Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Public Amusements.
old man Mr . Oidaere , in whose person Mr . Barrett is always astonished , are types of humanity that are seldom seen off the stage , but on the stage rarely fail to be amusing . The prizefighter , acted by Mr . Addison , would have been better if he had heen less pedantic in bis slang , and less ignorant of social usages . The greater part of the action takes place in the receptionroom of Mordaunt-hall , a fine old English interior , with a broad staircase in the background , and real chandeliers , which may rank among the masterpieces of Mr . T . Grieve .
SURREY THEATRE . Mr . Shepherd has taken to himself a new ally in the person of Mr . James Anderson , and under this auspicious conjunction the Surrey Theatre has reopened for the regular season . Undismayed by . the failure of similar attempts , Mr . Anderson has drawn on Scottish history for the subject of a new spectacular drama ; and following closely Miss Porter's once popular
romance , has thrown into five acts the tragic story of Sir Walter AA allace . The first act is laid in and about Stirling . AVe learn from it that Monteith and other nobles sire jealous of the power and popularity of AA allace—that Monteith's jealousy is intensified by the discovery that the hero has secretly wedded Helen Marr , " the Maid of Ellerslie" —but that Douglas , who has better claims to her , is magnanimous enough to renounce them
all in his devotion to Scotland and the great chieftain . In the second act tho battle of Falkirk is fought—and lost through the treachery of the false lords . In the third and fourth acts , AVallace is seen in his retreat among the mountains , attended but by Douglas and a faithful henchman , who together overpower a detachment from the Southrons' army—but are unable to protect the hero from betrayal by Monteith ; who , however ,
is slain by AA allace , with the approving connivance of his English captors . The fifth act is one of protracted agony—though it is divided only by two scenes—one , a dungeon in the Tower of London , and the other the scaffold on Tower-hill . For both
Douglas and Helen are made to attend the execution of the patriot , and the pangs of separation are prolonged by tbe offer of pardon on conditions which AVallace cannot accept . The axe , the lady , and the curtain fall together . This very tragic story affords to Mr . James Anderson an opportunity of much effective acting . To a voice and figure exactly adapted to the part of a rude mountain chieftain , he unites a well-known power of expressing both passion ancl
repose . As in Ingomar , he makes the semi-barbarous hero a type of natural nobility—of native refinement and tenderness , as well as of prodigious courage and calm endurance . In Miss Georgiana Pauncefort we have a Helen who seldom fails in dignity and grace—never in devotion to her country and her husband . Mr . Charles Vincent had , in Monteith , a part so detestable to a Surrey audience that the merit of his fidelity to the
hateful original is probably overlooked . But Mr . James Fernandez , as the noble-minded Douglas , is a greater favourite than ever—and , with Sir . Anderson and Miss Pauncefort , received repeated recalls . Notwithstanding the unrelieved gloom of its simple story , and the extravagance of its diction , the piece is exceedingly well received by crowded houses . To this result , however , the scene-painters and stage manager must be held to have largely contributed . As a spectacle the piece is highly meritorious , but as an acting drama it needs to becurtailed and lightened .
The Week.
THE WEEK .
THE COURT . —Her Majesty , accompanied by the Princes Alfred , Arthur , and Leopold , and the Princesses Helena , Louisa , and Beatrice , have proceeded to Balmoral , where they are now residing . The Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse ( Princess Alice ) , with their infant daughter , the Princess of Hessehave arrived from Darmstadt and proceeded to join her
, Majesty . The Prince and Princess of AVales , who are still in Scotland , will also join her Majesty at Balmoral . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The Archbishop of Canterbury has addressed a letter to the clergy of his diocese requesting them to set apart an early day for a harvest thanksgiving . He
recommends them to have an offertory , and to devote the proceeds as a thank-offering to the Church Building Society . The Duke of Newcastle has made an earnest appeal in behalf of the volunteer movement . In the course of a speech at tlie volunteer encampment , near AVorksop , he urged that there was the same necessity for the existence of the force now as five years ago . It would be a national misfortune if so important a
means of defence became impaired ; and , while he implored the volunteers not to yield to " feelings of dissatisfaction or discomfort , " and lay aside the rifle , he reminded those who had not , from various causes , enrolled themselves as members of the force , that they might afford valuable assistance by money contributions at a time when uniforms have to be replaced , and .
" renovation of various kinds" has become necessary . Mr . Henley was among the speakers at the Thame Agricultural Society's dinner . The right lion , gentleman congratulated his friends upon the " happy condition" of the country—peace at home , with an abundant harvest . Lancashire , it is true , is suffering , hut when the cotton famine first began it was , he .
said , generally apprehended that it would produce " ten times as much distress and misery as it has done . " He rejoiced at the efforts which had been made to relieve the unemployed operatives , but , he remarked , " it must be to every ono a matter of great congratulation to find that the cotton interest is not so . entirely England as we were at one time taught to believe it
was . " Referring to the subject of agricultural statistics , hedefended the farmers from the charge of opposing the collection of such information . They would willingly tell the country how much wheat had been grown in a year , but the cost of collecting the figures must be thrown , not on the counties , but on the nation . Earl Russell has replied to the memorial of the Union and Emancipation Society of Manchester in
reference to the Mersey steam-rams . His lordship says that the question of building and fitting out vessels of war for the socalled Confederate States has long occupied the attention of the Government , and would continue to receive their anxious consideration . The Emancipation Society has written a letter to Lord Russell , in which , while they thank him for the steps he
has taken in reference to the vessels on the Mersey , they beg him not to lose sight of what is being clone on the Clyde . A subject of very grave importance was considered by the Lancashire Central Relief Committee , at their weekly meeting-Mr . Hutchinson , of Blackbui-n , brought forward a motion in favour of allowing local relief committees to undertake contracts
under the Public AA orks Acts , with the view of affording employment to able-bodied operatives during the coming winter . The main objects of this proposal were , to create a preferential class of labourers—to ensure that " the married men . with large families should have the preference until all could be employed " —and to establish " a proper test of eligibility for the relief to
be afforded . " Mr . Farnall and other members of the Committee strongly opposed the scheme , and Lord Derby read a . minute from Sir J . ICay-Shuttleworth , in which the question at . issue is closely argued . Sir James opposes the plan suggested by Mr . Hutchinson on various grounds , but mainly because it " involves a very grave departure from the true principles of
relief administration . " The result of the discussion was that Mr . Hutchinson ' s resolution was negatived , and Sir J . Kay-Slinttleworth ' s minute adopted as an amendment . AVith regard to the amount of indigence in the cotton districts , Mr . Farnall stated that , while at this time last year the number relieved by the guardians was increasing at the rate of 5 , 000 per week , it was now undergoing a weekly decrease of about 1500 . The Channel fleet has arrived in the Mersey . One of the officers of the flagship—Lieutenant Gardiner—has met with a fearful
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Public Amusements.
old man Mr . Oidaere , in whose person Mr . Barrett is always astonished , are types of humanity that are seldom seen off the stage , but on the stage rarely fail to be amusing . The prizefighter , acted by Mr . Addison , would have been better if he had heen less pedantic in bis slang , and less ignorant of social usages . The greater part of the action takes place in the receptionroom of Mordaunt-hall , a fine old English interior , with a broad staircase in the background , and real chandeliers , which may rank among the masterpieces of Mr . T . Grieve .
SURREY THEATRE . Mr . Shepherd has taken to himself a new ally in the person of Mr . James Anderson , and under this auspicious conjunction the Surrey Theatre has reopened for the regular season . Undismayed by . the failure of similar attempts , Mr . Anderson has drawn on Scottish history for the subject of a new spectacular drama ; and following closely Miss Porter's once popular
romance , has thrown into five acts the tragic story of Sir Walter AA allace . The first act is laid in and about Stirling . AVe learn from it that Monteith and other nobles sire jealous of the power and popularity of AA allace—that Monteith's jealousy is intensified by the discovery that the hero has secretly wedded Helen Marr , " the Maid of Ellerslie" —but that Douglas , who has better claims to her , is magnanimous enough to renounce them
all in his devotion to Scotland and the great chieftain . In the second act tho battle of Falkirk is fought—and lost through the treachery of the false lords . In the third and fourth acts , AVallace is seen in his retreat among the mountains , attended but by Douglas and a faithful henchman , who together overpower a detachment from the Southrons' army—but are unable to protect the hero from betrayal by Monteith ; who , however ,
is slain by AA allace , with the approving connivance of his English captors . The fifth act is one of protracted agony—though it is divided only by two scenes—one , a dungeon in the Tower of London , and the other the scaffold on Tower-hill . For both
Douglas and Helen are made to attend the execution of the patriot , and the pangs of separation are prolonged by tbe offer of pardon on conditions which AVallace cannot accept . The axe , the lady , and the curtain fall together . This very tragic story affords to Mr . James Anderson an opportunity of much effective acting . To a voice and figure exactly adapted to the part of a rude mountain chieftain , he unites a well-known power of expressing both passion ancl
repose . As in Ingomar , he makes the semi-barbarous hero a type of natural nobility—of native refinement and tenderness , as well as of prodigious courage and calm endurance . In Miss Georgiana Pauncefort we have a Helen who seldom fails in dignity and grace—never in devotion to her country and her husband . Mr . Charles Vincent had , in Monteith , a part so detestable to a Surrey audience that the merit of his fidelity to the
hateful original is probably overlooked . But Mr . James Fernandez , as the noble-minded Douglas , is a greater favourite than ever—and , with Sir . Anderson and Miss Pauncefort , received repeated recalls . Notwithstanding the unrelieved gloom of its simple story , and the extravagance of its diction , the piece is exceedingly well received by crowded houses . To this result , however , the scene-painters and stage manager must be held to have largely contributed . As a spectacle the piece is highly meritorious , but as an acting drama it needs to becurtailed and lightened .
The Week.
THE WEEK .
THE COURT . —Her Majesty , accompanied by the Princes Alfred , Arthur , and Leopold , and the Princesses Helena , Louisa , and Beatrice , have proceeded to Balmoral , where they are now residing . The Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse ( Princess Alice ) , with their infant daughter , the Princess of Hessehave arrived from Darmstadt and proceeded to join her
, Majesty . The Prince and Princess of AVales , who are still in Scotland , will also join her Majesty at Balmoral . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The Archbishop of Canterbury has addressed a letter to the clergy of his diocese requesting them to set apart an early day for a harvest thanksgiving . He
recommends them to have an offertory , and to devote the proceeds as a thank-offering to the Church Building Society . The Duke of Newcastle has made an earnest appeal in behalf of the volunteer movement . In the course of a speech at tlie volunteer encampment , near AVorksop , he urged that there was the same necessity for the existence of the force now as five years ago . It would be a national misfortune if so important a
means of defence became impaired ; and , while he implored the volunteers not to yield to " feelings of dissatisfaction or discomfort , " and lay aside the rifle , he reminded those who had not , from various causes , enrolled themselves as members of the force , that they might afford valuable assistance by money contributions at a time when uniforms have to be replaced , and .
" renovation of various kinds" has become necessary . Mr . Henley was among the speakers at the Thame Agricultural Society's dinner . The right lion , gentleman congratulated his friends upon the " happy condition" of the country—peace at home , with an abundant harvest . Lancashire , it is true , is suffering , hut when the cotton famine first began it was , he .
said , generally apprehended that it would produce " ten times as much distress and misery as it has done . " He rejoiced at the efforts which had been made to relieve the unemployed operatives , but , he remarked , " it must be to every ono a matter of great congratulation to find that the cotton interest is not so . entirely England as we were at one time taught to believe it
was . " Referring to the subject of agricultural statistics , hedefended the farmers from the charge of opposing the collection of such information . They would willingly tell the country how much wheat had been grown in a year , but the cost of collecting the figures must be thrown , not on the counties , but on the nation . Earl Russell has replied to the memorial of the Union and Emancipation Society of Manchester in
reference to the Mersey steam-rams . His lordship says that the question of building and fitting out vessels of war for the socalled Confederate States has long occupied the attention of the Government , and would continue to receive their anxious consideration . The Emancipation Society has written a letter to Lord Russell , in which , while they thank him for the steps he
has taken in reference to the vessels on the Mersey , they beg him not to lose sight of what is being clone on the Clyde . A subject of very grave importance was considered by the Lancashire Central Relief Committee , at their weekly meeting-Mr . Hutchinson , of Blackbui-n , brought forward a motion in favour of allowing local relief committees to undertake contracts
under the Public AA orks Acts , with the view of affording employment to able-bodied operatives during the coming winter . The main objects of this proposal were , to create a preferential class of labourers—to ensure that " the married men . with large families should have the preference until all could be employed " —and to establish " a proper test of eligibility for the relief to
be afforded . " Mr . Farnall and other members of the Committee strongly opposed the scheme , and Lord Derby read a . minute from Sir J . ICay-Shuttleworth , in which the question at . issue is closely argued . Sir James opposes the plan suggested by Mr . Hutchinson on various grounds , but mainly because it " involves a very grave departure from the true principles of
relief administration . " The result of the discussion was that Mr . Hutchinson ' s resolution was negatived , and Sir J . Kay-Slinttleworth ' s minute adopted as an amendment . AVith regard to the amount of indigence in the cotton districts , Mr . Farnall stated that , while at this time last year the number relieved by the guardians was increasing at the rate of 5 , 000 per week , it was now undergoing a weekly decrease of about 1500 . The Channel fleet has arrived in the Mersey . One of the officers of the flagship—Lieutenant Gardiner—has met with a fearful