... . Sir, As my duties take me to many of our factory and foundry small towns, which are at the best exceedingly dull and monotonous,' I should he glad to appeal to managers, on behalf of hundreds forced to reside in such towns, to give us something more cheer ing than heavy, dreary dramas, composed of blood and thunder. Heaven knows, our lives are heavy and dreary enough without these constant ...

... . bm I haven't seen The Second in Com mand, but I find that the critics very generally insist upon two unhackneyed-- I can scarcely call tfiem new-- ideas. The first is that the rivals of the heroine are both 44 gentlemen, honourable good fellows; the one not made bad to make the good appear better by contrast, or to kill auditorial sym- pathy for the (villainous) rejected suitor. And the ...

... . RESTRICTED LICENSES. SIR,--Will you permit me to advert to the leading article in THE STAGE of the 29th ult. With reference to the possibility that the licensing authority can take into consideration (in administering their jurisdiction under the various acts creating it) the private relation of employer and employe, it is too remotely absurd for words. Were suoh a principle established ...

... Sir,--In this, my final letter on the subject, I must thank you for your courtesy in inserting my previous lucubrations. To Mr. Dudley Harcourt I must reply that if he means that a manager has no moral right to employ members of his own family as money and checktakcrs respec tively (Mr. Harcourt says 44 combined, but evidently grammar is not his forte), I fail to agree with him. Personally, ...

... THE STAGE AND THE WAR. Sir,-- The war in South Africa, whioh fiAs brought grief and sorrow to so many families in England, has wrought great havoo among the theatrical profession. Many provincial tours have boon stopped owing to the fact that so much sorrow and mourning put an end to all gaiety. For the same reason many theatres are closing their doors. Everywhere tho cry is 44 We cannot ...

... . Sir, I shall be obliged by your publishing in your valuable journal the following information. William Lock, who used to keep the Turkish baths at Eton, and managed the Eton Beagles for 23 years, is now living in this parish in great distress. His wife is paralyzed, bedridden, and his son has deserted him, no one knows where he is; he is entirely dependent for his support on the help of his ...

... . Sir, As the writer of the article on the above subject, 1 im very pleased that it has elicited a slight correspondence in connection with boots, and I much regret that I have not been able to contribute my small share thereto before. Messrs. Faulkner and Co. are quite correct in supposing that I referred to the bespoke business alone, and not only that but the highest class of bootmakers for ...

... . [To the Editor of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.) Sir, The result of the interest taken in the case of our huntsman, Fred Higgins, who died suddenly on 26th March, has, through the kindness of the Press and sub scribers outside the Rufford Hunt, been most satisfactory, for I have received £674 for his widow and nine children. You will observe by the list enclosed that £110 was ...

... . [To the Editor of the III 'titrated Sporting and Dramatic News.] ^IK' Will you permit me (as an ardent admirer of your articles) to venture a few words on Hungarian Partridges, a sub ject you touch on in this week's Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic Newsl I have been much amused by ...

... . (-0 the. liditor of Ihe illustrated sporting and Dramatic News.) Dear Sir, While thanking you for your ki .flly critic ism of my History of the Brocklesby Hounds, may I point out a mist rke you make with reference to the antiquity of Lord Fitzwilliam's pack. You will find, both in the records of the Brocklesby and the Belvoir, lhat Lord Fitzwilliam's blood was used in both kennels during ...

... MR. CHARLES SANTLEY. A PROPOSED JUBILEE CONCERT. To the Editor of The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. Dear Sir, On November 19th, forty-nine years ago, Charles Santley made his first appearance as a public singer, since which, in his career as a professional vocalist, no Englishman has given more real pleasure to our music- loving masses. Of Charles Santley during half a century of ...

... CORRESPONDENCE. (To the Editor of the Illustrated Sporting nnd Dramatic News.) LA PHRASE D'ARMES. Sib, In a remote corner of Hampshire 1 have just received a letter from an eminent fencing-master, a man of character and position in Toulouse, M. Viguier, which bears upon previous correspondence, and have put his communication into an English dress for the possible benefit of your readers. ...