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perfection in this particular article has been reached . It is perhaps owing to the simplicity of its structure that this is the case , for the improvements in it since 1862 have been confined to the height of the "driving" Avheel , and the reduction in Aveig ht of the bicycle . In that year the

ordinary diameter of the driving Avheel was not more than from BO to 35 inches , Avhilst the weight of the machine ranged from 80 lbs to one cwt . Dating about five years back wonderful improvements were effected—we find that with a diameter of Avheel varying from 50 to 60 inches ,

the total Aveig ht of the bicycle has assumed an inverse ratio to the wheel , and scales noAV but 35 to 50 lbs . Regarding bicycling as an exercise , such improvements as these are most beneficial—greater pace is acquired with less exertion . The value of such a condition must be

evident when we find men making a journey from Bath to London ( 106 miles ) in a little over eight hours , Avhilst innumerable races to Brighton and back have taken place . The climax of distance was reached , hoAvever , when four members of the Middlesex Bicycle Club made a journey of

800 miles , from London to John-o ' -Groat's in fourteen days , averaging 60 miles a day . The most striking feature in this method of travelling is , hoAvever , pace . We hear of a mile having been traversed in three minutes—the quickest time on record , and the exploit of an amateur , the Hon .

J . Keith Falconer , Avho this week contended in a 25 mile race with Mr . Whiting , a gentleman Avho has held the Amateur Bicycle Championship three years . The pace , 25 miles in 1 hour 41 minutes 28 seconds , is not held to have been particularly fast , though remarkably pleasant

for travelling . The race ended in the victory of Mr . Whiting by about 100 yards . Leaving the " racing" phrase of bicycling out of the question , Ave consider it a healthy and enjoyable exercise , and we feel almost tempted to pay our next annual visit to the "Derby" on a 60 inch ¦ " driver . "

It is AVifch great pleasure Ave call the attention of our readers to the active interest Avhich our East-End Brethren exhibit in the most important of all Masonic duties—Benevolence . One of our young Lodges , Duke of

Edinburgh , No . 1259 , by the hands of one of its representatives , Bro . S . Weatherill P . M ., contributed , on the occasion of the present festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , no less a sum than £ 165 .

Bro . George Belmore , the talented comedian , announces his benefit , at the Princess ' s Theatre , on the 2 nd February , when a very attractive programme will be presented .

Several suggestions have ) been made as to the most convenient place for the Installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , and for the Banqnet to folloAV in commemoration thereof . The Earl of ShreAVsbury and Talbot

referred to the subject at the dinner-of the Benevolent Institution , proposing the Albert Hall for the Installation , and the Agricultural Hall for the Banquet ; or one or both at the Alexandra Palace ; or , as a third alternative , the Installation at tho Albert Hall , and the Banquet at the Cxystal Palace .

The employment of 100 , 000 men , the support of about 500 , 000 people , are the immediate sources of concern which hinge upon the South Wales Strike . The result of the deliberations noAV going on betAveen masters and men is looked for with considerable anxiety ; for it is hardly

possible that , should the former persist in their decision of a lock-out , the crisis will pass without serious disturbances . The last meeting of the Monmouth and South Wales Collieries Association unanimously adopted this policy . A feAV days only intervene before their decision will take

effect . On the part of the colliers there appears to exist a difference with their employers which may materially increase the difficulties of a settlement . They wish to be treated Avith in three distinct classes , according to the character of the coal raised . The coal OAvners have

united to oppose the partial strikes Avhich this system would produce , and seem determined to settle disputes Avith their employes by one , and only one course of action , Avhatever that may have to be . The reduction in the rate of Avages of the miners is , as we all know , the bone of contention in this dispute . The falling off in the demand for coal and iron of late has necessitated a reduction in

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wages . This does not appear to have been very strongly objected to in the instance of its first application . But a further reduction of 10 per cent , is the present casus belli of the miners , Avho consider that circumstances do not justify such a reduction , and hence the strike . In regarding

the case betAveen the masters and the men , we must remember that until a re-action set in a little while since , on the one hand , the Avages of colliers had , in some cases , been raised 100 per cent . ; on the other , there is no doubt

that , OAving to slack trade and other causes , the masters have worked many of their pits at a loss . In this state of things men must be prepared to " giveand take , " and some such policy , we trust , will dictate a reasonable settlement of the difficulty .

Bro . F . Burgess , manager of the Moore and Burgess Minstrels , announces his Annual Benefit for Tuesday afternoon and evening , 2 nd February . A special programme has been arranged . The usual company Avill appear in several novelties , and , in addition , the following talented

artistes have consented to give their valuable assistance , viz ., Miss Angelina Claud , Mr . E . Terry , Miss Russell , M . Marius , Mr . Lionel Brough , Miss Eliza Chapman , Miss Bella Moore ( Mrs . Fred . Vokes ) , Mr . John Morris and Messrs . Chevers and Kennedy .

We are indebted to Mr . Riley ' s preface to Liber Alius for the following account of the Avages paid to the different classes of artisans employed in building . Carpenters , masons , plasterers , tilers , and daubers ( hdi appos ' dores ) all appear to have received similar Avages , and according to the following

scale : —Between Michaelmas and Martinmas ( 11 th November ) , 4 d per da } -, or l | d and their "table ; " between Martinmas and Purification ( 2 nd February ) , 3 d per day , olid and " table ; " and between Purification and Easter , 4 d per day , or 1-gd and " table , " and between Easter and

Michaelmas , 5 d per day , or 2 d and " table . " Saturdays and vigils Avere paid for as Avhole days . Servants or under-Avorkmen received—betAveen Michaelmas and Easter 2 d , and between Easter and Michaelmas , 3 d per day in payment of all demands . If any person paid a workman

beyond these rates he had to pay to the City a fine of 40 s , and the Avorkman Avas subjected to imprisonment for forty days . About seventy years later the Avages of certain of the above appear to have increased . Masons , carpenters , plasterers , and saAvyers received 6 d per day during the

long and 5 d in the Avinter days , but they were not permitted to charge for the repair of implements . Tilers received 5 | d and 4 | d in the summer and winter half-years respectively ; the Avages of their boys ( garsons ) being 3 | d and 3 d . Master daubers Avere paid 5 d and 4 d ; their boys being remunerated at the same rate as those of the tilers >

"What, Then, Is Masonry?"

"WHAT , THEN , IS MASONRY ?"

We reply , it is much ; ifc is of the utmost importance , or it is nothing at all . It is nothing to the vulgar man or to the Avicked . It is much to the sensible and to the virtuous man . It is

nothing , any more than colours to the blind , music to the deaf , poetry and fine arts to brutes , to the ambitious , to the avaricious , the egotistical , the untrue . It is much to the sensible , sincere and generous man , Avho knows the ills of humanity and would remedy them .

She is neither a plot , a faction , or a party ; she serves the ambition , the cunning , or the cruelty of no one . She is order and truth in all things ; she is the hatred of vice , the love of virtue : she is the living voice , saying : " Do not unto others that Avhich you Avould not others

should do unto you ; " on the contrary , " Do as you Avould be done by . " She is the calm amid the tempest , a lighthouse in a shipAvreck , consolation in misfortune , the antidote against every kind of tyranny , fanaticism and lies . In

a Avord , she is the true bond of nations , the preserver of that moral balance the Avicked Avould destroy . Thus , she is everything to those Avho understand her , nothing to those Avhose souls are dead—or , rather , she is the mirror in Avhich they dare not look .

What Avas she , m ancient times , for Tiberius , for Caligula , for Nero ? Just Avhat she is now for those Avho resemble them . Some one has said that Masonry Avas a religion . That is true , if we may apply the name to an institution that leaves no doubt after it , that opens no door to argument on