Art And The Drama.

Art and the Drama .

ANNUAL WINTER EXHfBITION OF OIL PAINTINGS . THOMAS MCLEAN ' S GALLERY ,

, 7 , HAYMARKET . We visited the oilier morning a small but choice collection of oil paintings by artists of the British and Foreign schools . Speaking as critics , we are reminded of a clever French journalist , Jules Janin , who , reviewing

a collection of literary sketches by a fellow author , says , " We have often purchased a basket of strawberries—we have commenced by selecting the finest , but have ended by eatiug all of the delicious fruit . " Now for the app lication—wc commence by drawing attention to the finest pictures in this collection , and would , if the limit of space permitted have well-merited praise to bestow on all . Even of those we select we can only spare a few

words for each . No . i , " Returning from Market , by A . Penot , is pretty ; No . _ •, " Chrysanthemums , " by Conrad Kiesel , is nicely painted , but we do not like the effect of the flowers crossing ; No . 5 , "The Scribe , " by Sir Alma Tadema , R . A ., is in the artist ' s well-known style , but the outlines of the figure are hard ; No . 6 , " The Revenge , 1588 , Drake receiving lhe Spanish Admiral ' s Sword , " is by Seymour Lucas , R . A .

—the engraving renders this picture familiar to all , it ffeeds no commendation on our part ; No . 10 , " Winding the Skein , " by Albert Neuhuys , is very good , * No . II , " Early Spring on a West Highland Loch , " by Louis B . Husk , is beautiful ; No . 13 , "On the Llugwy , N . Wales , " by Vicat Cole , R . A ., and George Cole—we believe this isthejoint work of father and son , the well-known and admired Academician—has here received assistance

from his son and pupil , it is , indeed , an interesting work , the scene is lovely and most truthfully depicted , we would especially draw attention to the exquisite tree work ; No . 14 , "A hot scent , " by W . Hunt—full of action ; No . 18 . " The Fisherman's wife , Scheveningen , " by Joseph Israels—fine artistic work ; No . 23 , " A Study , " by the famed Rosa Bonheur—the fair artist does not show to advantage , the picture is too small

and ullerly devoid of interest ; No . 26 , " Lieder ohne Worte , " by R . Poetztlberger , quiet in tone ; No . 28 , "A Dutch Pastoral , " by C . Westerbeck—the effect of distance is good ; No . 30 , " The Blonde , " by R . Madr-izo— certainly good , but the lady ' s shoulders are too angular ; No . 32 , Loch Katrine , by John McWhirter , R . A . —an important clever picture , but we do not like the co louring ; however that is a matter of taste ; No . 36 ,

" Going to Pasture , " by the artist C . Westerbeck , of whom we have already spoken—the sheep are carefully drawn , the perspective is fine ; No . 39 , " The Cottage Door , " by Charles Sainton—this artist is better known by his gold and silver point drawings , a collection of which is now exhibiting at the Continental Gallery , New Bond-street—our review is in last week ' s issue ; No . 43 , " The Architect , " by Sir Alma Tadema , R . A . —fine careful work , but the figure seems to us to be too tall ; No . 48 , " A

Fair Reflection , " by J . W . Goodward—a novel effect , the marbles are good ; Nos . 46 and 51 , " Venice , " by A . Reyna— -bright and clever . In the outer gallery is a small picture by — Sherrin , B . A . —the pine trees are most effective ; No . 59 , "A Dutch Interior , " by B . De Hogg—a pretty little bit ; and No . 66 , " Omdurman , 2 nd September , 181 ) 8 , " by R . Caton Woodville—a stirring picture , full of incident . Visitors to th *; Gallery will lind many other pictures worthy of note .

HAYMARKET THEATRE . It is not often lhat we have the good fortune to be able , conscientiously , to waive our duties as critics and become simple unaffected admirers . The lot of a critic is not always " a happy one "—it is seldom that he can pose as " Laudator lemporis acti . " Too often stern duty compels him to be the " Censor . " On this occasion we submit our report to the numerous readers of the ' Freemason with unfeigned pleasure . This is one of the few

occasions which occur to us where duty and pleasure coincide . In justice , we should consider " The Black Tulip , " not only with regard to its literary merits , but , also , as to its construction in a dramatic point of view . As one of the skilled veteran writers of the stage we have long entertained admiration for Mr . Grundy ' s work . Occasionally our opinions have been adverse , notably so in "The Degenerates , " which it would

have been better for Mr . Grundy ' s well deserved future fame if it had never been written . Some of our contemporaries have spoken of it as a clever representation of certain phases of society . We admit its undoubted cleverness , but it is intensely disagreeable for all that . As is our invariable custom when we cannot award the meed of praise , we refrain from condemnation , and furnish no report at all . From what we have just

said it can be readily imagined how delightful it is for us to be able to merge the part of critics into that of honest admirers . The unaffected grace and simplicity of the interesting plot of this well-constructed play , the gradual natural development of the story , the great literary merits of portions of the text , arrest our attention , and leave a lasting impression . We , ourtelves , fully purpose to see the piece again , that we may critically

judge , which we must confess we failed to do , being so absorbed in the magic of the scene . Well , Mr . Grundy , we condone your past offence j let us hope that for the future you will continue to give us fresh plays in the style of " The Black Tulip " and you will continue deservedly to earn the esteem and admiration of the play-going public . And now for the performance of this work . It has been liberally and efficiently staged . The

costumes are quaint , but , in an historical point of view , strictly correct . We would draw attention to the first scene , the tulip garden , which is a charming picture . The last scene of the piece is a gorgeous display , yet the colours and hues are so harmoniously combined that there is nothing to offend its artistic beauty . We now speak of the interpreters of the author ' s ideas , who have generally done him full justice . Foremost , we must speak

of our especial favourite , Miss Winifred Emery . How beautifully she portrays the dawn of the simple , modest love of the young Dutch maiden ; lhe love : tene between her lover and herself is a delicious idyll . What havoc she makes wilh her lovely eyes , which she knows how artistically to use , in a pure , legitimate way ; the varied emotions which are depicted in

her intelligent face are natural , and , in our judgment , not exaggerated Then how clever is Mr . Cyril Maude in the part of the learned , yet simple , Doctor , so devoted to his beloved tulips , so unobservant , at first , of the maiden ' s artless love ; we never saw Mr . Cyril Maude and his artistic wife act better together , so completely playing into each other ' s hands . Then the calm , princely dignity of William of Orange is given , to the life , by Mr .

Art And The Drama.

Fredk . Harrison ; its impressiveness enhances the interest of the denouement . The characters of Boxtel and the jailor , Gr ) phus , are carefully and intelligently carried out by Messrs . Sydney Valentine and Mark Kinghorne , but we would suggest that the latter rather " o ' ersteps the modesty of nature , " and ' twould be better were it toned down and made less repulsive . We

can hardly reconcile the fact of so villainous and hateful a father having such a sweet , innocent , delightful daughter , it seems to us too strong a contrast . Let it be quite understood we do not blame Mr . Kinghorne , we only think that in his earnestness he has unconsciously exceeded the limits of propriety . We heartily commend the play to all intelligent lovers of the drama . .

CORONET THEATRE , NOTTING HILL , W . Until within about a year ago the residents of Notting-hill and its extended neighbourhood were in great lack of dramatic entertainment , and their knowledge of what was passing in the theatrical world was limited to an occasional visit to a West-end house , occasional , from the distance , and

from the difficulty and trouble attending their return home at a late hour of the night . Now , " nous avons change tout cela , " there has sprung up , comparatively lately , a pretty little theatre , entitled " The Coronet . " In an architectural point of view it is quite an ornament to Hi gh-street , Notting Hill . It is built upon graceful , yet plain lines , and from its corner situation it holds a commanding . position . Within , there is ample

accommodation for all—chaste , simple beauty is everywhere prevalent in its' decorations—a good stage with all modern improvements—there is an electric installation throughout . In one little matter , however , the proprietors are not up to date—there should be no fees for programmes , or charge of wrappers ; this rule is rigidly enforced at Her Majesty ' s , Haymarket , Savoy , and other theatres we could name—it is the one note of discord

in the harmonious arrangements . We visited the Coronet last week , and saw Miss Louie Freear in " Good for Nothing " and " Boy Bob ; " she admirably sustained the principal roles in these pieces . She is a quaint but clever actress ; she made her mark some time ago in "The Gay Parisienne , " singing an amusing song in which occurs " Sarah Jane ' s Top Note , " quite a catch phrase . Space is so limited that we cannot

speak of those artistes who assisted in the pieces we have named ; suffice it to say they were good all round . At the Coronet each piece has a run only of a week , and there is a constant succession of tour companies most creditably and efficiently reproducing the pieces in vogue at the present time at the London theatres . The Notting Hill people have thus a fresh novelty every week . We believe the undertaking pays well ; we heartily wish it a full tide of success .

Annual Festival Of The Kirby Lodge Of Instruction, No. 263.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE KIRBY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 263 .

This most interesting Masonic function was held on Tuesday evenirin- , the 14 th instant , at the Midland Grand Hotel , where the lodge holds its regular meetings . The attendance was a very large one , there being nearly 200 brethren present . The Preceptor , Bro . George Rankin , acted as VV . M ., and the Five Sections of the Second Lecture were worked bv Bros . Arthur SIPP Mari-in

Kennaby , Harvey Lohr , W . H . Oldham , and T . A . Hurley . The work was beautifully rendered , being marked by great point and finish as well as accuracy . The PRESIDENT for the evening , Bro . Sir Forrest Fulton , L . L . B ., Q . C , Deputy Grand Registrar , proposed a vote of thanks to the workers , and Bro . CHARLES E . KBYSER , P . G . D ., seconded the vote . Both speakers very warmly eulogised the work .

The PRECEPTOR , in acknowledging the vote , said that all the workers were young Masons , and that one of them was initiated only a few months ago . At the dinner which followed the working Bro . Sir Forrest Fulton , L . L . B . Q . C . presided , and he was suonorted bv Bros . Charlps K Ka *^ ' o ' nW

„ Percival A . Nairne , P . G . D . ; Matthew Clark , P . G . D . ; Thomas Ralline P . A . G . D . C , Prov . G . Sec . Essex ; R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br . ; Henry Sadler , G . Tyler- R . Newton Crane , P . M . ; Col . James L . Taylor P . M . ! Henry Pritchard , P . Prov . G . Treas . Middx ; Charles Lewis , P . Prov ! J . G . D * . Essex ; and many others .

Bro . Col . J AMES L . TAVLOR gave the toast of " The Grand Officers , " and spoke of the esteem in which they were held . He congratulated Kirby Lod'c in having so many Grand Officers present . " Bro . PERCEVAL A . NAIRNE , P . G . D ., in responding saM that the days were past when men who knew nothing cf Masonic working were given Grand Office and he praised the good work that was being done by lodges of instruction in spreading a knowledge of the ritual .

Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , P . G . Std . Br ., also responded in a very humorous speech . He had presided at the first two festivals , and had continued to tike a very close interest in the welfare of the lodge . Bro . R . NEWTON CRANE proposed the toast of " The President , " and spoke of the ereat interest Sir Forrest Fulton took in thp tfirhu I / . 1 ..

Bro . Sir FORREST FULTON , in reply , said that it gave him the greatest pleasure to have been asked to preside . He . was initiated in the British Lodge in 1874 , but the duties of his profession prevented him from taking up the work of Masonry for some years . When , however , he was made Junior Warden in the Pegasus Lodge he began seriously to consider how to get the work ready and Bro . Baker , Secretary ot the Kirby Lode-e . and this vear W . xr « c ¦¦ aY 2 „„ .. „

Lodge , suggested the Kirby Lodge of Instruction as the proper place to get the necessary practice . He accordingly joined the Kirby Lodge , and though he could not claim to know all the ritual Bro . Crane had given him credit for yet with the kind assistance of Bro . Charles Lewis , who was then Preceptor , he certainly did make some progress in Freemasonry . He thanked the brethren for the honour they had done him in so kindly receiving the toast of his health

The toast of "The Kirby Lodge of Inntruction" was then given bv Bro Sir FORREST FULTON . He said that the President had usually to rely upon the Secretary ' s coaching in getting up his facts for such a toast as this , but he could speak from personal knowledge of the accuracy and strictness of the wjrking at the weekly meetings of the lodge , and also of the courtesy and patience shown by the Preceptor in leading forward the diffident and the backward brethren He strongly recommended any visitors present . to become joining members of the lodge . He coupled with this toast the name of the Preceptor , Bro Georea Rankin . ' " Bro . RANKIN said that the kind words of the President and the cordial acceptance of the toast by the brethren would be interpreted as a mark of their