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Annual Meeting of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

a sweet delicate flavour-to use a culinary simile quite appetising. Miss Hetty Tracey, who is a favourite with the audience on account of her ability and her pretty face and figure, acted the heroine, Eily O'Connor (The Colleen Bawn), in a pleasant little tame manner, which did not jolt one's sympathies. Her Irish proclivities are of the slenderest description 'spake, mane, kape,' and a few other words appeared to comprehend the whole of her notions of the speech of an Irish country girl. Father Tom's blessing on her head, that the swate Irish brogue may never lave your tongue,' was one of the shortest lived stage blessings that we ever heard uttered. In truth, the first night, nearly all the actors wandered in and out of the brogue in a fashion that may be excusable, but was not artistic. We must not omit to mention Mr. Steyne, who as Mr. Corregan was capital. The more we see of this actor, the more heartily we can endorse the opinion expressed by a metropolitan reviewer, that he is a thorough artist. Miss Lotti Moreton, as Mrs. Gregan, deserves much praise. She dressed herself well, and acted with more power than we thought she possessed. Miss Seymour, as Shelah, was a very effective bustling and animated representative of the cottage woman. Her make up and style were excellent. Mr. Roberts, as Danny Mann, was decidedly good, in spite of the deficiency of his Irish vocabulary."

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION,

REGENT-STREET.

fiery furnace twice daily, proved an immense success. A woman who enacted the same exciting role was encored in her seemingly perilous undertaking; but I have never heard that the useful invention practically illustrated in the proceeding has found favour in the eyes of mistresses of families or their laundresses. At the present time, the mystery of the "Speaking Head," the representation of which renders every hoarding and dead wall grimly suggestive of a scene of horror, has taken the town by storm, and shown that something akin to the morbid sentiment that fills the Spanish circus with spectators is not "dead, but sleepeth" amongst ourselves. But the really and deservedly popular, and at the same time satisfactory sight at the Polytechnic, is the automatic Leotard, the ingenuity of which renders its exhibition doubly interesting. The figure of the mute acrobat, which appears suspended from the ceiling of the Hall, is not moved after the ordinary manner of self-acting machines, that is by clock-work wound up to perform certain movements. The only agent of the extra| ordinary and life-like performances of this figure is electricity communicated to it by the action of a singular musical machine, which simulates (very harshly we are bound to say) the sounds of various instruments, which, at the moment of their simultaneous crashing together, excites the mimic gymnast to his work. Look at him as he slowly swings, as if to test the apparatus; and watch the seeming compression of muscular power with which he gradually extends the bold swing with which he emulates his living namesake, and the way in which he appears to gather up his strength to make the exciting sommersault. One thrills, and cringes, and curdles through every vein and nerve, while watching the marvellously life-like simulation; and yet one knows it is but simulation, and that no harm can come of it. It is a hint,

exhibitions of this nature, for the effect can be
obtained without the danger, and horrible risk
to which living professors of the trapeze, &c.
subject themselves. And, judging from the
cumulative applause (almost sufficient to warm
even the hollow bosom of an automaton) that
follows, this wonderfully clever performance;
Men, as well as women and children (the spe-
cial patrons of the Polytechnic) can be equally
gratified by the mental ingenuity of their kind,
illustrated in the grace and gymnastic power of
this interesting figure, as by their hazardous and
fool-hardy daring, however wonderful and ex-
citing the exhibition.
C. A. W.

There was a time, notwithstanding the popularly instructive style of Professor Pepper's lectures, and the odds and ends of scientific and mechanical knowledge to be gleaned in its hall and theatres-there was a time when enui and headache indissolubly connected them-in its way, that should put an end to living selves with a visit to this respectable institution. The illustrations of electricity failed to arouse the languid and scanty audience; so did lectures on light and chemistry; they interested a few, and superficially amused the majority; but people were glad when the dissolving views came, and the diver, and the glass of Thames water magnified. These last, if we except the apparition of a kindly-looking old gentleman's face (we have missed it for many a year), enlarged to gigantic proportions, and the immortal Polytechnic flea (whose ubiquitous existence we still firmly believe in)-these were the nearest exhibitions approaching the sensational. But the executive discovered that the adage "All work and no play" applied to Polytechnic audiences, as well as to "Jack;" dull boys yawned there, who should have been drinking in all sorts of scientific snaps; but who didn't, and came out feeling as if their ears had been entertained with "tinkling brass and sounding cymbals." So a new régime was introduced. A man who played in his single person the parts of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, walking through a

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. On the 28th ult. this Institution held its annual meeting in the Egyptian-hall of the Mansion-house, under exceptionally interesting and auspicious circumstances, the heir to

Annual Meeting of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

he throne of England presiding. It was no wonder therefore that the hall was filled beyond its power of accommodation, and that many gentlemen stood throughout the whole of the proceedings. The Prince (whose voice, clear, sweet, and resonant, like that of his august mother, made itself heard distinctly throughout the hall) spoke earnestly on behalf of the noble and important charity whose cause he had undertaken. He pointed out the absolute necessity for an institution of the kind in a maritime nation like our own, and how it differed from the many other beneficent charities we possess, because the saving of life for which it operates involves the risk of life on the part of those engaged in its service. His Royal Highness drew attention to the grateful facts that a thousand lives had been saved, by means of life-boats, in the present year, and that life-boats were no longer confined to our own coasts, but that many foreign nations had emulated our example, and had chosen our institution as the model for theirs. The Prince also observed that life-boats had been given by many benevolent individuals: some as thank-offerings from the friends of those whose lives have been saved, and others in memory of those who are now unhappily no more. Turning to Mr. Lewis, the energetic Secretary (who occupied a seat on the Prince's left), he remarked that Mr. Lewis had held that office previous to the Duke of Northumberland's presidentship, and his late lamented father's vice-patronage, and had done so ever since, and that it was mainly owing to his experience and the manner in which he has worked, that the Society had arrived at its present efficiency (graceful and well-merited praise). Other officers of the institution were mentioned as rendering and having rendered important services to the institution. One hundred and seventy-four life-boats were afloat, thirty-three of them having been added to the Society during the past year, at the cost of £17,000, which had been defrayed by benevolent individuals. His Royal Highness ended his address by calling upon his hearers to offer their support to the institution.

Mr. Richard Lewis, the Secretary (as soon as the cheers that followed his Royal Highness's speech permitted him), read the annual report; and, amongst other encouraging facts connected with the institution and its objects, stated that it was now building five of its improved fishingboats, provided with safety fittings, hoping thereby to gradually introduce such improvements in the sinaller class of fishing-boats as might lead to a considerable diminution in the loss of life. In conclusion he pointed out that operations of the Society extended over all the British isles, and the committee were determined, with the blessing of Almighty God and the sympathy of and support of the British public, to leave no effort untried that can assist in any way in lessening the annual loss of life

on our shore.

Sir John Pakington, in a forcible speech,

223

pointed out that for forty-three years the Society had steadily pursued its benevolent exertions, with yearly-increasing success. Thus, while in 1824 one hundred and twenty-four lives had been saved, last year nine hundred and twentyfour persons were rescued, either directly or indirectly, by the instrumentality of the Society. Vain, however, would be the efforts of that Society and the generosity of the British public were it not for the happy combination of bravery and humanity which had ever been the characteristic of the true British sailor, who was always ready to come to the rescue, and to throw himself, however desperate the chances and dangers of the undertaking might be, into the life-boat and rush to the help of his suffering fellow-creatures. He reminded the meeting also of the aid the clergy had ever given to the Association, and of recent instance in which clergymen had physically lent a hand in saving lives from shipwreck.

Lord Hardwick, Sir Stafford Northcote, and other gentlemen, spoke of the influence and objects of the institution.

At the conclusion of several addresses a vote of thanks was tendered to the Prince, who, in briefly replying to it, gracefully acknowledged the gift of a model of the "Albert Victor" life-boat from the Society, which appeared in a glass-case on the table; and he hoped, when his eldest son at some future time was looking at it, he would remember that it was named after him in his infancy, and that before he had attained the age of three years it had been the means, under God's providence, of saving between twenty and thirty lives. The touch of nature in this allusion to home-life and his little son ran through the assembly electrically-one could see it in the women's eyes, and hear it in the men's cheers; and if the Prince was popular east of Temple-bar prior to the last day of February, 1867, there is no doubt that he has become much more so since; while the cause for which he presided was thus incidentally furnished with one of the strongest incentives to its support in the reverence for and love of the home and its relations, that is so dear to English men and women. mere pence, presented to the institution turn to life-boat timbers and fittings; and every being snatched from the engulphing waves by their instrumentality preserves some home from desolation or destruction, and takes back to it the father or brother or son on whom it probably depends, or by whom it is, in some sort, supported.

Every pound-nay,

During the meeting a magnificent donation, from an anonymous lady, of £600 was handed in; and two other cheques, for 400 and 100 guineas severally, were announced.-C. A. W.

Contributions and donations will be thankfully received at the office of the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, by Richard Lewis, Esq., Secretary, and by all bankers in town and country.

THE LADIES' PAGE.

CROCHET TRIMMING.

MATERIALS.-Boar's-head crochet cotton, No. 16, of Messrs. Walter Evans and Co., Derby, and needle No. 4.

Commence by working a foundation chain of the length required.

1st row. 6 chain, miss 3, and I plain; repeat to the end and turn back.

2nd. 6 chain, miss 5, and 1 plain in the 6 chain of the last row. Repeat.

3rd. Work the same as the 2nd row.

4th. Work 1 chain and 1 treble 6 times, all in the 6 chain of the last row; then 1 chain and 4 plain in the next 6 chain. Repeat.

5th. Work 3 plain on the 4 plain of the last row; then 1 chain, miss 1, and 1 treble in each one chain. Repeat.

6th. Work 2 plain on the 3 plain of the last row; then 1 chain, miss 1, and 1 treble in each one chain. Repeat.

7th and 8th. Work as the 6th row, making 2 chain instead of 1 chain each time.

A ROUND FOOT-CUSHION.

MATERIALS.-Five shades of crimson and two of 5-thread Berlin wool.

This very pretty cushion is covered with roses worked in crochet. Each rose is made separately; nineteen are required.

For the centre rose take the darkest green wool and make a circle of 7 chain, work a second circle of 5 chain, with black wool now * work a circle of 7 chain, 1 chain, 1 double in the nearest stitch of first circle, repeat from * 4 times more.

1st round. Lightest red. Over each loop or circle work 5 treble, 1 double in the nearest double. Work 4 petals in this manner.

2nd. Work 4 loops of 3 chain at the back of the petals of preceding round.

3rd. In each loop work 3 double and 1 double over each double of last row.

4th. Take the middle shade of red. Over each petal work 1 double, 2 treble, 3 long treble, 2 treble, 1 double, and one slip stitch between each petal.

5th. Work 7 loops of 3 chain at the back of petals of last round.

6th. 3 double within each loop, one double between each.

7th. Work over each petal in the same way as in the 4th round.

In the 8th round work 9 loops of 3 chain; the 9th and 10th are worked in the same way as the 5th and 6th with darker wool.

Now work two more circles of petals, increasing in the same proportions. This is the centre rose; the 18 others are completed with the 7th round; they are grouped round the centre rose and all firmly fixed on to the cushion. Two circles of scallops of treble stitches in two shades of green wool are added as an edging round the roses. A border of plain crochet also in green wool is placed round the sides of the cushion, which should be well-stuffed and lined with green glazed calico.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

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have accepted a paper on this subject-M. C.'s must stand over); "The Rose of Riversdale" in its turn. E. R., Ringwood.—We are obliged for the vigilance of our correspondent. The coincidence is quite natural. Both publications are indebted to the same source-an American reprint. TO CONTRIBUTORS. - Our rule for the return of manuscripts has been so frequently published that it ought to be unneccessary to repeat it. If stamps are not sent, we will not hold ourselves responsible for the return of manuscripts.

PRINTED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND.

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