Notes On Literature , Science, Music, Drama , And The Fine Arts.

Mr . Bobertson's new play of " Shadow Tree Shaft" has been produced with great success at the Princess's Theatre . It was intended that his sister , Miss Madge Bobertson , should have made her first regular appearance iu London as the heroine , but circumstances prevented her from doing so . Mr . Buskin has retired from the candidature for

the Professorshi p of Poetry at Oxford , vacant by the resignation of Mr . Matthew Arnold . Illhealth is assigned as the reason for this step . There are now three candidates in the field—Sir Francis Doyle , Mr . Kynastou , and Mr . Tyrwhitt . The Saturday Review complains that the country

is asked to pay to Baron Marochetti for the casting of the Trafalgar Square lions about twice as much as Sir E . Landseer receives for eio-ht years' labour m designing and modelling them . The baron asks not less than £ 11 , 000 for the casting , although our best English firm offered to do it for £ 6 , 000 .

Besides , the casting is very badly done . The "British Pharmacopoeia" for 1 S 67—the new and revised edition of which , pursuant to Act of Parliament , is to be henceforth the official and universal test-book for physicians and dispensers throughout the kingdom—is now issued in proof

to all "the members of the General Medical Council . The "Pharmacopoeia"hitherto in use in England , Scotland , and Ireland will be superseded by it . One of the most popular actresses at the Vienna Theatre has retired from the stage on the occasion of her approaching marriage with a Prince of

Thurn and Taxis , one of whose brothers is married to a sister of the Empress of Austria . Another brother , who was adjutant to the King of Bavaria , eloped the other day with a celebrated actress from Munich , and married her in Switzerand .

Here is a fine prize for some historian of the twentieth century . A . Russian general of artillery has just died after having deposited in the Bank of St . Petersburg a sum of £ 8 , 000 , to remain at interest until the year 1925 , the anniversary of the death of the Emperor Alexander I ., and then to be given to the author of the best history of that Soverei gn . The sum will then amount to £ 384 , 000 .

Mr . Morrell has stated in Congress that it is a very modtrate estimate that 75 , 000 persons will leave the United States and cross the Atlantic this summer to visit the Paris Exhibition . He calculates that the expenditure will not average less than 1500 dollars eachor a total of

^ , , 112 , 500 , 000 , which in currency would bo over 150 , 000 , 000 dollars , and paid in specie it would swallow up the entire production of all the United States' gold and silver mines of the year . He quotes the popular jokof pretended cable

e a despatch , announcing that the Emperor of the P reiicn has set apart four acres as a graveyard tor American visitors who may not survive .

Notes On Literature , Science, Music, Drama , And The Fine Arts.

The designs for the new courts of law in Lincoln ' s Inn-fields , London , are now being exhibited . The designs , with one exception , viz ., Mr . Garlings ' , but who also sends iu an alternative Gothic design , are all of a Gothic character , and the the proposed buildings will cover seven

acres of ground . The commissioners had calculated on £ 750 , 000 as the probable cost of the building . The architects go far beyond this sum . Mr . Deane calculates the cost at £ 1 , 074 , 278 ; Mr . Garbing , £ 1 , 090 , 061 ; Mr . Abraham , £ 1 , 234 , 266 ; Mr . Lockwood £ l 235383 ; Mr . Barry , £ l 237571 ;

,, , , , Mr . Scott , £ 1 , 253 , 026 ; Mr . Street , £ 1 , 314 , 360 ; Mr . Brandon , £ 1 , 414 , 913 ; Mr . "Waterhouse , £ 1 , 119 , 842 ; Mr . Burges , £ 1 , 584 , 589 ; Mr . Seddon , £ 2 , 046 , 644 .

Poetry.

Poetry .

No . class of men more justly appreciate and devotedly admire the real virtues of woman than Preeand Accepted Masons . Putting this and that together , wo presume to place in the Masonic columns the following poems which we clip from an exchangenot that it , is peculiarly Masonic , in its character—but because it is good—and breathes that spirit which , being developed into sturdy life practice , will benefit man by benefiting the governors of man : —

BE A WOMAN . Oft I've heard a gentle mother , As the twilight hours began , Pleading with a son on duty , Urging him to be a man . But unto her blue-eyed daughter , Though with love ' s words quite as ready , Points she out the other duty' Strive , my dear , to be a lady . "

\ 1 hat s a lady ? Is it something Made of hoops , and silks , and airs , Used to decorate the parlor , Like the fancy rings and chairs ? Is it one that wastes on novels Every feeling that is human ? If 'tis this to he a lady , 'Tis not this to be a woman .

Mother , then , unto your daughter Speak of something higher far , Than to be mere fashions's lady" Woman" is the brightest star . If ye , in your strong affection , Urge your sou to be a true man , Urge your daughter no less strongly To arise and be a woman .

Ye ? , a woman— -brightest model Of that high and perfect beauty , Where tho mind , and soul , and body , Blend to work out life ' s great duty . Be a woman—naught is higher On the gilded list of fame ; On the catalogue of virtue There ' s no brighter , holier name .

Be a woman—on to duty , liaise the world from all that's low , Place high in the social heaven Virtue ' s fair and radiant bow ! Lend thy influence to each effort That shall raise our nature human ; Bo not fashion ' s gilded lady , Be a brave , whole-souled , true woman .