... A concert was given in the Masonic Hall last night. in which the Ladies' Grecian Dand of Harps fi-iured conspicuously. The band consists of nine lady harpists. attired after-perhaps some long way after-the Grecian style of costume. The pieces played were: Military Patrol, Ffrencih Davis; Welsh Fantasia, J. Thomas; Scotch Airs Cheshire; and Handel's Largo in G. Mrs. Stockham was the ...

... EL I I BlP'>MKNGH3f WILhD OV ELLNMIC'RAF.T The Birninhbam Guild of Handicraft is not xactly the philanthropic institution that it was. In the old days t carried on its operations at the ELyrlo Society's Hall, Sheep Street, and one at least of its osjocts Wass to tesch handicrafts to the yo-uths of that none too salubrious neighbourhood, arid to provide them -with an irterest in life beyond ...

... * * MIonsters of the deep have exercised an almost irresistible effeco upon the imagination from very early ages, as witness the poetical descriptinof the attributes of Leviathan to he found embalmed in the Book of Job. There was a vastness and 3amyster-y about the subject that could scarcely fail of roving attractive, and even up to the present day ib seems difficult to abandon once and for ...

... BOOKS RIECEIVED. Hiror A-E-'JI A :ora BOAPHY I The Wcorld's IEpoch Maikers: Wcvslev and Mnetiioesmrn. by F. J. Snell. (Ed:hurgl: T. anid T. Clark.) Our Great City. or London the Heart of tloe EXmpire, by I; 0. Arnold-Forster. (Casseil and C0.) TTrToi.xouei. Am ) lt'( .i7f.'10ci. Studies in Texts, by JoIs-rh Parker, iD. vol. 7V. (Horace AMarshall and aunrA.) -CI ?? Tie Saaclk of London l'y ...

... * Of the two nev- volumes in Messrs. T. and T. Clark's series of The World's Epoch-malkers, that on Luther is written by Dr. Lindsay, Professor of Church History in the Free Church of Scotland. Lives of Luther are rather abundant; but we have pi-easure in recommending Dr. Lindsay's book to all readers who desire an account of the life, work, and character of the great Reformer, moderate in ...

... RRUSSIA AND THE I The able wrter wo conceals his identity under thesam de gerr of Vladimir has preparedia vlume fell of wefl-chosen and well-digested inforrme. On the development of the Rssian Empire is tine detion of the PMee . SRe has laid under con. tdiucn many works not accessible ts English readers, andl has Prepared, himself f s task - by a, IOur-jnoths lcurney across Siberin fromz ...

... When San Toy first came to Birmingham we ventured to predict that it was likely- to become a formidable competitor to the Geisha in point of popularity. The prediction has been amply fulfilled, lor the audience at the Prince of Wales Theatre last night was large and enthusiastic. Those theatre-goers who have seen both may perhaps have a preference for the Geisha.!' They remember the hold ...

... | * THE BAND REHEARSALS. [FROM1 OUR SrxcuK CoaRBSro2rnDEst] LoDosT, Tuesday. The bright sunshine of a lovely autumn day illu- mined in some degree the dark interior of the Queen's Hall, but, as usual, the orchestral platform required the electric light to enable the performers to see their notet Proceedings began with an orchestral rehearsal of Mr. Coleridge-Taylor's Hiawatha, the young ...

... INT3I1ATE CHINA-. Of books dealing with things political in China we have bad enocgh--and, perhaps, to spare-jest lately. Miss Scidmore is principally descriptive- She is no mere globe-trotter, for in te last fifteen years she has paid seven visits to China, and, as we know from her previous writings, has cap spent considerable time in Japan. She is entitled, there- fore, to speak -with ...

... BI1R AMT NG.LY MUSICAL ?? ESYIvX 'L JrRST GRANDREASL 'The combined forces met undeir r -e fi --on rehearsal commencing at SPYvti O'`Ckt ?? ?? s a. decided innbovation, the full -roheI-sicry->- ing been confined to the &As'uriday and b - looking to the waighty character of h, r - ?? the wisdoml of tepro ceeding cu. C 'Uvs- tinnedi- The task, of the chocrus will be t-i arduous nest week, and by ...

... BIRMINGHAM_ MUSICAL FESTIVAL. The choral rehearsals' for the approaching Festival I were resumed in the Masonic hall last night, when U there was a full attendance of the choir. The pro- 0 ceedings were of an interesting character, inasmuch b as Mr. Stocl-ley, who for forty years had filled the post 0 of choirmaster, was about to resume that office by a invitation of the committee. Many of the ...

... HOME ARTS AND INDUSTRIES 1 ASSOCIAT1N.- ANNUAL EXIEBITION. Without fornal cerebnoy the sixteenth annual ex- hibition of work produced in classes connected' with the Home Arts and Industries Association, and held in various parts of the Utnitd Kingdom, was opened .eete-,day afteriron. in the Galiery of the Albert Hall, London, and was honored by & visit from Princess Christian, who was received ...