... THE DUTCH PLAYERS About three years and a half have elapsed sinc a ensation ariingfrot plitcalexpetations that were doomed to dis- appointment, was caused in the gay capital by the produc- bion at the Frsnais of L'Amei Fritz, a new three-act comedy by MNll. Erckmann-Chatrian, the famous novelists, who have ever been the most determined opponents of that spirit of militarism in France to ...

... IT is not a pleasant task to criticise the inferior work of a man who has once given promise of good things; but truth compels us to state that Songs of the Spring-tide, by Algernon Charles Swin- brnme (Chatto and Windus}, is very bad indeed. Apart from the unintelligibility, whlich is quite a new feature in the author's verse, the sense of melody seems to be failing him. The volume is ...

... The sYietcensf1 Cent-e, -pope -with an article on England and Russia in Asia, from the pen of Professor A. Vambery, who blandly ocalla himself & foreign Jingo. If his observation elsewhere has not served him better than it has in England, there is not much reason for attaching weight to his opinions. Here lhe assorts that the politicians of the ?? party publicly de- clare in Parliament that ...

... C CLIPPINGS, -FRO-M THE WEEKLY JQRALS.. PICKINGS FROM PUNCH. LABOUB AND ItST.-Ex-Head Gardener (retired from business): Well, William, yer don't seem to be makin' much progress-do yer 1-New Head Gardener: Why, no, Benjamin; you left the place in such a precious mess I 1 THE TWO GARDENERS. Ben (aside). Pheugh I Ain't he a pegging away (puff/ puff!) Now I call this pertikler good fun. ...

... MR. RISELEY'S MNEFIT CONCERT. A t o - 7 ) -AA A.-t OVA XC- As A I Avi Ab. - Mr. Riseley's benefit concert last night, at the Colston. hall, drew such an immense audience that it was in itself a public demonstration and deserved tribute paid to the genius of the chef d'orchcsrc by whore enterprise, musiciasly skill, and energy the instrumental concerts given fortnightly in Bristol have been. ...

... -IE--I - - LITERARY AND Ar>T GOSSIP. .5 The Roval (gold) Medil of the Institute of British '3 L- Architects has been awarded to Mr. J. L. Pearson. mc Mr. Ohurton Collins is, we (A thenarisin) believe, engaged in preparing an edition of Lord Herbert of Cherbury's tra n poems. M-2. Henri Cohen, compnoser and theorist, author of rec 0 treatises on harmony and fugus, has lately (lied at Bry- th( a ...

... &IS. (FROM OURi OWN OO1BRESPON DENTS.) ABERDEEN. ?? Cutecrs is thle only place of amusement opets lire this week, and is doing good business. Thle chief item of thce programme is the production of the fairy spectacle Cinderella, whnich is %wonderfully performed by a host of little children, headed by young members of the Cooke Brothers' fam ilies. The properties no~d dresses are of a unique ...

... TORKSHIRE GALA. AND FLOWER I SHOW.I - - . - This gala and flower show opened yesterday, anJ is to be continued over to-day and to-morrow. The site is the usual one in Bootham, and the pftronuage includes that of the Prince of Wales end ?? Lord Mayor of York. Nearly £700 is giveu in floral prizes, and this amoutit is doubled in the furnishing of amusement and convenience. Th:o entrios of plauts ...

... THE HEREFORD AGRIOULTURAL SHOW. Whether the ?? ecilibitions of this society will prove as financiilly siucesisful as the shows which were foruerly fixed to take piece annually in Hereford Isperihaps doubtful. Certailels- tihe attendmeon at the opening of this year's show at Hay hardly Came 1p to tile carpectations of the wal wishers of the society. As far as the situatioln of the shlow ground ...

... One of tho most important Birmingham industries will be admirably represented at the International lfxlhibition which opens at Mlelbourne in October next, by tho stand of goods whichl hes been prepared by Messrs. J. Cartland anti Son, brassfounders, of (Constitution lBll. Tue stand is four-sided, and occupies a space laft. by lft., and it is 12ft. I high, It is divided into eighteen spanes, ...

... MESSRS. ASH DOWN AND PARRY.---Two patheticand sentimental ballads for the drawing-room are A Life s Regret, written and composed by Herman Merivale and Miss Bliss Wainwright, the compass from F first space to the octave above; and Oh ! Lay Me down to Rest, Mother ! the somewhat morbid words by Augusta Woodley sad the music by J. Pridham.-The admirers of Sidney Smith's florid school will ...

... [ ('he fO ov2iggJ appeared in our Towzi EPIm.oN of Last Wer-c.T At largely increased prices of admission there was a numerous Mad fashionable audience assembled here ?? afternoon to witnessa performance of Shakespeare's charming ?? Ado About Nothing, and of a new and original comedietta entitled Mad, from the p1)0 of Mr E. Rose. In the Shakespearian work the chief interest appeared to be ...