... CEIMIA AND THE 4mIN!SE QFESTION.x The member for the Barnsley Divsion is wrp known as an ardent advocate of a more vigor00l British policyr in China. The present book is a straightforward record of the inmpresaious garhe-ed by him daring his recent eight montas, tour through China, Japan, and Corea. These impresiaros e+er sammoarised. in the speeeh rnade bv rthe aith or in ti, H~ouse of ...

... (Faox OUR SPECIAL CoxEESPo OTM.) HmRxpoRD, Thursday. Festival visitors were again favoured with brilliant sunshine this morning, and the picturesque city looked r its best. In a place like this, remote from the swifter currents of musical life, the triennial festival is a I great event. and each celebration leaves its tidal mark l until the next comes round. Enterprise has marked - the ...

... BTRINGHAM MUSICAL FETAL. The preparations for the Triennial Musical Fesvivt which falls due in October next, entered upon the pBC' tical stage last night, when the chorus assembledi in te Masonic Hall forthe first rehearsal There was a ftiL muster of the choir, completely fiilinz the hall, and tie chief officials were also present. The Lord Maycr, wit this time is free from the cares of office ...

... ITHE PICTORI.AL ART OR BURNE-JONES. Last night, Mr. Whitworth Wallis (owing to the regrettable illness of the Revr A. R. Vardv) lectured to I the members of the Midland Institute-on The Pictorial Art of Sir Edward Burne-Jones. There was a large attendance. Mr. Wallis said that from that platform he lad on former occasions told them of the art work of Leighwtn, M~i3Lais. and Holmaan Runnz and ...

... - TRFI I EOYNL I I TITFUTRE ?? C HARITY 3 EE. Thier are, few philaimthvrojic agencies in this city more desosring- of sympathetic support than that in aid of which a benefit performance was giTen. injthe The:tre PRoval yesterday afternoon-the Poli eraided Sea ety fr t'b tlothin of fDatitut6 Childseu. Trhe co-peoation of ?? i Mhe ciitsta~bnliry is especisily vatiable in this direction, and the ...

... * !t is generally understood that the gift of writing books that children honestly like is one that is 2 extremely profitable to the writer. Perhaps that is whv there are so many children's books nowadays, for the roada to fortune are not too many, and coin- petition gets keener every year. It is a fact, never- theless, that out of the multitude of children's books that flood the market there ...

... Tin WHnsTNro M AID. By ERNZST Rwvs. [Rut- chinson and Co.] - This story-is a romance of. Welsh history, and into the making of it- Mr., Rhyb has put his wtride know-, ledge of Wales' and Welsh historical lore, as well as his insight into thfi Welsh temperament and his un- questionable literary facilty. The first gives us a picturesque and exciting -ailieu for tshe romance, which is put. into ...

... CERILDRN 'S FETE AT EDGB-STON BOTANICAL GARDENEz. A children's ffte is the newest addition to the already long and interesting list of summner fixtures of the Bir- minghamrr Botanical and }Hortucultutal Society. In beautiful weather this event took place oU Saturday, and to the cildren it was unquestionably a iav of unalloved enjoyment. By the members and friends of the society, too, it was ...

... The third volume of Professor S. R. Gard :er's groat history will be ready for press towards ti: erd of the year. It will not deal with snore than tlo years, coming to an end about the middle of lot. ;o enormous is the amount of work and varietv of matter involsed in the one year, 16t5. A work by Mr. H. Whates, entitled The Third Salisbury Administration, 18S5-IC0, 'vwill be pubhthed shortly ...

... v NEW CHORM, UMUSIC.-SAQRED. The Queen of $hebc., an oratorio ; the words selected francr thea -oly Scriptures by ?? Rev. A. C. 'ITaensczon, BhA., the m icecoposed by Harvey ' Mkh~, Op. 20 (Noovellon and Co.) A Witker on music i has remarled that t-he oratorio is to the musi- ciso thle exaect ansi-loa v of what the- cat-hedral lis to th:e Urelhi trwz Nor many architects geti, the hne of ...

... MR ?? ?? 3ONZjS~S~~ Co. MEDsly. Our London eorrespondetzit. iegrsphinF ?? , ?? undue and even nnmealthy amount of attet- tion which the mninor journals bave of lat ears beee p.:flg to the parely private 3ffairs o; our stage .fvo ritea is responsible for maluch of the poplari interest - tha had been aroused lhere in advance in ?? the production of Mr. HenryvArtburJoOes's lates con0.d3. ' The ...

... THE -PASTEL SOCIETY AND -THE I WOMEN ARTISTB. The fata. fcilities of pastel oay be stiadied with profit .and inteirnt at. the GO erj of tm RPoyal) Institute of Painters, in Piecadzlly On firstl enter- ing, the show of colour and the dcash and, daring of tne techniqne hold the eye entraiiced - but only for a moment.. On-looing closely irto tbem, we find a superficial bravery and a shalloiv ...