Amusements.

the great metropolis that all real talent gravitates , and this young lady seems possessed of more than thc ordinary share . We understand that she is one of the stage professionals whom Lefroy communicated with to bring out his opera . We need scarcely say he received no better encouragement at Miss Verona ' s hands than the others . Air . Carton having brought out "Imprudence" at the Folly , and then taken it to the Standard , where he had to

move for the Haverleys , after a brief run at the Imperial afternoon performances , has put his comedy , by Bro . Pinero , at the Globe , by which he seems to have lost none of his followers . Imprudence it would be not to go and see it whilst one may . Bro . Righton , who plays Mr . Parminter Blake , is a very jealous husband , and cannot bear Mrs . Blake to bc the centre of attraction . They are staying at Lazenby ' s boarding establishment , where are

also several gentlemen of various ages , but all struck the same with lie * charms , and when they find he is a henpecked husband , do not hesitate to let him know it . In a fit of exasperation at not being allowed to speak to his "Marie , " he confides in one of the boarders , who relates how a friend of his cured his wife of ignoring him by trumping up a case of a flaw in the marriage certificate . Mr . Blake resolves to copy this friend . In the

drawingroom he receives a letter , calls aside one gentleman alter another , and says , "I ' ve just received this from my lawyer ,: who discovers there is a flaw in the licence ; wrong wedding cake , wrong wedding ring ; marriage dissolvedtake her , she ' s yours ; mind , keep it secret ; don ' t tell anybody "—adding , aside , " he's sure to go and tell everyone , and Alarie will soon know . " A Mr . George Castleton , One of those to whom Mr . Blake has told his secret , an

admirer of Mrs . Blake , seizes his opportunity and tells Mrs . Blake to wait for him after supper ; he has something important to communicate to her . He has previously received a telegram announcing the death of an uncle , from whom he receives an estate , on conditions he marries within a month . He asks advice of Mr . Durant , another boarder , who undertakes to get him a wife . In the same house is-staying a Mr . Dalrymple , a widower , who has a

daughter grown up , and a source of distress to him , as she betrays his age . Durant sees he would be glad to be rid of her , and asks her to meet him after supper . A most - laughable scene ensues in the second act . Castleton and Durant wait one for the other to go and leave the room first , not knowing of the other ' s engagement . On the pretence of going to bed , Castleton leaves the room , but soon returns , and still finds Durant there . Durant suggests he

will go in the square and smoke , but soon comes back and sits down . During thc temporary absence of Durant , Mr * . Blake has come in ' , to whom Cnslleton has told her husband ' s secret . On Durant knocking at the door to get in ' , having also Miss Dalrymple with him , and whom he has succeeded in promising to marry Castleton , Mrs . Blake is put behind the window curtain . Durant comes in and tells Castleton he has succeeded in getting a wife for

him , and offers to introduce her at once . " Not now , " says Castlctoh ; " another time ; 1 don't feel well . " Durant is surprised , and to clear himself brings in Miss . Dalrymple . Castle / on refuses to marry her , and denounces Durant , of course under fear of Mrs . Blake behind the curtain , to whom he had made an offer should her marriage licence he proved faulty . Mr . Blake not having found his Alarie , is seeking all over the house for her , and on entering

the . supper-room fancies there is something up , and Conceals himself in a cupboard , where lie hears all . Durant and Castleton come to high words , which bring in thc visitors from all ' parts of the house . Mr . Blake emerges from the cupboard , and Mrs . Blake from the curtain , which ends the second act . In the last act Mrs . Blake explains she has been playing a part only to make her husband jealous ; he , on the other hand , regrets

his imprudence in trying to teach sucli a practical lesson . It would be spoilt-to repeat any of the loving sayings whicli pass between them at their understanding . Our readers must hear and laugh over this for themselves—the second honeymoon . Durant , who at heart is not a bad man , explains satisfactorily to Miss Dalrymple his part in the affair , and informs her he is leaving tlie house . She asks where he is going . He replies , " As far as a sovereign will

carry me . " She says she has resolved upon leaving her undutiful father , and will become a governess , but she thinks she has not even so much as a pound . Durant asks her to taunt , and suggests they put his sovereign and her eleven shillings together , at the same time uniting themselves . Castleton comes into the room at the time to show Durant a letter , and asks if he is engaged ; he turns to Miss Dalrvmhle and says , " Am I ? " She replying , " I suppose so , "

is his answer in two senses of the word . The visitors all decide to go to their own homes . Mr . and Mrs . Blake are just upon the point of departure , when Mr . Blake informs Mrs . Lazcnhy ( the middle-aged proprietress of the establishment ) he has long wanted to ask her a question— "VVhat ' s ) 'cr age ? " Thi * brings great laughter to the audience . 'I here is nothing extravagant or im-- possible about the corned )' , which makes it take well . Nothing now remains but to allude to the excellent acting

of Aliss Compton ( Mrs . Carton ) , who plays Mrs . Bla ' ie , Air . Carton ( Mr . Durant ) , and Aliss Wade ( Miss Dalrymple ) . Air . Carton has gathered round him a good caste , and we hope he may have success . We do not know what he intends doing when Bro . Edward Righton goes to thc Court in a few weeks . The " Tale of a Tub , " by Bro . Righton , is worth stopping for . It is said it is a portrait of his own professional life . VVe may add , Aliss Compton has been presented with a costly gold bracelet , by the members of the company , together with a letter signed by the subscribers .

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE . —In an issue of the Freemason of a few weeks ago we described Bro . Sims' new piece , " The Half-way House , " lately produced at this pretty little house . We i-hall not , therefore , recapitulate what we have said before , but content ourselves by saying that it is still having , and likely to have , large audiences , that is , so far as the size of the theatre will allow . I 3 ro . Sims just now seems the hero of the day as a play writer ,

no less than eight of his productions being played on different stages throughout England just now , and probably some are being played in duplicate , e . g ., " The . Member for Slocum . " We now call the attention of our readers to two new pieces lately put on the boards at the Vaudeville . " . Marriage Bells , " by Air . H . Gough , deserves , as a pretty comedietta , all the praise it has bad bestowed on it . lt precedes the principal piece . Aliss Alma Murray does not kt it lose anything for want of efficient acting . At the

Amusements.

conclusion of " I he Half-way House " a " variety " is presented , termed " The Gir ! He Left Behind Him , " by Delacour Daubigny , whoever he may be , and whom it is suggested is also Bro . Sims . It is a musical and amusing farce . To prove this , we noticed that instead of rushing out of the theatre before the curtain drops on the last act of thc principal piece , as is usual at most theatres , the people in all parts sat this " variety" out . Although

there may be no particular , wit in it , it is funny , and we believe there is scope in other theatres for something of this description , lt is a pleasant wind up to a comedy or tragedy . I'he girl left behind is Polly ( Aliss Kate Phillips ) . Mr . Thorne is a miller , who weds the prettiest girl of the village , and finds out on his wedding day she has promised to marry Tom Tarpaulin , a sailor , ( Mr . Crawford ) , and that he has just returned from a voyage . The

bride agrees that the bridesmaid shall personate her , and vice -versa . The sailor tells a story of a friend of his who left a girl behind him to marry on his return , but when he came back she had linked herself to some one else , and that he had then and there killed the vampire , and that he , Tom Tarpaulin , would do the same . The miller , on hearing this , trembles more than slightly . But Toni at last finds out the state of affairs , and after chasing the

bridegroom , the , miller , out of all sorts of places , gives up his fickle sweetheart , and takes unto himself the bridesmaid , Sarah Ann ( Miss Ella Strathmore ) , who is quite willing . Air . Thorne sings a very good song , which was duly encored , and Air . Crawford a nautical one . The " variety ' " ' is altogether very good , both in dances , songs , and chorus . We felt it like dessert after a good dinner . There is no reason why it should not run side by side with ths chiel comedy , which has now passed its sixtieth night .

ALHAAIBRATHEATRE . —Another Alhambra triumph : as great , if not greater , than the last . "The Black Crook , " the Biche au Bois originally of the Port St . Alartin Theatre , in Paris . Air . Henry Paulton may well be proud ol his libretto , but it wants the scissors . Nothing could have gone more smoothly or more brilliantly than did this gorgeous spectacle on its first night . But , we repeat , it wants the scissors ! In proof of this it may be said shortly

that the last and also the best ballet led by Aladame Pertoldi , and composed by Al . J acobi , was omitted on Saturday night for want of time . This made us all go home to bed feeling much as if we had had our soup and fish but no joint . Possibly matters could not have been otherwise arranged , but all there confe sed to a general feeling of disappointment , although it must be acknowledged that they got more at the Alhambra for their price of

admission than they could have obtained at any other house . The music of the " Black Crook" is partly original , partly old , and also partly in imitation of various well known airs which have preceded it . The prettiest original air in tlie piece , to our thinking , is the serenade ( act 2 , scene 3 ) , " Wake from thy rest , love . " "Nobody knows as I know " is tlie most telling old song . And the best parts , which strongly resemble something we have

heard before , are " Guard and sentry , cannoneer" ( act 2 , scene 1 ) , reminding us of the Alarche aux Flambeaux . The song " I never expected a girl would bless , & c , " which had a pungent odour of the Cloches deCorncvilloabout it ; and Gabrielle ' s song " My heart with joy and gladness bounds " ( act 4 , scene 2 ) , which tasted very much of the tap of "Genevieve de Brabant . " The music , however , is sweetly pretty all through , and does infinite credit to

Alessrs . Clay and Jacobi , the eminent composers . Of thc play we can say but little . It is much like that of "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood , " althpiigh we are not quite sure what becomes of the Princess until she is " out oi the wood , " after having been seventeen years in bottle . Aliss Constance Loseby sang as well as ever in the part of the " Black Crook , " the fairy godmother who was not invited to the christening-. Aliss Lizzie Coote , as

Gabrielle , acquitted herself with astonishing success . She has all lhat is necessary for an accomplished actress . She is young , she sings well , dances well , acts to perfection , and has a knowledge of stage business which in one of her age is something extraordinary . Not that she is new to thc stage , for , if we mistake not , this is the same young lady who sang " Did you ever see an oyster walk upstairs : " in thc Brighton pantomine , when she could not

have been more than ten years old . Aliss Behrend , as Queen Orange , looked magnificent . Iler get up was superb . Aliss Petrelli was charming in the part of the Princess Mesirce , and the Alisses Sullivan , Jamieson , and Beverly acted efficiently as the good-natured furies , who mere included in the invitation . Air . Harry Paulton , as usual , was received with rounds of applause . His topical song was excellent , and also his acting in the supper scene ,

although this last was somewhat too long . Mr . Walsham , as Prince Jonquil , sang his part with great taste . He has a fine tenor voice . Alessrs . Longrois , I Iargreavcs , Kelleher , Power and Redmund was all very good in their respective roles , and Air . Jarvis was especially funny as thc Litlle Brother . The ballets which , after all , are the attractions at the Alhambra , were unusually well mounted . Some green fern dresses , and some brilliant

figures in complete armour struck us as being the most novel costumes . Of the dancing and arrangement of the movements nothing need be said . Air . Bertrand ' s name is sufficient guarantee that all this part of the performance was not only up to the usual Alhambra mark , but that it , if possible , exceeded in precision and rapidity anything that has yet been produced at this house . The band master , Air . Jackson , showed

careful rehearsal , and an array of talent unequalled in London . All success to those whose efforts to please were so highly appreciated on Saturday . Alay the piece have a long run , and may we see it next time in all its comleteness . We should not omit to mention lhat this theatre has been , by calling in the architect , the builder , Bro . Deputy Brass , and the upholsterers , Alessrs . Tyler and Son , still further enriched , and made a stong claim to

rank as one of the hrst-ratc London stages . We expected it would not be long before some other theatre followed in Mr . D'Oyle Carte ' s example , and lit the house with the electric light . To have done all that has been done—and it is not completed yet—in three weeks , there must have been an army of men employed . The dome is now lighted

by four of Siemens lights , driven by steam ; these are enclosed in a , stained-glass Chinese ] lantern , and produceja nice soft effect , and certainly prevents tbe theatre getting over-heated . The proscenium has been widened , a long noticed necessity where such large spectacular representations are given as we now see there nightly .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . T . B . A 1 YERS . A very large section of Freemasons in and around Liverpool will hear with profound regret of the death of Bro . Thomas Benn Alyers , who died at the comparatively early age of 39 , at his residence in Liverpool , on Sunday , the 27 th ult . Tlie deceased was a highly esteemed Past Master of / the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge , No . 1182 , which meets at the Alasonic Hall , Hope-streetLiverpooland was also

, , Director of Ceremonies of the lodge , and he had Jong taken an active interest in its welfare as well as in Alasonic Charities generally . Bro . Alyers secured universal esteem and popularity by the kindliness of his disposition , and his death will cause a blank which will not very easily be filled up . His mortal remains were interred at Flaybrick Hill Cemetery , Bedston , Cheshire , on Wednesday afternoon , the 30 th ult ., when the universal regard for his sterling

worth and benevolent disposition was testified by the large and influential gathering at the grave side to pay the last sad office of respect to departed merit , there being not fewer than 250 persons present , among whom were the immediate relatives of the deceased , the VV . AI ., Past Masters , officers , and the bulk of the brethren of Lodge 11 S 2 , representatives from numerous lodges , including two

from the Millom Lodge , Cumberland ( his native county , and to which lodge the deceased brother was a subscribing member ) , and several leading members of the Craft and private friends . A pleasing feature of the burial service was the singing of a choir of children from St . Alichael ' s Church , Liverpool , of which church the late brother was for some years a Warden .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is as . Gd . for announcements not exceeding Four Lines under this heading . ]

BIRTHS . BINCKES . —On the Gth inst ., at Hillside , Overhill-road , Dulwich , S . E ., the wife of Mr . Litchfield Binckes , of a daughter . GREEN-. —On the Gth inst ., at iG , Vicarage-park , Plumstead , the wife of Mr . G . F . Greenof a son .

, RICHARDSON . —On the 3 rd inst ., at 25 , Park-road-villas , Forest-hill , S . E ., the wife of Air . Robert Richardson , of a son . VVII . KS . —On the 5 th inst ., at 11 , Avington-grove , Penge , the wife of Mr . John H . Wilks , of a daughter .

MARRIAGE . DAVIS—VAISEY . — On the ist inst ., at Lechlade , by the Rev . A . Clemcntson , W . Howard Davis , of Lechlade , to Alary Elisa , daughter of Air . C Ii . Vaisey , of Clayliill House .

DEATHS . CARTER . —On the 14 th ult ., at Impens , North Petherton , Air . James Carter , aged G 9 . MVERS . —On the 27 th ult ., at his residence , Liverpool , Bro . Thomas Benn Alyers , aged 39 . PITTMAN . —On the 5 th inst ., at Ivy House , Warminster , Air . John Pittman , late of London , aged S 7 .

Special Offer Of Masonic Works.

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