... . REHEARSALS. SIR,--The mere word reform has a terror for most people, and it is one of the quainter paradoxes of human nature that he who ia most anxions for reform of others is the most inclined to try and shirk the persistent duty of self-reformation. Another is that, no matter what seems to need reformation, no one is ever, on inquiry found responsible for the condition of affairs. It ...

... Sir, I think the public should be in formed that the late John Sims Reeves, in addition to the grown up children of his firat marriage, left, a widowf aged twenty- seven, and an orphan son, aged four, who bears his name, totally destitute, and de pendent solely on tho precarious earnings of tho widow as a vocal iat. If any member of the public can lend helping hand to get the boy into an insti ...

... Sir,-- Like Tiik Stage I am somewhat mystified as to what is or was the 44 National Sunday League of Protestant Dissenters' 3tc. The National Sunday League has certainly been described as a religious body, and registered as such at Somerset House, ander tho title of ,4 Protestant dissenters who object to bo designated. Seeing the kind of entertainment that is given by the National Sunday ...

... . THE PROPOSED ACADEMY OF ACTING. Sir,--At the general meeting of the Actors' Association, last Friday, much was said, in view of a possible Academy of Acting, an to the teaching of novices. Although the art of acting cannot be taught, there is much of the elementary and indispensable ground work which has to be learned before the art comes in It is quite riffht that much stress should be ...

... BIOGRAPH. Sir, In your issue of November 22 mention is made of tho biograph being at Argylc. I beg to say with reference to this that the word biograph is not a generic word at all, but is our own special property, our rights to it having been successfully upheld in courts of law. In theso circumstances it cannot be legally applied to any but our own piotures. Youra faiili ful lv. J. GEORGE, ...

... . BOGUS MANAGEMENT--A REMEDY? Sir,-- Quite recently, in consequence of insolvent touring management, my theatre has been closed, I have had to break faith with the public, members of the company have been in the town, some of them penniless, and unable to get their own private belongings. I have several times received from printers, authorities given by touring managers to deduct the account ...

... CARDIFF ORCHESTRA FUND. SIR,--The committee of tho Empire (Cardiff) Orchestra Fund beg to state to the subscribers and the general public that the subscription list scheme for the relief of the sufferers by the fire of October 31 last has turned out a complete success. Appended is a complete list of the subscriptions, and a statement as to the use made of the money: --Collected by Mr. D. ...

... PLAYWRIGHTS AND THE PROVINCES. SIR,-- If the subject of Playwrights and the Provinces has not been dealt with ad nauseam, may I put in a few words. I think the various writers on the sub ject are agreed that it a perfectly useless, bootless, hopeless thing to send plays by unknown authors to London managers to read also for the various reasons set out by your correspondents it is equally ...

... NEGLECT OF SHAKESPEARE. SIR,--It is with the greatest delight that I have noted the efforts of THE STAGE to call attention to what threatens to become a national disgrace to our drama. It is always to your paper that we must look to lead our crusades, and in this case the importance of our cause cannot be over estimated, unless the scornful whispers of the continental uicauicai wonu ure to ...

... THE EXCISE GRIEVANCE. SlK, That theatres hould be refused excise licenses is not only arbitrary and un reasonable, but also impolitic. The regular theatre and tho theatre of varieties are both places of stage entertainment, which have in great measure lost their distinctive character the one by the liberal introduc tion of the variety clement, the other by the introduction of sketches or short ...

... Sin, As my license for here was granted on January 25 (or three days after the death of our late beloved Queen), it will, I think, be the first license granted under the present King. I should be pleased if you would insert this letter, that I may ascertain if I am indeed the holder of the first dramatic license granted in the reign of His Majesty King Edward the Seventh. I am, Bir, yours ...

... THE A. A. QUALIFICATION. Sia, In reply to Mr. Ouseley's letter, may 1 call his attention, and that of all interested In the well-boin^j of the Association, to a sug gestion of mine in the book kept for the pur- poso at the A. A. In effect my proposal is a* follows That a second, or apprentice, degree be instituted, to which all adopting tho stage as a calling may subscribe, subject, of course, ...