... . IS IT VERY WELL? SIR,-- The placid, dream-like optimism of John Hare-cum-Benjamin Goldfinch concerning the English drama is the outcome of charming thoughts after sunset, the sweet contemplation of a great actor in the evening; but to the cold morning of youthful reflection, in the full light of hard, flint-like facts of the vanishing nineteenth century, it is all emptiness, ana as lar ...

... . Sin, When the time comes round for the listriDution of the Covont Garden Fund I lope our president, Mr. Boerbohm Tree, ivi.. not fail to speak up for an equal share or tho Dramatic and Musical Sick Fund. It has tho same right to its fair portion as iny other society devoted to the same interests. Wo may be small ns regards lumber of members, but that would permit }f more liberality being ...

... THE ACTORS' CHURCH UNION. Sir,--Will you allow me to correct one or two errors in a paragraph which appeared in your columns last week, referring to the formation of the Actors' Church Union. The A.C.U. is already formed, and has commenced its work. The Bishop of Rochester is as yet in no way connected with the Union nor has he given his sanction to the work he is at present on the ...

... LITERARY DRAMAS. SIR,-- The recent correspondence in tho Daily Chronicle respecting the literary drama has once more called attention to the most conspicuous of all the deficiencies of the modem stage. The dramatists and managers of the day give us capable work on the lower and middle planes, but on the higher plane neither managors, actors, nor as far as tho public know, authors dare to ...

... BOYS' PARTS. Sir, I see that your Wolverhampton correspondent last weok commends the wisdom of Messrs. Lytton and Cooke in choosing a real boy to act a boy's part in their new play. Ho adds that 44 No girl could havo looked so well, or played the character better. This is as it should bo and I should like to say how cordially I approve of tho grow ing tendoncy to allow boy-actors to play lioy ...

... INGENIOUS FRAUD. Sir, An ingeniut fraud has been prac tised in Hull, and your ready publication of thin letter may have tho effect of making it impracticable elsewhere. A young woman purporting to be one of a oouplo styling themselves the Siators Burness, calls upon a solicitor with a forged oon- tract engaging them for pantomime at a salary of £8 weekly, and woro successful in obtaining a ...

... HARTE'S THEATRE FIRE FUND. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. m I Mr. Edgar Bagley, Grey Mare Hotel, Openshaw, informs us that he has received or been promised the following amounts To the Editor of THE STAGE. Sib, You were kind enough to publiah I our appeal in your valuable issue of January 12, and in juBticd to ourselves wo think it only right to inform you that tho money colleotod by Mr. Edgar Bagley, ...

... . LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. To the Editor of THE STAGE. SIR,-- On the night of the fire at Harte's. Openshaw, Mr. Broadhead sent for me, and asked if I would take a third of the proceeds of a benefit with Mr. Pybus and the Manageress of The Stowaway. I thanked him, and said I should be most pleased. I received £9 the following week in Leith, and told my company quite openly that I UAU UUI1U tsu. ...

... IS IT VERY WELL? SIR.--The letter from A Latent Playwright in your last issue strikes the nail full on the head again, and I for one extend the right hand of sympathy to him over the treatment he was subjected to. I have received similar treatment. Here is my record for the past six months:--Eigh teen managers wore approached with a polite request u> auow me iwrwaiu u jjiaj tor porusal. ...

... . Sib, I am anxious to raise this point !f a touring manager plays a picco without jaying author's fees, or advertising his ^hereabouts in tho theatrical organs, can he owners of the piece proceed against the infortunatc managers whoso theatres he has ,'isited, the legal plea heing that these said nanagers (knowing tho character of the nan whom they took in as a weekly part- ier) did not ...

... . Sib, Allow me to point out a slight error 0 on the part of yonr artist in sketching the 'j characters of the Grand (Islington) panto- mime. He has named the figure iu the left- hand corner Jack of Highbury. The sketch in question is that of Little John, the part undertaken bv vours faitlifullv. i EVELYN NEVILLE. lirand, Islington. ...

... . m your lasi issue we uouceu a letter from Mr. J. R. Cassidy's company, stating that they had received no benefit from Mr. Bagley's collection (of the Grey Mare Hotel, Oj>enshaw), Mr. Bagley in formed us that the collection was for Mr. Pybus, of Harte's Theatre, and Miss Wini fred Maude. Tho sum realised by Mr. Bagley was £8, Mr. Pybus receiving £4 ana Miss Maude £4. Mr. Bagley being the ...