High Twelve

HIGH TWELVE

" Cease labour and go to refreshment . "

( Ktmmtgs ^ toaft

." BRANTINGHAME HALL , " AT THE ST . JAMES'S THEATRE Mr . Gilbert ' s new drama was produced on Thursday evening last . In consequence of the plentiful " puff preliminary " which had been bestowed upon this play before its production , speculation ran high with regard to it . and playgoers expected something out of the ordinary category . Indeed , everything seemed in favour of the

new venture , and a new actress , whose theatrical sponsor was no less a personage than Mr . Gilbert himself , was announced to sustain the leading part in the production . Truth to tell , a double disappointment awaited the public , for neither the piece nor the leading actress came up to expectation . Despite certain elements of comedy , about which more will be noted hereafter , the play is dull ; and . despite a tolerably interesting story , there isnot much sympathy with the heroine who debases herself without sufficient motive . Mr . Gilbert ' s own rules laid down for his own observance in the

concoction of comic operas will not do for serious drama : it is all very well for him in these humorous compositions to make his puppets do and say unnatural things : so long as laughs are gained , all that is needed is there ; but the same cannot apply to the means which Mr . Gilbert has employed to get a serious situation and a surprise in a drama at a juncture when it is desired to create an

emotional impression . To destroy the sympathy of an audience with the hero or the heroine is well known to be a fatal act on the part of a dramatist . In the present instance the heroine , Ruth Redmayne , in whose case every spectator takes the most absorbing interest , suddenly , and with insufficient cause , proclaims herself publicly a mistress and not a wife , a forger and a fraud , and not a

loving , generous and devoted woman . In her right senses no woman would thus act . There is one thing a girl would protect through all trials , her honour . That she would sacrifice this to dispel the financial necessities of any man—of one whom she loves even—is more than unlikely ; that she would do so to oblige an old man , who has behaved to her with almost ungentlemanly neglect

of the noble offer of a noble affectionate woman , is ridiculous . Here , then , the discordant note was struck and the play neve .: recovered from it . Now , about the comedy introduced . It may bs bright ; but a gem of very second rate value will shine when contrasted with a heap of colourless stone . Before leaving the literary aspect of Mr . Gilbert ' s play , it may be asked why Ruth i . t

given the Puritan style of diction ' . Surely a girl , the daughter of an ex-convict , who has lived a bush life all her days , would no 3 speak in the almost biblical diction in which all her speeches are cast . On the other hand , the writing , generally , though not in the author ' s best vein , is distinctly good , and , at times , extremely effective . Miss Julia Neilson . the young actress who was cast for the

leading role , has , in her previous work , shown signs of real talent . At present , however , she shows signs of too much tuition . She speaks , she looks , she moves , she attitudinises , one can see , just as she has been told . There is no ars eclair artem here , it is quite the reverse . In her passionate scenes she fails because she cannot—to

use a technical term—let herself go . Her inability to lose herself causes her to fail to enlist the suffrages of her auditors . Thus , some of her biggest efforts were unreal and her best effects were gained in the less important , but certainly not the less moving , scenes . Those which struck me most were the scene with Lord Saxmundham in the second act and with Mabel in the last act . An

actress , and it would not be difficult to name half a dozen in as many seconds , of greater experience and power is required for this character . In saying this I have no wish to detract from the promise displayed by Miss Neilscn ; but she has much yet to learn before she should be intrusted with so arduous a part . Mr . Lewis Waller as Ralph Crampton , the evil genius of the drama , acted admirably : he played

with thorough discretion , and his passion , though subdued , was none the less indicative of strength . Mr . Rutland Barrington as Mr . Thursby contented himself with a small sketch which he rendered with freshness and talent ; certainly the part lacked dignity , but it was humorous , consistent and natural withal . Mr . Nutcombe Gould deserves more than a passing mention for a very clever sketch of

Lord Saxmundham . It was not the actor's fault but rather his misfortune that he was compelled to render the old gentleman in such an unsympathetic mould . He did his best with the materials and he scored well . In distinct contrast was the i Lady Saxmundham of Mrs . Gaston Murray . This was delightfully motherly and sweetly affectionate . Mr . William Herbert was a manly hero : he just

attained the right point of strength without overdoing it ; and in the last act he played a difficult scene with a highly commendable result . Miss Norixrys and Mr . Duncan Fleet played a pair of boy and girl lovers . These two might well have stepped straight out of one of Mr . Pinero ' s comedies . Here we have the greater part of Mr . Gilbert's comedy contribution in B ranting home Jfall . It

is doubtless laughable ; but it is too unreal and too obviously dragged in . Miss Norreys was a sweet little creature as Mabel , and Mr . Fleet was intelligent without being great as Alaric . Mr . Norman Forbes as the Rev . Noel Ross was earnest and good ; but his attitudes were bv no means graceful . Mr . Charles

Dodsworth and Mr . Gilbert Trent , amongst some others intrusted with small parts which were all excellently acted , stood out boldly with two clever character sketches . The piece has been well put on the stage and will draw for a time in all probability ; but Mr . Gilbert has not scored a success , I regret to say . LANCELOT GOBRO .

Our City Article.

Our City Article .

As THE MASONIC STAR is written by Masons for Masons , who are mostly business men having more or less interest in the Stock and Share Markets , wc include in our columns a weekly Money Article , written by one of our Craft actively engaged in the markets . It is written without prejudice , and with a view to give a general idea of what is going on from week to week . As the writer of the

article has some twenty years' experience of the subject , and may fairly say that he knows the ways of doing business , what is what and who is who , he will be pleased to answer any inquiries addressed to the Editor , where advice is asked , upon whatever requires explanation , so that pleasure and profit may be the result . Any letter sent to us , and any reply given , will bo treated ' on the square . "

CAPEL COURT , DECEMBER 5 TH , 18 S 8 . There is now more case in the Money Market , but it is generally felt that this is only temporary , although a renewal of the extreme pressure noticed a few weeks ago is not feared . Business on the Stock Exchange is confined within very narrow limits , the public

holding aloof from entering into fresh transactions at this time of the year , and this quietude may be expected to last for some weeks longer . More activity has been shown in the Mining Market where the mad gamble in South African shares is still continued , but even here , we imagine , there is more pretence than realitv . the dealers

having most of the trade amongst themselves . The greater number of these mines are untried and it is only here and there that there will be found to be anything like a paying property . However , it is only by pushing prices up that buyers can be brought in , so the dealers are no doubt right in making a move .

The prospectus of the New Russian Loan is out somewhat before it was expected , and although everybody is advising others not to subscribe to it , I have very little doubt but that it will be w ell covered . The price of issue is £ 85 8 s . ( id ., which compares not unfavourably with the other four per cent . loan . Looking at the

foreign market there seems to be very little doing just now , and the changes in prices not worth noticing ; and there is room for further depreciation before the end of the month . Paris houses are so largely interested in Panama Canal shares and bonds that the doubtful condition of that scheme is making the leading

financiers there extremely careful as to their commitments in the immediate future , and were it not for this there is no doubt that a better rise in Rio Tinto shares would have been marked . As it is the price is looking up , and will , I think , improve much more before long .

Ihere is one property which I am doubtful about , and that is Mexican Rails . The great increases in traffics which have been so confidently prophesied do not come , and up to this time the total increase for the half-year is only . C ( i , OU 0 gross , while there is the cost of extra repairs to be allowed for , as well as extra haulage

expenses . There is , it is true , an advance in the rate of exchange , but this will only affect the latter part of the period , so that the average will be about the same as last half-year . We may now almost venture to form some calculation as to what the result of the half-year ' s working will be , and although the first preference

stock will not be affected , I do not expect : o see a full dividend on the second preference . American Rails tlo not seem inclined to settle upon their future course . We have a cable from Chicago to the effect that traffic rates are to be advanced on the 17 th inst ., and at the same

time there is a further fall in prices m Aew York , as though either one or the other cable was for the special purpose of bewildering the London market . For a day or two we shall probably have a rising market , to bo followed by greater depression than before , and lower prices .

The apparent immediate future of Grand Irunks is a slight rise , but this will not last for long . English Rails are , after all , the best market for the speculator to deal in , and the last week has seen an appreciable advance in q notations . Last week I called attention to them , anel again I elo so . If

the readers of THE MASONIC STAII will go back to past history , they will see . by referring to Little and Cherry ' s making-tip prices on the London Stock Exchange , that the greatest move of the year in 1887 in Home railways took place between the end of November

anel the middle of December settlements , and , in most cases , the best prices of the year were touched during that period , that is to say , during this current month , and everything , in my opinion , points to a repetition . The one stock 1 would not touch is North British , as the best has already been anticipated . CltAFTSMAN .

ANSWERS .

EXCHANGE . —The Russian 1873 loan was issued at 1 ) 3 . LANGLAATE . —The capital is -650 , 001 > , in shares of Cl each . Formed in 1886 . No . 10 . —Please give the full name of the Bank , so that we may give you a reply .

TERRY'S THEATRE . Sole Lessee , Air . Kdward Terry . THIS EVENING at , 8 . 30 . SWEET LAVEXDElt . Messrs . Edward Terry Alfred Bishop , Brandon Thomas , V . Kerr , 11 . Reeves Smith , S . . Matthews , Prince Miller ; Alcsdames At . A . Victor , C . Addison , Af . Alillett , and LSlnnehe HorlocU .