... * If I were a Londoner by birth--which, I regret to say, I am not--I should be inordinately proud of the Surrey side, and particularly of that part of it which contains St. Saviour's Church and its immediate surroundings. From London Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge the place is full of glorious suggestions. Here stood the Rose Playhouse, the property of that old money-lender whose name is ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. THE CHIEFTAIN. ALL brigand pieces are move or less alike, and so are the stage adventures of all British tourists. Whether the unlucky traveller be a Grigg, a Brown, or a Wilkins, his troubles in variably arise from the love that terrifies him of some passionate woman with a dagger in her bodice. From the Spanish moun tains to the wilds of Borneo, from Central Africa to ...

... .' Mr. Gissing is one of the few English novelists who take the trouble to have a view of life. In his case the view is not sanguine. A squalid street on a wet day does not disclose much buoyancy of aspect, and Mr. Gissing seems to spend most of his time and observation, so to speak, in that street, watching dreary figures under dripping umbrellas. In the present work he has chosen Brixton, ...

... AN IDEAL HUSBAND AT THE 1IAYAIARKET THEATRE. MESSRS. LEWIS WALLER AND H. MORRELL may esteem themselves very fortunate, and may well be priding themselves mi their judgment as well as their courage. As the youngest of London managers they have contrived at their first dip into the lucky-bag to draw out a prize such as would have rejoiced the hearts of many of their longest established rivals. ...

... . The Fables of AEsop selected, told anew, and tlicir history traced. By Joseph Jacobs. (Macmillan and Co.) The author announces in the preface that he has felt at liberty to retell those fables in such a way as would interest children, and that he has adopted from the various versions in existence that which seemed to him most suitable in each case. He gives us eighty-two of the best known of ...

... . ON Saturday last, the 5th inst., the series of these popular entertainments was resumed at both our West-end concert-halls. Messrs. Boosey and Co. having transferred their patronage to Queen's Hall, seem to have every reason to be pleased with the choico. Tho programme was not without interest, and the perfor mance on the whole was of more than average merit. Miss Clara Butt, in full ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. DICK WIIITTINGTON. A CAPITALLY written book-- almost poetic at times; a company clever and united; a hearty performance and a brilliant spectaele --are what we find at Drury Lane this year. I have seen nothing so good as Dick Whittington, here or elsewhere, for a long while; and am pleased to record a success which owes nothing to vulgarity either in incident or in ...

... . A CORRESPONDENT writes from Tokio that an Academy of Music has been lately founded there, and sends many interest ing particulars about native Japanese music. The subject has been, however, extensively treated and competently dealt with in a paper by Miss Laura A. Smith, contributed to the December number of the Nineteenth Century, and we can quote but a few details from the information ...

... EAIPIRE THEATRE. AIdlle. M eai.y made her reappearance in London 011 Mouday evening at the Empire, where she met with a cordial reception. She sings'with vivacity and humour, aud makes liberal use of gesture, an advantage no doubt with an English audience. With less facial comedy than Aldlle. Guild: t she was able to make her poiuts understood, and was successful in two or three items, of ...

... . THE new piece which, under the title of Thyrza Fleming, has lately been presented at Terry's Theatre by the authorities of the Independent Theatre Society, is, we presume, intended to be a problem-play, though what is the precise problem of sexual relationship which it is meant to solve seems rather doubtful. Its authoress, Miss Dorothy Leighton, seems to be quite a beginner in her art, and ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. SANTA CLAUS. IN Santa Claus at the Lyceum Mr. Oscar Barrett has con tinued his crusade against vulgarity. Indeed, his second pantomime at Mr. Irving's theatre is even more like a light opera than his Cinderella was. I was afraid at first that the public might not quite see the matter in the same light as the accomplished musician who wishes to elevate our taste. But once ...

... . THE laurels of Signor Sonzogno and his famous concorso seem to have inspired Mr. and Mrs. Charles Manners with a noble spirit of emulation. We say purposely seem, for there is no direct evidence, first, that the Manners competition is a legiti mate offspring of its prototype; and secondly, because circum stantial evidence points to other conclusions. Still there is this much similarity in ...