Reviews.

Reviews .

"The Christmas Masonic Magazine . " lyS , Fleet-street , London . We have received this goodly specimen of our Masonic serial literature , and admire its appearance and appreciate its contents . Its ' •bill of fare " is both very varied and very attractive . May a good literary digestion follow

upon its perusal , for it is alike interesting and amusing , intelligent and tolerant , full of much that can please and that can instruct , much that can amuse and edify . We think that the Editor has , however , been a little amiss in " proving" the printers' pages , as there are some typographical errors which should never have appeared in a Magazine so well printed , so carefully edited , and glowing

in so very taking a cover . We think it right to call the attention of all our readers to the " Magazine , " as it is indeed a cheap and good shilling ' s worth , competing successfully as it clearly does , alike in appearance and contents with many Magazines of older standing and higher pretensions . We wish it all success—the success which it most fairly merits ' .

The " Eclectic , " G . H . RAMEY , Editor , Washington . We beg to mention the special merits of this well printed and able specimen of American Masonic literature to all who peruse the weekly pages of the " Freemason . " The " Liberal Freemason , " A . F . CHAPMAN , Boston , U . S . We can conscientiously commend this valuable " Confrere " of ours to the patronage and study of all reading Masons .

The " Canadian Craftsman . We have already expressed our pleasure at , and appreciation of the appearance of this friendly Magazine under the new editorial regime . There are many English Freemasons who may like to know what is going on in Canada among our brethren of the Mystic tie , and they can study no better record of the sayings and doings of Canadian Craftsmen .

The " Voice of Masonry , " Chicago , United States , Is as many of us know ably edited by our Bro . J . W Brown and the well known and able Albert Mackey . It may be considered one of the leading magazines of Anglo-Saxon Masonic literature . It is most admirably conducted , and . its articles are replete with Masonic interest and marked by Masonic sympathy .

" The Masonic Review , " T . J . MELISH , Editor , Cincinnati , Is another American Masonic periodical , very admirably edited and carefully arranged . It always contains much that is most readable by all Masons .

The " Keystone , " Philadelphia . A Masonic paper " sui generis , " edited by our esteemed friend , and brother editor , Clifford P . McCalla . We need hardly add that the " Keystone " is a credit both to Pennsylvanian and Cosmopolitan Freemasonry . We wish that it could be more widely read by our English brethren .

" New York Dispatch . " Under the clear and able direction of Bro . Simon , its Masonic page is always full of gratifying articles for the reaeling and thinking Mason . "Die Bauhiitte . " Leipsic ; J . G . Findel . " Die Bauhiitte " pursues the " even tenour of its way , "

though not altogether unrutlled by the storms of the passing epoch , and we are glad to see it , and to read it . Though we elo not always agree with Bto . Findel , we wish the Bauhiitte every success , always remembering Bro , Findel ' s zealous labours in the good cause of Masonic truth and historical accuracy .

" La Chaine d Union . " HURERT , Paris . We have often praised this excellent periodical before , and we onimend it again sincerely to day , wishing both to it and its editor and publisher , Bro , Hubert , all success . He well deserves it , and the " Chaine d'Union " is always worth reading .

"Le Monde Maconnique . " Edited by Bro . Caubet . Though we have had to differ , and do differ seriously with Bro . Caubet , we differ from him Masonically and honestly . Wc do not think that any good will come of suppression of the truth , or shirking the difference of manly opinion , and therefore we think as wc speak , and speak

what we think . Surely in Freemasonry we ought to seek for and expect the truth . When then we differ from brother Masons , as differ we will and often must ; let us try to speak the truth boldly , freely , without fear , without offence , and without personality . We always read the " Monde Maconnique " with pleasure , and wc recognise ts Masonic information and its editorial ability .

" Der Triangel , " A German Masonic paper , published at New York , of which a copy has been kindly forwarded to us . We know nothing of it , or whether under the Grand Lodge of New York , but it seems to be very ably edited , and to be Masonic in its tone , and well arranged . We note ,

however , that it leans to the Grand Orient of France , even in its last unhappy " faux pas , " It is a great wonder that its editor , apparently both Masonic and enlightened , can be deceived by the specious cry of toleration under which that revolutionary change has been effected . No more intolerant act has ever been really committed by any Masonic bod y , as it is a direct attack on the great foundation-truth

Reviews.

of Universal Freemasonry—belief m T . G . A . O . T . U . Bro . Caubet , one of the leaders of the dominant part ) ' , boldly states , in the last Monde Mac-onique , that the Irish Grand Lodge is not an Universal Grand Lodge , because it accepts belief in a Personal God and the Bible . What will the editor of the " Triangel " say to such a proposition ? It is enough to make the hair stand upon the head of any good old Mason .

" Bulletm du Grand Orient de France . " This is a very useful publication , giving us the official acts of the Grand Orient of France . It is luc ' idly arranged , and skilfully edited , and ought to be studied by all who wish to know the real position of French Freemasonry .

" Grand Imperial Council of Illinois . We have received and pondered over this admirably printed report , and are much struck with it as a record of American High Grade work , as well as with the agreeable engraving of Bro . R . B . Smith , the Grand Sovereign .

A Change Of Suits.

A CHANGE OF SUITS .

BY BRO . TEBBS . FYTTE I . " Well , Tiny , if the worst should come to the worst , we can but cut and run for it ; take a cab from close to your house" so that the old boy can trace it . Drive to Broadstreet—tickets to the Alexandra—get out at Dalstontickets back to Shoreditch—meanwhile , I mount the green

specs , and you that eye-shade I bought m the Strand , and then " " I won't , Bob , and that ' s flat . Eye-shade , indeed why " " Well never mind that , something else , Tiny ; then we can get a special license , or perhaps the banns at Charley ' s

" Won ' t do , Bob ; your aunt ran away , I iknow , and so did my elear , olel grannie ; but it won ' t do . Pa would catch us , and off wc go to Boulogne , or somewhere else , and I shall have to be Mrs . Titus Tomkins within the week—Ugh I " " Well , then , Tiny , I must think of something else , for

your governor won ' t hear of me , I know , ' though I shall come into my own in a twelvemonth ; meanwhile , you won't be your own mistress for another four years , and that old beast will force you to marry that humbug Tompus Tightkins , or whatever his lovely name is

By jove , I have it ; I'll go and ask Charley Jones' advice ; he ' s a lawyer you know " " Lor , Bob , it ' s half-past seven , and Pa will be waiting for his t a—shan't I just catch it—what must 1 > ay ? Goodbye , dear . Oh ! how liiesome those sharp ends of your moustache are

FYTTE II . " How d'ye do , Charley ? Busy , eh ?" "No , not to you , Bob , sit down and tell me what it is tenant bolted Smith ' shot the moon , ' eh ?" " No , Charity , worse than that . Old Clare insists on Tiny marrying that Tomkins fellow , and I don ' t see how

to prevent it ; he raves at her so , and leads her such a dance that 1 expect she'll be worried out of her life , and give way at last for very peace sake . What in the name of good fortune shall 1 do ?" " Sit down , man , or else you'll wear out a fortune in your shoe-leather and my carpet to boot—sit elown ami

jet ' s think . H ' m ' . —I have it I You ' ve written her some letters , I suppose ?" " I shoulel just think I have . " " Spooney , I suppose , Bob ?" " Well , the usual sort . " "Any mention of marriage , Bob ?"

" Yes , of course . " "Sit elown and write . Now , Bob , fire away I ' My dear Sir . ' " " None of your larks Charley ! Fancy , writing to him ! " ' " Do as I tell you " " My dear Sir ,

I deeply regret that I have been so illadvised as to cross your wishes with regard to your daughter , anil still further that I have , contrary to your desire , which ought to have been law in so tender a relationship as that of father and daughter , addressed to Miss Clare , several letters .

I feel with you , that we arc both too young to enter into any engagement as yet , and I therefore beg to inform you that 1 shall not again act contrary to your wishes . At the same time may 1 ask you to kindly return me the foolish letters that I have sent to your daughter . —I remain , my dear Sir , very truly yours ,

"T . J . CLARK , Esq . RODENT ACCMNGTON . " "O , blow it all , Charley ! I'm not going to send that " " But I am , Bob . Leave it to me , I'll see it all right lov you . Good-bye , you must hook it now , for I ' m awfully busy Good-bye !"

FYTTE III . Martha , I tell you I won ' t hear of it . Pass me another egg and some more tea . Bob Accrington——pooh I Young ass " " But , Pa . 1 "

A Change Of Suits.

" Hold your tongue , Emily ! I know what is best for you . You will and shall be Mrs . Tompkins , this day six months . " " f vvo " " Come in Susan . "

" Letters please Sir !" " One from that young idiot again . Hallo I ' foolish ' ' please return letters . ' ' Letters ? ' What letters ?" "Oh , Thomas I hire's a letter from Charley Jones ; he says , " You'll be pleased , I know , to hear of Bob

Accrington ' s luck . He's going to many Miss Aspley , whose maiden aunt has just died , leaving her a couple of thousand a year , and " " What , Martha ? Oh , that ' s the game is it ? I'll spoil your fun for you , Master Bob 1 Go and fetch me those letters , child . " " Here they are Pa I but "

"Run away child . Now Martha . " " Ha ! ' stick to you , Tiny dear , through thick and thin ; marry in spite of old Grumper " Now , Martha , I'll tell yon what I'll do . I'll put this directly into old Kasay ' s bands , and he shall enter an action for breach of promise . Master Bob , you shall squeak for this !"

FYTTE IV . " So , Air . Clare , the defendant promised your daughter marriage , did he ?" " Yes , sir , he did ; and I thought to begin at the

beginning " " We don ' t want you to begin anywhere , Sir , but merely to answer the questions put to you . You swear that he promised your daughter marriage ?" " Yes , sir , he did 1 "

Very well , Mr . Clare , and you consented , I suppose . '" " Well , Sir ! 1 , at first " "On your oath , Sir , you gave your consent ? 1 must know this , as your daughter was , and is still , a minor , I believe ?" "If I might . "

" He good enough to answer my question •" " Mr . Smith , you must answer the question of thejearned Counsel explicitly . " " Yes , my Lord ; I will endeavour to do so . " " Well , then , Sir , your daughter had , and has still , your

consent to accept the proposal of the defendant for an immediate marriage ?" " Yes , Sir I " " Then , my Lord , I submit that this case need go no further , as my client is perfectly willing to carry out his engagement . " FYTTE V . —( A PAIR . ) Plaintiff non-suited—and Defendant suited to a T ( incy )

An Accommodating Witness.

AN ACCOMMODATING WITNESS .

In an assault and battery case tried before Justice Moses a day or two since , a Mexican was a witness . The business proceeded as follows : Judge : You speak English , do you not ? Witness : Yes sir . Judge : Well , you will please go on and tell what you knuw about the assault made by this man upon this

woman . Witness : Yes , sir . Attorney : Ye ondersthand , sor , that ye air to go on now and schtate to the coort and jury what ye know about this case—in yer own language , d'ye ondersthand ? Witness : Yes , sir , I understand perfectly well . You want nic to tell the story in my own language .

Attorney : Exactly . Proceed , sor . Witness : Este mojire vauia mi la casa—Attorney : What air ye sayin' ? Witness : Este hombre tombein—Attorney : What is that ye air sayin' ? What did the man do—what did he say ? Witness : Aque , senora , yo quere habla

uste—Attorney : ( growing red in the face)—What air ye . jabbcriu '—Italian , French , Dufch , or what ? Witness : I am speaking in my own language , sir , as you requested me to do— -I am a Spaniard , sir . Art rney : I didn't mane for ye to spake yer own language whin 1 said for yc to spake yere own language . Ye can spake to me as I ' m spakin' to ye , can ' t ye ?

Witness I can try , sir . Attorney : Well , thin , thry , sor . Schtate to the coort and the jury what ye saw of the assault . Witness : Well , thin , yer honor , this man and this woman kim to me house , and sez the man to the woman , scz he , I wtint to spake wid ye , sez—Attorney : What do ye mane , sor , by spakin' in that

way : Witness : Sure , sor , ye axed me to spake in the language ye use yerself , sor , an' sure I ' m afthcr thryin to obleegc—Attorney : I don't want any sich language as that from ye , sor , I—

Judge : Just proceed in English , please , with what you saw ot the affair . Witness : With pleasure sir . I shoulel have done so at first , hut the learned counsel seemed rather particular in regard to the language in which he wished me to give my evidence .

As the witness proceeded with Ins story the attorney sat mopping his brow with his bandana , and scowling black as a thunder cloud on all in the room . '