... Mother Caren's Chicken Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle. By G. Manville Fenn. Illustrated. London Blackie and Sons, Old Bailey. Mr. Fenn relates the adventures of young Mark Strong, who wanted to go to sea, and went ill a ship which his father com mnnded. Mark had a stout friend in the sturdy sailor, Billy Widgeon, and he was accompanied in his adventures by his good dog, Bruff, who gives an ...

... In the Land of Mod. By Ada 6. Mauoetts. With Illustrations by F. C'aiTuthers Gould. Griffith, Farran, Okeden, and AVelsh, St. Paul's Churchyard. 1 ins is a pleasant little story by a lady who has read Alice in AVonderland with a good deal of attention, and it is illustrated by an artist who lias diligently studied Mr. Tuuniel's pictures to the best of children's books. Little Myna goes about ...

... Afno 0I'BRA COMIQUE. with tw pEEiiE has returned to the Opera Comique which lino k effective play, As in a Looking Glass, A second i successful summer tour in the provinces. pon Mr pS tIle dl'ama founded by Mr. F. C. Grove thoroufrh'lv ,PS s oovel confirms the impression that it is as immoral in 'Omthy in tone as any piece not definitely almost pvninjf teaching could well be. We pass our time ...

... . THE choral and orchestral concert given last Saturday by students of this great institution, under the immediate patronage of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, and many members of the City Corpo ration, to whom is due the foundation of the Guildhall School of Music, was highly interesting. Evidence was given of the thoroughly sterling quality of the ...

... . The concert given on St. Andrew's Day attracted an immense audience, which was not surprising considering the excellent programme provided by Mr. Ambrose Austin. Liberal applause was bestowed upon Miss Liza Lehmann (who made a distinct success), Mme. l'atey, Messrs. Lloyd aud Sautley, while Mr. AAr alter Clifford was regarded with special favour for his admirable singing of A wee wee German ...

... . Among the Colonels and Cowboys. Narrative of a journey across the Prairie and over the Black Hills of Dakota. By WILLIAM CONN. London: Griffith, Farran, Okeden, and Walsh, St. Paul's Churchyard. 1887. A book in which cowboys are prominent personages comes aonositely at the present time, when Buffalo Bill and his attendants are to the fore, and so many people have either seen the personages ...

... . COVENT GARDEN, THEATRE newly furnished and renovated at great expense, presented a cheerful aspect on Tuesday last, when a large audience assembled to witness the opening per formance of the season. For this occasion Donizetti's master piece, La Favorita, was chosen, and the cast was in almost all respects a strong one. In the character of Fernando a triumphant rentrée was made by Signor ...

... . UNDER the joint management of MM. Carl Rosa and Augustus Harris, Drury Lane Theatre reopened last Saturday, when the English opera season commenced with a performance of Carmen, conducted by Mr. Rosa, who was enthusiastically applauded when he entered the orchestra, and at the close of the opera. The fine quality and numerical strength of the chorus were evidenced in the National Anthem, ...

... . At the third of the Saturday Concert series, given on day last at the Crystal Palace, Sir Arthur Sullivan's dwimn cantata, The Golden Legend, was for the second time pcrfo i here, with Mme. Nordica (Elsie), bliss Hilda Wilson (Urf.'! Mr. Ivor McKay (Prince Henry), Mr. Watkin Mills (Jri1 ..{j nnd Mr. Horscroft (Forester) in tho lending parts. j[r, sang well, and Mme. Nordica lias seldom sung ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. A SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP. WHEN on my re turn from Shoe buryness late last Friday night I found my home coming unlooked for, my rooms in darkness and deso lation, my char woman undiscover able, and the only living thing to wel come me a discon solate Dandy Din mont sent to me that afternoon as a present, and left tethered to the door handle, which, as I subsequently learn ed ...

... . The Cleveland Hounds, as a Trencher-fed, Pack. By A. E. PEASE. With Map, Frontispiece, and Facsimile Engravings. Longmans. 1887. This book is an interesting record oi sport m the tar-iying district of North Yorkshire, and it presents a quaint picture of men and manners there in the primitive fox-hunting days of last century, and also in later times. Hunting of sorts was in vogue in ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. AT CO VENT GARDEN CIRCUS. HI! hi! hi! This way for the riders. The old familiar cry recurred to me as I entered the lobby of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, to sample the entertainment provided for the third season in succession by the Covent Garden Circus Company, Limited. Not that any such undignified method of soliciting patronage as is in vogue at country fairs was ...