Obituary.

on the business at the Blue Posts , and long be regarded as entitled to the sympathy of many of the hrethren . Bro . Claisen was initiated in the Strong Man Lodge ( No . 53 ) , and subsequently joined the Royal Union ( No . 536 ) , where he was S . D . He was also a Royal-Arch Companion , having been exalted in the St . James ' s Union Chapter ( No . 211 ) , on the night of its opening ; he was also A . S . in 536 Chapter . Bro . Claisen was a

distinguished member of the St . George ' s Rifle Corps , and the Hon . Colonel Lindsay has since stated that lie would have turned out that corps if he had known of it early enough , to attend the funeral . Bro . Ckisen , though of an impulsive nature , ivas one of the most single-hearted men . His disposition Avas gay , but he felt strongly , and acted warmly , whenever his brother Masons were concerned . He was one who could but be ill spared on many

accounts , and those brethren who have lost such a friend cannot easily replace him , but Avill often think of him who ivas cut oft " , prematurely , iu his thirty-eighth year , Avith deep sympathy , fraternal love , and respect , and may they all breathe , with one accord , the beautiful hope of his creed , , 'Requiescat in pace . "

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

It is now generally believed among musical people that , after all , her Majesty ' s Theatre will not be opened this season . The Athenceum asks : AVhat has befallen the Bach Society ? There was some far-away rumour of Bach's Christmas Oratorio being given , Avhich has vanished into thin air . Its members , if any there be , should bestir themselves , or they must submit to the reputation of professed admiration , not borne out by sincre

effort . We put this question in echo of inquiries periodically made as . often as new seasons begin . Mr . Mapleson announces a concert for the ISth , in aid of the Hartley fund . Among the artists who will appear are Madlle . Tietjens and Signor Giuglini . The lady has , with a true woman ' s and artist ' s heart , expressed her willingness to sing " again and again " for the same excellent object . An amateur performance is also to be given shortly , in relief of the afflicted people , the

music to be conducted by the Hon . Seymour Egerton . How many times , says the Illustrated News , have Ave laughed even to the aching of our sides , at the merriment of " Mr Love , the Polyphonist , " the inimitable ventriloquist , who could fry eggs and bacon to the life behind the scene , and make the black boy draw a cork in a cellar ten feet beloAV the level of the stage , and all without moving a facial muscle ? It pains us to hear that the old friend of our schoolboy days is sick , ancl

wellnigh paralysed , and poor . Kind-hearted Mr . Greenwood , of Sadler ' s AA ells , is organising a benefit for him . An active committee has been formed , and due notice will be given of the benefit coming off in our dramatic column . Let ns support the poor old Polyphonist , for it is good in middle age to remember the " love of our youth . " In addition to Verdi's " La Forza del Destino , " Gounod ' s new opera " La Reine de Saba" has , we understand , also been

purchased by Cramer , Beale , and Wood . Gounod ' s reputation as a dramatic composer is noiv in the ascendant at Paris , and great expectations await the first performance of " La Reine de Saba , " which will be produced at the Grand Opera during the present month . The Carnival season is proceeding gaily in the Eternal City . The Roman palaces are thrown open by their princely owners to the privileged classes , foreign and iudigeneous ; and theatres of

all grades , from the Apollo to the Piazza Navona , are crowded hy their respective habitues . British and American visitors are flocking to each other's dinner parties , tea fights , or state b alls , much as if they were at home .

Lady Augusta Gordon , of Hallyburton House , Cassar Angus , N . B ., describes the Wheeler and AVilson Lock Stitch Sewing Machine , as " answering every purpose ; " and her judgment is supported by hundreds of ladies among the nobility ancl gentry who have purchased and are constantly using that beautiful and simple invention ; ancl those who have not yet availed themselves ofthe opportunity afforded them at the elegant show rooms at

139 , Regent-street , of inspecting the machine , Avill do well to spend an hour in so doing at their earliest convenience , and no doubt they will he as delighted as Ave have heen when on a similar visit .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA . Mr . Benedict's new opera , entitled " Lily of Killarney , " wue produced at the Royal English Opera last evening . AA e need scarcely inform our readers that " The Lily of Killarney , " with Mr . John Oxenford's . ' poetry and Mr . Boucicault's prose , is nothing more than the famous " Colleen Bawn " made into an opera . It is , therefore , unnecessary to describe the plot . Mr . Benedict has chosen wisely ; andto prove that he has been

, most fortunate in his librettists , Ave need only refer to the Avellknown names of those two distinguished Avriters . As an operatic composer Mr . Benedict has long heen highly esteemed iu this country . Many years ago his " Gipsy ' s AVarning , " " Brides of Venice , " and " Crusaders" ( produced at Drury-Lane Theatre ) permanently establised his reputation as a ivriter for the stage ; and although he'has not appeared iu that capacity

before the British public for some time , the unquestionable superiorly of " The Lily of Killarney " over his earlier operatic works sufficiently proves how assiduously he has continued to cultivate a branch of his art for Avhich nature seems to have peculiarly qualified him . As specimens of undeniable musicianship Ave may cite the earnest and spirited overture , the solid brilliancy of instrumentation and symmetrical form of which Avould render less attractive ideas acceptable ; the introduction ,

consisting of choruses and solos , and terminating with a real inspiration ; the chorus , " A race now by moonlight , " Avhich is full of graphic fancy ; the quartett , " Ah ! never ^ was seen such a beautiful star ; " the AA'hole of the finale to the first act , the chorus "Tally-ho ; " the entire finale to the second act , in which all the horrors of the " water-scene " are most poetically illustrated ; the exquisitely voiced trio " Blessings on that reverend head ; " and the grand chorus , "The wedding-day has come at last . " AVhilst as solos of most striking merit we may instance

the songs , '• A bachelors life , "The moon has raised the lamp above" ( sang also as a duet ) , " It is a charming girl I love , " the scena for . Danny Mann , including the romance " The Colleen Bawn , " the ballads " I ' m alone " aud " Eily , mavourneen , " each a gem in its way , and tbe " Lullaby , " one of the most charming things in the opera . The character of Danny Mann , is the weakest in the " Lily of Killarney , " hut , Mr . Benedict has assigned to him some of the finest music in the opera . Mr .

Santly ( who has much improved in his acting of late ) did great justice to this unquestionably ungrateful part , and sang the music ( some of which serves to display his extraordinary high notes to great advantage ) most admirably throughout . Miss Louisa Pyne , ivas the representative of Eily O'Connor ; and Avhether as singer or actress she added on this occasion very materially to her ivell-eai-ned fame . Mr . Harrison's Myles may

be ranked with his best achievements upon the lyric stage ; and he accomplished with perfect success what neither he , ' nor probably any other tenor , ever " attempted " before—namely , a flight across an immeuse stage , clinging to a rope , no end of feet from the ground , and a " header" from a perilous heightfar exceeding that attempted by his predecessor in the part of Myles at the comparatively small Adelphi Theatre . Mr . Henry

Haigh sang the Avhole of the music alloted to him as Hardress very sweetly , and acted throughout much better than usual . Miss M'Lean made a successful reappearance ( after a long absence ) as Anne Chute ; while the characters of Miss Cregan , Corrigan , and Father Tom were respectively ivcll supported by-Miss Susan Pyne , Mr . Dussek , and Mr Patey . Mr . Benedict was called for at the termination of each act , and at the final fall of the curtain the principal performers were similarly complimented , as was also illr . Alfred Mellon , who Avell deserved the honour for the masterly skill which hejhad exhibited throughout the evening at the head of his incomparable band .

CRYSTAL PALACE . The great transept was converted on Saturday last into an opera house . The stage on which M . Blondin has been wont to exhibit his monkey feats was occupied by the companj- —Mdlle . Jenny Baur , Herr Reichardt , Miss Emma Heywood , and Her Formes—at present devoted to the pevfromance of Mr . HoAvard Glover ' s lively operetta , " Once Too Often - " The music and the story are alike Avell adapted to a sort of holiday entertainment .

The laches are maids of honour in the court of the Queen of France—the gentlemen , a French cavalry officer and a German baron . Blanche de Mery is in danger of being entrapped hy Count Marcillac into a mock marriage ; his friend , Baron Pom-