Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

Titian ' s Quater-centenary is to be kept in January at Berlin , by an exhibition of copies , drawings , and prints of the Venetian ' s pictures . Shakespearian representations are quite the fashion in 8 crlin this winter , and the historical plays are being given with enormous success at the Royal Theatre .

The hundredth anniversary of tne production of "Hamlet , " in Germany , will be kept on Monday by a gala performance of the tragedy . A quaint reproduction of the Manners of the Thirteenth Century is to be given by a play , the " Bonhomme Misere , " to be brought out this week at the Paris Ode ' on . The play has been founded on an old

legend , and the principal characters will be St . Paul , Misery , represented by an old beggar , and Death in the character of a young girl in white , crowned with myrtle , while the piece is to be got up after the paintings in mediaeval missals , the scene taking place in a sort of reliquary or tryptych , the wings of which will shut up after each act .

ANGLING . —Anglers generally , and Thames anglers in particular , will be glad to hear that a very influential meeting of nearly 120 gentlemen has been held in Reading for the purpose of forming an Association for protecting and improving angling between Mapledurham , and Sonning , and in the Lower Kennet and tributaries . There is hardly a finer stretch of water on the

Thames for angling purposes than that just mentioned , and though much poached it still holds some very fine fish of all kinds . Every inch of the Thames should be protected by local associations , which conduce to the sport of the legitimate anglers of the working classes as well as to that of their richer brethren . TECHNICAL EDUCATION . —The Executive

Committee of the Livery Companies of London , formed to promote the establishment of a Technical University , met on Thursday to consider the reports which had been drawn up for their guidance . At the last meeting of the co mmittee it had been determined to procure reports from qualified persons as to the best means of utilising the funds available in the promotion of technical education . The

following were accordingly requested to prepare such reports : —Professor Huxley , Sir William Armstrong , Captain Douglas Galton , C . B ., Colonel Donnelly , Mr . H . T . Wood ( assistant-secretary of the Society of Arts \ and Mr . G . C . Bartley ( of the Science and Art Department ) , Dr Lyon Playfair was also asked , but his absence in America obliged him to decline . These reports were taken

into consideration by the committee , and it was dicided to meet again on the 17 th prox . for their further discussion . The companion obelisk to Cleopatra ' s Needle , promised to the Americans , is not looked on with much favour across the Atlantic . With the example of our failure in the matter of transport before their eyes , the Americans

arc unwilling to spend either labour or money on the monument , and an irreverent New York correspondent suggests that the New Yorkers have the makings of a pyramid at home without sending to Egypt . There is an old reservoir close to Fifth Avenue which would answer admirably if it were carried up 200 feet to a point , and adorned with a few mummies from the museum .

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE . — Mr . Ravvhnson , C . B ., writes to the Builder : — "All old drains and all tainted subsoil are being removed from the basement of Marlborough House . Old drains are also removed and new drains are constructed , externally ; all sink-pipes pass into external traps externally ventilated . All timber floors are being taken up , and the ground surface examined , cleansed ,

and covered by 3111 . of Portland lime concrete . These floors will be free from any refuse underneath , and will be fully ventilated . Where the old drains have been removed new clean gravel is substituted , and the surface then concreted . The entire basement is , in fact , being examined , { teed from

tainted material , and is also being concreted . ... No pains nor expense are being spared by the Office of Works to free Marlborough House from a suspicion of sewage taint ; and when it is again handed over to his Royal Highness , 1 believe it will be as complete in all sanitaiy works as a house can be made . "

A curious and instructive case of " the infinitely little " ( says the Birminghatn Post ) occurred at the meeting of the Birmingham Board of Guardians . The dietary of the workhouse is regulated by authoritythe authotity being the Local Government Board . The guardians desired to alter it j for they thought that currant pudding would be more agreeable to the children

than suet pudding , a delicacy against which the human stomach sometimes revolts . But red tape would not permit this very harmless alteration without the sanction of he controlling authority , so the guareiians had to ask eave from the board in London . On Wednesday , amidst much laughter—rather , we should think , of the kind which is called sardonic—the reply was read . Written on highly official paper , with the wide official margin , and

with the regulation official number in the corner , it ran as follows : —The Local Government Board approve of the proposal of the guardians of the parish of Birmingham to give the chil Iren in the workhouse currant pudding occasionally instead of suet pudding . With regard , however , to the formula of the cursanf pudding , the board are advised that a little sugar should form one of the ingredients of the pudding , to make it more palatable .

The Annual Exhibition of works of art by the Students of the Queen ' s Institute in Molesworthstreet . Dublin , was opened on Tuesday last , December 18 th , by the Duchess of Marlborough ,

Notes On Art, &C.

A SHAKESPEARE SEASON . —The Theatre states that early in January the whole of Shakespeare ' s historical plays , from Richard If . to Richard III . inclusive , are to be p layed at the Vienna Burgtiieater on consecutive evenings . The hundredth anniversary of the production of the first German version of Hamlet in Berlin will be commemorated by a special performance of the tragedy on the 17 th inst .

in that city . THE BRITISH MUSEUM . —Considerable progress has been made towards the settlement of the muchvexed question of the remuneration of the officers of the British Museum . The scheme will be in general accordance with the published correspondence between the Museum authorities and the Treasury . The salaries of keepers oi

departments are to begin at £ 650 per annum , and rise to £ 750 after five years' service . The assistant-secretary is to be paid £ 600 ; the salaries of the present assistant-keepers are to begin at £ 500 , rising to £ 600 after five years' service . The assistants are to be divided into two classes ; the first , or upper class , with salaries commencing at £ 250 , to rise by annual increments of £ 15 to £ + 50 . The salaries of

the second , or lower class , to begin at £ 150 , and rise by annual increments of £ 10 to £ 24 . 0 . The scheme is to be retrospective , from the 1 st of April last inclusive . The assistants are most of them opposed to the new plan . — Alhenwum . ASSYRIAN' ANTISUITIES . —Permission has been at length obtained by Mr . Rassam to prosecute the

search for Assyrian remains at Kouyunjik which was unfortunately suspended by the untimely death of Mr . George Smith , of the British Museum . —Athentettm . The Gloucester Chronicle says that the accounts of the late Three Choirs Festival have been made up . The total expenses were 426 3 ' . 19 s . 91 I . The sale of tickets realised 40941 ' . 17 s . od ., thus leaving a deficiency

of 16 9 / . 2 S . gd . A call of ll . has therefore been made on each of the 171 stewards , and this , with a balance of 32 / . 7 s . 41 I . from the festival of 1874 , leaves 34 / . 4 s . 7 d . to be carried forward to the account of the next Gloucester Festival . The Chronicle is unable to state the exact sum to be paid to the Clergy Charity , but it will am-iunt to

between iSooe . and 1 S 50 / ., the largest sum by far ever derived from any festival . NEW ROYAL ACADEMICIAN . —At a General Assembly held last evening , the following gentlemen were elected Royal Academicians : Mr . W . GL Orchavilson , painter ; and Mr . K . Norman Shaw , architect .

THE ROYAL BARON OF BEEV . —The Royal baron of beef will be supplied this year by Messrs . Webb and Sons , of Windsor , purveyors to Her Majesty . It will be cut from a very fine shorthorn , bred and fed by Her Maj ' esty at Shaw Farm , Windsor , under the care of Mr . Tait , the steward . The joint will weigh about 3001 b . It will be cooked at Windsor Castle , and will be forwarded to

Osborne , to be placed on Her Majesty ' s sideboard on Christmas Day . THE BANFF NATURALIST . —Mr . Thomas Edward , the Banff naturalist , is engaged in collecting further reminiscences of his life , which , with the addieion

of various natural history notes , will form a supplement to the life already published . —Academy . English archreologists in Rome have lost a scholarly representative by the death of Mr . Strothev Smith , fellow of St . Catherine ' s Hall , Cambridge , author of a recent work on the Tiber .

The Athenceum states that it is proposed to restore the roof of Southwell Minster to its original pitch , to crown the western towers with the spires , and to replace Bcmasconi's plaster choir screen with a grille . In iS ^ r the purchase-money of the London ; Water Companies would not have exceeded 6 , 000 , 000 / . In 186 5 the valuation bad increased to 12 , 000 , 000 . ; and the present estimate is roundly stated at 21 . 000 , 000 / .

PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN EXHIBITION . —Australian papers state that arangements are in progress for the international exhibition proposed to be held at Melbourne in 1 . S 79 , anil the scheme has the approval of the Legislative Assembly . The Governor , speaking recently at Stawcll , said that the proposal could not fairly be described in any quarter as premature , if regard were had to

the wonderful progress which the Australian Colonies have already achieved . In 1879 the aggregate public revenue of the seveial Australian Colonies will exceed 16 millions sterling , while their trade , including exports and imports , will amount to nearly 90 millions in value . In other words , Australasia , as a whole , could already take her place among the 10 or 12 great nations of the wot Id in point of the value

of their trade and general importance , for there arc onlv seven or tight nations with a larger public revenue than if ) millions . The three powerful colonies of Victoria , New South Wales , and New Zealand have each a revenue and trade which would place them on a higher scale than ancient European kingdoms like Sweden , Denmark , and Saxony . The single colony of Victoria , with its yearly

revenue of 4 J- millions , is already equal in wealth and importance to the kingdom of Portugal , while Melbourne is considerably above Lisbon in wealth and trade . The success of the Exhibition , he pointed out , would depend in a great measure upon the cordial co-operation of the mother country and the sister colonies of Australasia . His Excellency further stated that he was in

correspondence with the Secretary of State for the Colonies , who was anxious to give every possible assistance , and that the presence of the Prince of Wales was all that was needed to render the Exhibition a triumphant success . He expressed himself confident that His Royal Highness , if invited by both Houses of Parliament , might be induced to come out to open the Exhibition , and he was certain he would be received with enthusiasm .

The Grand Orient Of France.

THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .

The following is the actual text of the circular of the " Conseil dc L'Ordre , " announcing the result of the last untoward meeting of the Grand Orient to the lodges of the obedience : Le Conseil dc l'Ordre vient d ' addresscr a tous les Ateliers de 1 'Obe ' dience la circulaire suivante : "T P . CC . FF ., —L'Assemble generate du Grand Orient

ele trance , dans sa session 1877 , a adopte diverses resolutions erne nous avons la faveur de portre a votre attention . Vous trouverez au compte rendu des travaux de cctte Assemble ' e la discussion qui a precede ccs resolutions et les considerations qui out de ' termim-Jes votes du Grand Orient . Ccs resolutions , promulge ' es par le Conseil de l'Ordre , dans sa seance du 24 de ce mois , sont les suivantes : " Premiercmcnt . —Modification a Part . ler de la Constitution dont la redaction a ete et reste areteie dans les

tcrmes suivantes : " Art ler . —La Francmaconnerie , institution essentiellement philanthropique , philosophique et progressive , a pour objet la recherche dc la ve ' rite , l ' etude de la morale universelle , des science et des arts , et l ' exercise de la bietifaisance .

" Elle a pour principes la liberte' absolue de conscience et la solidarity humaine . " Elle n'cxclut personne pour ses croyances . " Elle a pour devise : Liberte , Egalite , Fraternite ' . " We need hardly repeat how deeply we , in common with all Anglo-Saxon Freemasons , deplore this hurtful and revolutionary proceeding .

Technical Education In The Mining School.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THE MINING SCHOOL .

Teacher : First class in mining stand up . Now , what is syenite ? First boy : It is a rock that would be granite if it

contained mica instead of hornblende . Teacher : Correct . Now , what is granite ? Second Boy : It is a rock that would be syenite if it contained hornblende instead of mica . Teacher : Correct . What is a diorite ? Third boy : It is syenite with the quartz of syenite left

out . Teacher : Correct . What is a shaft ? First boy : A tunnel stood on end . Teacher : Correct . What is a tunnel ? Second boy : A shaft lying flat on its back . Teacher : Correct . What is an incline ?

Third boy : Its a hole in the ground that would be a shaft if it stood straight up and a tunnel if it lay flat down . Teacher-. Correct . Report yourselves in San Francisco for the first vacancies that occur in mines that are taking in regular assessments . —Virginian Paper .

" Pass-Words For The Craft."

" PASS-WORDS FOR THE CRAFT . "

[ Lines quoted by the late GEOIIGE DAWSON . ] "What matters it to us who are immortal , Which side the grave we stand on , when we know That what the world calls death is but the portal Leading to life again . 'Tis but to go

Across a gurgling river in the dark , Hanging nn God ; and—but a moment so , Till we are over , when we disembark , And enter life afresh . 'Tis basely wrong We should so meanly undcrstrike the mark

As measures life by years , and all along Busy ourselves arranging little schemes , That death will dash to pieces , when we might Be building far above these earthly dreams , Houses that stand for ever in God's light . "

TRHSTI . E-IIOABD . — " As the Operative Mason erects his temporal building in accordance with the design laid down upon the Trestle-board by the master workman , so should we , both operative and speculative , endeavour to erect our spiritual building in accordance with the designs laid down by the Supreme Architect . " What is here Masonically designated the " Trestle-board , " artists , and poets ,

and philosophers denominate the Ideal . All things that exist , save God , are created by the ideal , or are reflections of it . The visible creation is God ' s ideal , wrought out in material forms ; and all the works of man are copies of ideal types which he discovers on the Trestle-board of his soul . Every nation exists according to an ideal which is reflected in its life , its institutions , and manners : and the

life of man as an individual is high or low , as his ideals of life arc high or low ; or , in other words , it is fashioned after the designs that are traced on the moral Trestle-Board . Societies , also , are constructed from the ideal . If a society have no ideal it can have no influence , and can exist but for a brief period , because it has no ability to arouse enthusiasm or command the respect and allegiance

of men . There is no doubt that our ceremonies and mysteries were derived from the rites , ceremonies , and institutions of the ancients , and some of them from the remotest ages . Our morality is deduced from the maxims of the Grecian philosophers , perfected by the Cmisii . in revelation . The institutors of this society had their eyes on the progressive

advancement of religion , and they symbolised it , as well in the first stage as in the succeeding Orders oi Masons . The knowledge of the God of nature : torms the first estate of our profession ; the worship of the Deity , under the Jewish law , is described in the second stage of Masonry ; and the Christian dispensation is distinguished in the last and highest Order . —Hutchinson ,