... ZIze CoeCg antb Aelief of wuntj, n A STIRRING story is unfolded in an interview which r's representative has had with an officer who has just retn! Kumassi. Events in West Africa have hardly received i tion they deserved, South Africa and China seeming iif everything else. The tale of the relief of the besieged g Kumassi, however, is a glorious episode, reminding us details of the story of ...

... Nopice of thec ear lt Tt-INNKS to his lucky absence from Peking, Li The Hung Chang finds himself in a position to play Powers the part which Dr. Leyds unsuccessfully essayed and in Europe-that of Plenipotentiary to the Powers China at large. It is a tribute to Li's strength of character that, in spite of his very equivocal antecedents, so many foreign diplornatists readily accept him in that ...

... Plact aux Damxs BY LADY VIOLET GREVILLE IT appears that the County Council are now prepared to deal with one of the burning questions of the day-women's drunkenness. They have provided a Home, something on the model of the one erected by Lady Henry Somerset at Duxhurst, near Horley, which is to contain thirty inmates. The attempt has been made none too soon. It is sad, indeed, to see the ...

... 9 o t tat Vrr C itti.2'5 b, W. NOM TH O1AS THE; production of Mr. Stephen Phillips's 1Zerod at He R MAJESTY'S Theatre has been attended by at least one satisfactory result; it has shown that there is no foregone conclusion in the minds of our playgoing public against plays in verse, and that, whatever may be said to the contrary by faint-hearted managers, the dramatist who aims at literary ...

... SHAK ESPEARIAN CELEIBRATIONS. At Anderton's Hotel on Monday night the Urban Club held its forty-first annual Shakespeare commemo- ration dinner. Dr. R. GARNETT presided, and among a numerous company present were Rev. J. Wood (chaplain, St. John of Jerusalem), Sir Wyke Bayliss, president, Royal Society of British Architects; Sir J. D. Linton, Mr T. Catling, Dr. Fagan, Dr. A. H. Doran, and Mr ...

... The seventeenth annual general meeting of the Royal College of Music was held on Tuesday at Marl- borough House, the Prince of WALES presiding. Among the members of the corporation and the council present were the Duke of Cambridge, the Marquis of Northampton, Lord Harlech, Lord Herries, Lord Stratheona, Lord Windsor. Lord Thring, Sir T. Whittaker Ellis, Colonel the Hon. C. G. C. Eliot, Sir ...

... The date originally fixed for these sports (August Bank Holiday) happened to be the most dreary and miserable that has been known for years, and the committee determined to postpone the event until the weather became more settled. On last Tuesday, the day chosen, a cheerless east wind blew across the Stam- i ford Bridge Grounds, and the dulness of the sky was reflected in the proceedings, ...

... the I his (FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDSENT.) Rochdale Rushbearing still survives to connect the old order with the new. To the old showman the dying out of the picturesque features of many of the wakes and fairs must bring regret for thle days that are p~ast. Rocbdale Winake, however, still maintains its ancient traditions, and the whole town and district enlters into the annual Rushibearing and ...

... ?? II HENRY' IRVING AT MANCIIESTIE. Sir Henry Irving attended a reception given on Wed- nesday in the Memorial Hall by the Manchester Ladies' Literary Club. Alis Ellen Terry, who was expected, wag unable to be present, but Miss Maul Milton and Mliss Hackney attended. Mrs Leo Grindon, the president of the club, received the guests. among whom were Mr A. Hopkinson (Principal of the Owens Col- ...

... SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1900. The question of the retention or abolition I of the Censorship is one which is constantly I cropping up, and one with respect to which it is extremely difficult to come to any satis- factory conclusion. Ideas on the matter are as c various as the colours in Joseph's coat and the collection which has been recently made of the opinions of some of our most notable ...

... NEW GRAND THlEATRE, ISLINGTON. The re-building of this theatre after the fre in Feb- ruary last is now accomplished, andin its new form will be opened on Boxing Day, with the pantomime of Robinson Crusoe. The work has been carried out from the plans and under the supervision of Mr Frank Mat- chain, the well-known theatrical architect, who also desigaed the original Grand. The principal ...

... TIE little company of professionals, pressmen, one press lady, meinbers of the staff, and others, who assembled a' the Palace Theatre, on Wednesday even- ing, an hoar before the curtain rose, were delighted to find Mr Charles Morton so hate and hearty on the anniversary of his eighty-'rst birthday. The doyen of the music halls vas accompanied by Mrs Morton, who must have felt keenly gratified ...