... ROUND THE RING. When a new melodrama by Mr. Paul Merritt is announced lovers of that class of entertainment may generally feel sure that a good thing is in store for them. Not only does Mr. Merritt understand to a nicety the requirements of his patrons, but he is a Master of stage- craft, and bas the knack of writing dialogue that, while terse, is telling, and in the inevitable comic scenes ...

... - T.-EvLs AND ADVE? STURx OF AN ORCHMD HUNTElta By ALBlERT 'MrLICAN. [Cassell and Co.] 'yle cultivation of orchids in hothouses is a luxury Of the wealthy, but in BirminUIhagm we of small means arc able in our beautiful Botanic Gardens to dwell upon the quaint, curious, and lovely forms and dainty and harmonious colouring of those ?? nurlings of other skies than ours, and a~suredly no one who ...

... BBANK HOLIDAY AMUSEMENTS IN BIUfUNGHA. The general amsernents in Birmingbhm r.ert week fo the eatertaiuzmen of visitors to the city, and the zumerow residenta who do not desire to spend thair holidays away fron home, areo the Ousually varied and interesting characer. A t thes Theatre Eloyal the attrmn - tion will be the perennial dram The Silver K~ing. This play iv on3 of the best and, ...

... I -. The Contemporary,' Roview is a generally interestb thi ing number. Everyone-will listen with attentionto thg what Sir Henry Parkes has to. say on,' The UiAon7 fol of the' Australias, even though he falls Into. the of gratuitous error of prophecy. He , sys, - The shi twentieth century will see Australia in' possession of asi a plenitude of authority and happiness ox which the hii poet ...

... HJRTICUtTUVALL SH W AT ACOCK'SI f t ,:GRE5EN. ,, 1 -The ?? 'the, Aock's >Green. `Olton, and District Hortienlthraf So ty-wbicb- boldi' is First eikhibition-yesterday at Acock's Green-have met with very-general support from the diutrict, and as a result an ecelent; display of Xflower, -fruit, and vegetables was Gro l GW. H~astings, MYI., the prrsident, was present at mid-day and 'formally ...

... , . 0 THE PICTURES. The handsome, commodious, and well-furnished Art! Gallery belonging to the town of Wednesbury is to beJ inaugurated on Wednesday with befitting ceremony; and the occasion will be one of no little pleasurable pride, both to those who have been actively engaged in bringing the undertaking to a successful issue, and to the inhabi- tents at large. The idea of an art gallery, ...

... NEW BOOKS CsiS O -} In Six Volumes. Vol. V. TI fiber Unwin. I Thcthe penultimate volume of a magnificent work 'llnenollgj research and of very general utility, trof- the letter Q to the word stroyl. All I , t .racterisaiO excellences and distinctive -i,- other volumes which we have noted fromn tirne are maintained--remarkable futness, in Americanisms, abundant illustrations, ,r n O*, . ci ...

... BIRM-NGHA.M M, V IPAL .. SCHOOL OF ART., S EX. ITIO OF STUDENTS' WO S. t The annual exhibition of works by students in. the Municipal School of Art is now being held in the v roomss of the Royal Society of Artists, and wel b deserves a visit, not only from the friends of the students themselves, but from all who are interested in the art eductiof t city and disbrict. Everyinstiteition in which ...

... IF1TTSr OrY MO BAsaxrnr . Translated by M-tARY J. SERRAeco. [London: Cassell and Co. ( Jess; Cassoll have just issued advanced copies of theqr letters, which have been eagerly looked for in' E ' lish translation. All who read the diary of Marie j3ashkirtseff-and who has not read it, and c oith the deepest interest-will desire to read ^lo this volme. The letters are indeed a neces- >rv ...

... POUCt CONMET AT THE TOWN Ia. I The twenty-sixth annual police aoncert and entertain- uzt took pplace at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. Ihe concert, which is in aid of the funds of the police 1 .bed, was attended by as many people as the ball would accommoddate even when the gangwaya were occupied and many were unable to obtain admission. Ther6 Is aiwaysi ready response to ainy appeal ...

... I MR. ARTHUR ROBERTS ON MUSIC-HALLSl I AND THEATRES , [From th PalaU MHal Gazau,] I am afraid I chose a very awkward eveningfor m'y visit to Mr. Arthur Roberts, as it was afse thbelosm of; the first performance on Saturday evening of the new burlesque, In Town. The popular comedian,' how. ever, received me with the utmost courtesy, invited me to take a seat in his dressing-room at the Prince ...

... NEWEBOK&. .R MS OF RUSAL, COUNTY STAFFORD: Wi t' s Transcript of the Old Parish Regiter and Extracts from the Churchwardens' Acooimts By FitaMnnc W. WnxonZ, M.RXC.S. (Wel. saIl: W. Henry Robinson). Rushall, near Walsall, on the road to Lichfeld, is probably little known, even to old inhabitants of the neighbourhood, as the site is some distanc from the main road, and an ancient gateway, ...