... THE ART OF ADVERTISING. Sir,--I read in your last issue the letter from Mr. W. R. Monck, that gentleman's intention being, I presume (as others failed to do), to ondeavour to convince touring managers of the absolute necessity towards their financial success of tho services of a reliable advance agent, whose only desire aliould be the study of the interests of tho company he represents. It ...

... AN APPEAL. Sir,-- Will you allow me to bring before the notice of your readers the sad con dition of Mr. Stuart Henry Bell, artist, and late manager of Drury Lane, and of Bedford Street Theatres, Sunderland Old age and misfortune have overtaken him, and he has .to depend upon a few private friends to secure medical and simple nourishment. His strength appears to be failing him fast, and ...

... THE SONG-WRITERS' UNION. SIR,--We, The Nibs, a social fraternity of variety authors and composers, have read with a considerable amount of indignation certain statements from Mr. Edwin Drew, leading the public generally to believe that variety writers are in so pitiable a position that they have to sell their successful songs for a few shillings each, ana afterwards the singer and his ...

... Sir,--I note that my good friend, Mr. Davies Massoy, in seconding Saas's admirable proposal, says We should also receive the support of the actor, for he knows, if he doet not always admit, the benefit of suitable surroundings. May I ask Mr. Massey to refer to your issue of Augest 24. 1893. in which he will find under the heading 41 Union of Touring Manner* (a subject then being very ...

... ONE-ACT PLAYS. SIR,--My attention has been drawn to an admirable letter in your paper, signed I.L.C., on the subject of one-act plays, and I have no hesitation in practically endorsing every statement made therein. Of course, the groat majority of playgoeA necessarily go to a theatre to soe the principal piece, but I do not at all believe that on this account the lever ...

... THE BIG HAT. SIR,--My apologios for reverting to the old, old theme, viz., the big hat, which, notwithstanding the anathemas heapod upon it, still continues to be a source of annoyance and disappointment to a large number of people, who, having paid to see a thing naturally want to see it. I am a woman myself, and as such would be one of the first to uphold the privileges usually accorded ...

... ''THE SCHOOL GIRL. Sir, I Beo by your valuable paper thai Miss Minnie Palmsr is going on tour with a piecs called The School Girl. Yon ma^ remember that you very kindly paragraphed a piece by that title, as having been writter by Herbert Darnley and myself some monthi ago. It has also been paragraphed in al our organs, and copied all over the country in Theatrical Gossip, &c. I have alsc ...

... Sir, I see that Mr. George Leyton is producing a new spectacular monologue sketch, entitled The Last Chip. It may be worth recording that on Novem ber 25, 1894, 1 received the necessary permission from Black and White, and on January 10, 1896, produced a monologue sketch, with transparent scene aud effects, entitled The Last Griv. Yours faithfully. FRANK NEVILLE. ...

... ANSWERING LETTERS. Sir, I notice in your Chit-Chat w ol last week a par referring to a letter writteq by an actor to the Manchester Umpire, and can heartily sympathise with the gentleman. I myself have written over and over again to managers of touring companies for engage ments since Xruas, and to not one single on a have I had a reply, some eveu keeping the photos. I sent when a stamped ...

... ACTORS' ENFRANCHISEMENT. oir, A general Election is upon us, ana ouce more a large, educated, anu intelligent body of men mubt support the iujastice of onforced silence. Let us hope this is the last election which will fiud tlio actor with out a voice in the affairs of the nation, without power to vote for men who may meddlo in his affairs, while Hodge is electing men to do so. To that end, ...

... Sir,-- Oust a few words of advice on this vexed question. Last year I placed an advertisement in The Sta'sf, stating that I required two ladies to join my company. I had 425 answers. Of theso, 800 con tained photographs, and of theso 300 only 8o had stamps for return. Perhaps Miss juvenile Ladv will tell ine what I should have done with the 21B photographs for which uo stamps were sent Yours, ...

... COME TO PROOF. SIR,-- Your admirable leader of last week, with the quotations from Mr. Edgar Pemberton's excellent article in The Theatre, deserves thankful recognition from all who desire the preservation of the drama, and not to see it die of the inanition now threatening it. Well might Mr. Irving wonder where the actor of tho next century is to learn his business. Lord Brougham once ...