... STROLLING PLAYERS' CONCEPT The Strolling Players' Amateur Orchestral Society an,,, likely to reach a high position amongst our numerous amatp musical societies. The conductor, Air. Norfolk Alcorn, 1 done wonders for the Strolling Players, mid ha! W(l'tlfj them so hard and well at numerous rehearsals that tliev w! been brought into a condition of thorough discipline aud n the most reverent ...

... . By R. J. CoitNEWALL- JoNES. With Illustrations. Cassell and Co., London, Paris, New York, and Melbourne. 1887. English boys liave an innate love of the sea, and the author of this hook tells them all about it. He describes bow, being some time since in search of a book which would give general information about sailors, ships, aud all connected with them, he looked in vain, and so he ...

... 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 ...

... . FOR the benefit of Mr. Goodrich, an actor who has un happily nearly lost his eyesight, an original play from his pen was tried last week at the Vaudeville, under the title of The Calthorpe Case. This proved to be a domestic drama of strong albeit somewhat complicated interest: and it might, if it were touched up here and there in construction and slightly fortified in motive, be found fully ...

... nrjR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. CHBISTMAS travelling past and present. WHEN I learned that I was expected to write, in a captiously critical spirit, upon Christmas Travelling Past and Present, I fell into a state of bewilderment, from which, up to the moment of commencing the task in question, I had not re covered. As regards the past I am especially embarrassed. Of course there is no lack of material ...

... . at the Comedy Theatre Mr. Ilawtrey has been fortunate enough to secure a suitable home for the exiled Arabian Nights, w uch lias rapidly developed into one of the great paying successes of the day. Air audience which filled every part of ne house was attracted by the first performance after the .Ulster from the Globe and Mr. Grundy's smart, albeit tagar, adaptation went with a sliout of ...

... . THE opening meeting of this newly-formed association took place on Monday afternoon in the Pavilion at Lord's, under the presidency of Lord Harris. There was a large attendance, which included delegates from several of the leading clubs. The first business was the consideration of the rules which had been drawn up by the sub-committee, and these, with one or two alterations, were adopted. ...

... TIIE HECKMANN QTJARTETT. Tiie excellent quart ett party including Herr Hockuiaun and Herr Forberg (1st and 2nd violin), llerr Allecotte (viola), and Herr Bellmann (violoncello) arc with us again, for a short tune, and last week gave the first of a series of three concerts at Princes' Hall. Their programme opened with the first performance in London of the difficult Fugue in B flat, Op. 133, ...