... CHRISTMAS AND THE POOR. Sir, The Corporation has again granted the use of the Guildhall for the annual ban quet of the Ragged School children of London, and the Prince of Wales has once more ont me a donation to, if 1 may quote tho words of His Royal Highness, the excellent fund which you are again kindly raising for providing dinners and hampers for tho poor and crippled children of tho ...

... . THE SHOEMAKER TO HIS LAST. SIR,--I write to you in the interests ol my own cherished convictions. I had perused Mr. Hall Caine's work, The Christian, with a certain amount of enjoyment, mingled witli a modicum of criticism which, so ambitious an effort in bound to arouse, and had found a special corner in my heart for his heroine. What ever blemishes there may bo in the 3tor> judging Glory ...

... 11 THE BELLE OP NEW YORK. Sir, Your Elephant critic takes excep tion to the Yankee twangs of my Belle of New York Company. Would it surprise him to know that they are as correot as United Staters can make them When he next honours us with a few more minutes of his suburban rounds we'll endeavour to lay on a little Bishopsgate foi his especial benefit. But, seriously, he is out in his ...

... SCENIC ARTIST TROUBLES. SIR,--In your issue of last week, under the heading of Working Staff Notes, a paragraph appears from a stage carpenter on tour, who credits his manager, in response to a refusal to accept a reduction of salary on account of bad business, with saying that in addition to the carpenter's legitimate calling, he could get a man who was a good scenic artist, and would ...

... THE STAGE AND THE WAR. Sin, Will you spare me space in your valuable columns to protest against a habit that is becoming a greater terror to play goers than Now we shan't be long, or What ho, she bumps. Having last week a vacation, I took the opportunity of visiting as many as possible of the theatres in and around London. The plays were good, the aciing of a high order, but why, oh, why, ...

... . We have received the following communications on the subject of tho Dramatic and Musical Sick Fund, and its Benevolent Branch:-- To the Editor of The Stage. Sir, With reference to your paragraph in last iwue re the Benevolent Branch of the Dramatic and Musical Sick Fund, will you allow me to state that I have this day re signed from the committee, aa I was not aware that the expenditure and ...

... Sir. I quite agree that the letter of Mr. G. Collier calls for the consideration of all sconic artists who take the interest of their profession to heart. It is quite time some thing was done to protect us from the abuses and wrongs we have only too patiently endured, and I think that the establishment of a Scenic Artists' Society, for the mutual improvement and advancement of its mem bers in ...

... . SOME OPEN LETTERS. I.--TO THE NEW AUTHOR. Dear Sir,--It is not so much the unconventional quality of your libretto that convinces me that you are a new man as the air of confidence which you carry about with you just at present, not to mention the pleasurable excitement with which you look forward to the production of your forthcoming Christmas production. Being thus convinced, I may ...

... THE STAGE AND THE WAR. SIR,--I quite agree with the remarks of your correspondent in his letter, under the above heading, in your recent issue. As ho very justly says, lhe theatre is the home of Art, not politics. Yet, at the present moment, it is impossible to enter either theatre or music hall without per ceiving that managers and artists, instead of endeavouring to allay the inflammable ...

... SIR,--Mr. Whitmore Ledger writes, under the above heading, a protest against orchestras at theatres playing Rule Britannia at the present time of war, and although the above-mentioned gentleman may not wax enthusiastic at hearing Rule Britannia played, he certainly ought to take into consideration that everyone, surely, is not to be deprived of hearing the dear okl soul inspiring tune ...

... THE CASE OF JAMES CUMBERLAND. Sir, Permit me to thankfully acknow ledge the following sums received on bo- half of James Cumberland: a. d. Wilson Barrett 2 2 0 Ben (Ireet J 1 1 0 Charles Revill 1 1 0 E. H. Bull 0 Lester Collingwood J J 0 King and Challls 1 1 0 William Lewis 1 0 0 Henry Mayhew 1 0 0 The Silver King company, per (Jeorge Alen 1 0 0 T. Morton Powell 0 10 6 Bertie Slielton 0 10 ...

... SCENIC ARTISTS POSITION. SIR,--I am glad the departmental heads of the stage staff are beginning to realise the necessity to organise a scheme for their better protection. I learn from all quarters that their position just at present has a tendency on the down grade. Apropos of all this, personally I see no reason why the artist should not join issue with the mechanic, and amalgamate to their ...