " Then follows , as usual , a great deal of adulation of the customary character , which if not taken in the manner whioh suits , as such dissertations should be , that is " cam grano salia , " we should derive a somewhat erroneous idea of

Mr . Vi restchagin ' s artistic standing . To turn to the works npon the walls ; we think they may be summed up in the following manner . The large battle pictures ( no doubt authentic illustrations of the events depicted ) may be of interest to the general public as reminiscences of the Busso-Turkish war , but they will not , we think ,

yield any great amount of satisfaction to the more artistic visitor , as refined and beautiful works of art . The " Indian Scenes" also will doubtless prove interesting to fche average visitor , but here , too , fche aim appears much more thafc of an illustrator of events than of an artist constructing a grand and beautiful picture . We may be

unjustly regarding these pictures , from a wrong stand-point ; this faithful depiction may be the sole object of Mr . Verestchagin , in which case we should say he has succeeded admirably . A word about the gigantic canvas of fche Prince of Wales in India—this again can only be regarded as illustrative—still , in justice be it said , it is every way

artistically superior to the vulgar and garish productions elicited by state commissions from some of our own painters when executing similar subjects . On the whole , we imagine the slight and sketchy work of the Kussian painter will give fche most satisfaction to artists and connoisseurs . The

small studies of heads are strong in character , if somewhat hard and sadden in colonr and execution ; and , speaking of these , we cannot forbear mentioning that in searching the catalogue for the title of a girl's head ( it may have been our mistake , bnt we cannot discover how we should have made it ) , marked " g , " we found

the title affixed to the corresponding letter in the catalogue was " Apotheosis of War . " We fear we cannot accept tbe ecstatic statements contained in the before mentioned " notes , " to the effect that Mr . Verestchagin possesses the power of Rembrandt , which he can afc will exchange for all the excellence of the Dutch school , or

Phcenix-like rise from the ashes of those dead (?) masters , clothed in all the majesty of the great and glorious school of the much maligned impressionist . By the bye , we cannot help asking what is an artist if not an impressionist , and why should this most sacred of artistic terms have become the designation for ( shade of Velasquez 1 )

a body of painters who , instead of ignoring only that which ifl unworthy of the brush , nse their title as an excuse for every species of inatti alio eccentricity ? Bnt this is a digression . In conclusion , we should recommend those of the public who are interested in the faithful depiction of such scenes as we have named to visit

tho Grosvenor , where we think they wilt be gratified ; to the artist wo should say , there you will find a wonderful amonnt of energy , a good deal of careful drawing , some strong management of light and shade ; bnt nothing very considerably added to the world's record of mighty artistic genius .

Princess ' s . —Miss Grace Hawthorne made her first appearance here last Saturday , in a duologue entitled " The Stroller , " an adaptation of M . Coppee ' s " Le Passant . " Mrs . Olive Logan is responsible for the English version , antl unquestionably she has turned out a smart piece of work . In the piece there is a proud Italian lady , who

awakens a boy minstrel , who has fallen asleep on a bank outside her house , to question him about his mode of life . The minstrel is -at lirst indifferent , but at last begs to be taken into the lady's service , linther than encourage a hopeless affection the lady sends the

minstrel on his way . The piece was capitally acted by Miss Hawthorne , who looked charming in boy's clothes , and Miss Mary Borke , who had to struggle against the effects of a bad cold . Mrs . Logan's attempt at " orating " was unquestionably in bad taste , and we trust she will never again offend in this regard .

Bro . Seymour Smith ' s Annual Concert . —It was gratifying to see Bro . Smith and his talented company and assistants confronted by so numerons and appreciative an audience as that which assembled on Saturday evening at tbe South Place Institute , Finsbury , on the occasion of his annual concert . The spacious hall

was filled in every part , and in the reserved tiers we noticed a liberal sprinkling of friends of the beneficiare , who had rallied round him on this occasion to testify their estimation of his abilities as displryed on many a former occasion . The programme was a somewhat formidable one , containing many gems of both vocal and

instrntal music , all tho items of which were rendered with nniform taste and excellence . A brilliant opening was made by the performancfc of a new concert gallop , by Bro . Seymour Smith . This was followed by Verdi's dnefc from "II Trovatore , " "Si La Stancbezza , " well sung by Miss Mary Belval and Mr . Edward Dalzell ; and the

first encore of the evening waa gained by Miss Annie Matthews , who sang Seymour Smith ' s now song , "At the Golden Gate , " in a style which should at once commend that charming melody to popular favour . Later in the evening this lady won fresh plaudits for her judicious rendering of "Should he upbraid . " Madame Florence

Winn sang in her happiest vein the now familiar Scotch song , " Here's to the year that ' s awa ' , " and in tho second part a song by Kivenhall , entitled " Thee , " after each of which she was rapturously encored . Miss Mary Belval gavo a successful rendering of Milton Wellings' song , "At the Perry ; " Miss Meta Russell was encored in

the most unmistakable manner after singing a song entitled " Lord Mayor Wbittington " ( Rneckel ); Mr . W . G . Hazeterovo came in for similar laurels for his "Yeoman's Wedding Song ; " Mr . G . T . Gaiter succeeded admirably with A . S . Gatty ' s song " True Till Death ; " the other songs , all capitally rendered , beiug "The Old Brigade , " by