being driven from behind, it came into contact with the iron, thunders from below answered those above, and one loud explosion, that burst the strongest bars, and shattered the stoutest walls, filled the air with red-hot slag. The old man, having made an effort, would relight his pipe, adding, "I think I forgot to say it was Sunday. The Darby's were at meeting: it was a silent meeting. I mean there was no speaking; and, if there had, they would have heard plain enough what was going on. Well, when the furnace blew up, they came down to see what was the matter. They never appear in a hurry, Quakers don't; and did not then, though thousands of pounds of property were going to wreck every minute.

"Is anyone hurt?" was the first question asked by Miss Darby. She was an angel-everyone of the Miss Darbys have been. "Is there anyone hurt, Adam?" she said.

I said "No, there's nobody hurt; but the furnace, the blowing mill, the pool-dam, and the building are gone."

"Oh, I am so thankful!" she said;, "never mind the buildings, so that no one is hurt."

And they all looked as pleased, if you'll believe me, as if they had found a new coal in the Dawley Field, instead of having lost an estate at Coalbrook

dale.

Here is a capital anecdote of another of the family, which shows that Quakerism is not so phlegmatic as it looks, and can occasionally enjoy punning and a joke. The sexton of the village ventured upon calling at the rich Quaker's house for an Easter offering.

The servants were ordered to attend to him; and he sat for some time, and ate and drank and smoked his pipe-but not a word was said of Easter dues. He had knocked out the ashes of his third pipe, and, feeling muddled a bit about the head, thought it time to be moving. At last Mr. Darby entered the room, and Solomon made bold to ask for the Easter offering.

"Friend," said Mr. Darby, throwing up the sash, and assuming a determined attitude, "thou hast had a meat-offering and a drink-offering; thou

hast even had a burnt-offering, as I judge from the fumes in this room, and unless thou choosest to go about thy business, thou shalt have a 'heaveoffering!'"'

As Solomon had no wish to be pitched out of window he made himself scarce.

A little farther on we have another sketch of a Quaker worthy (Mr. Reynolds), one of the past partners of the firm, who accumulated an immense fortune at the Ketley Iron Works, and kept several almoners in London and elsewhere to distribute his bounty. "During one period of distress he gave 20,000 for distribution." Of these local benefactors and celebrities Mr. Randall gives a most interesting account, but we have not space to quote more from his pleasant pages, and must refer our readers to the volume, which is elegantly got up, and enriched with well-chosen and well-executed illustrations. Nothing can be better than the time chosen for the publication of the work, which will inform anticipative tourists by the newly-opened Severn Valley railroad, of all that is most

The

has (as I have just said) a large family of his own, provides for the poor orphan, without hope or wish; but because she is the child of one who had been a good and kind friend, as well as employer, and because she is helpless, and requires protection and loving-kindness. moral of the story is, that no good deed passes, even in this world, unrequited. All that befalls Mr. Mainworthy, though but the natural consequence of his good-conduct, business knowledge, and steadiness, results indirectly through "The Angel Unawares."

THE BRITISH WORKMAN. (W. Partridge, 9, Paternoster-row; W. Tweedie, 337, Strand). THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND. (Seeley, Jackson, & Halliday, Fleet-street; W. Partridge, Paternosterrow).-The first of these publications scarcely requires our good word; it has for some years been established, and maintains the promise with which it started. It is pleasant to see its manly title and characteristic illustrations conspicuous in windows filled with less promising-looking publications when, indeed, they are not, from the horrors pourtrayed on their title-pages, absolutely repulsive; and yet more pleasant to think that much of the evil of these may be counteracted by the rational entertainment, and pure teaching, of this healthy and cheap journal. It deserves to be very widely disseminated amongst the industrial classes. "The Children's Friend" supplies a want in the literature of the poor, and may be read by others with advantage. The illustrations of both works are really good.

1ST ROUND.-Take three-quarters of a yard of cotton; thread thereon 18 beads; tie these up in a circle, not too tight, but sufficiently loose that two more beads might be tied in if requisite; leave one end of the cotton about a finger in length; tie the knot of the circle securely.

2ND ROUND.-Place the circle of beads on the point of the fore-finger of left hand, with needle and cotton in front; thread a bead x pass it close up to first circle; make an overcast stitch over the cotton, between 1st and 2nd bead, with the point of the needle pass up close to this a bead of 1st circle; hold it tightly. Thread another bead. Repeat from × till there are 18 beads in the 2nd row; then pass the needle and cotton all through the 1st circle of beads, and tie in a secure knot to the end left on; pass the needle and cotton again through the 2nd

circle; tie in a knot to the end of cotton, and cut the ends off so that the knot is not seen. This running the cotton through the beads makes them firm, strong, and even. This forms the first link of bracelet.

TO MAKE THE SECOND.-After threading the 18 beads, as at first, pass them through the 1st link, and tie; then proceed as before. Link as many of these circles together as will enable the bracelet when joined to pass tightly over the hand. To join the first and last link together, thread the 18 beads, and before tying, pass the cotton through 1st and last link, then tie, and proceed as before. When each link is complete, a 3rd row may be added, if desired, worked in the same way; but, of course, the preceding row is immovable, which is of no consequence.

Take two pieces of perforated card-board, of equal size (a little larger than ordinary note paper is best). Cut from a piece of tasteful furniture chintz the patterns very accurately. Arrange in any way to suit your taste, and fasten them down neatly with paste or gum. The beauty, of course, depends upon that of the

patterns. Birds, flowers, leaves, &c., arranged with taste are very effective. Finish with strings of ribbon, fastened at exactly opposite sides, and tie to keep the note-case together. For a trifle a very pretty article may be made, suitable for bazaars or fancy fairs.

Pull the threads out on each side of the square of linen, until you have formed a fringe about two inches deep; then leave a few threads on the edge of the linen, to button-hole stitch a border to keep it from ravelling; then pull out 20 threads, and leave 12, until you have gone across the linen. Thread your needle with the embroidery cotton, and make slanting stitches on the threads you have left, doing them at exact

intervals. Then take the cotton, and commence on the drawn threads, thus: leave 8 threads, and take up the next 8, passing the last 8 with the thread over the first 8, and so on to the end of the line. Repeat the veining on every row. The edge must be finished by a strong buttonhole stitch, with the same cotton. These covers, if neatly done, are very pretty for cake-baskets or bread-plates.

DRURY LANE has rejoiced in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean, who have been playing in "Louis XI.," "The wife's Secret," and "Hamlet." In the latter play, Mr. Kean's impersonation of the philosophic Prince is, as it always has been, at once touching, princely, scholarly, and impassioned. The fine scene between him and his mother is one of the most admirable pieces of acting ever witnessed. Again, the scene between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstein, the exquisite change from passion to irony, in the delivery of the lines"There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark, But he's an arrant knave,"

and the closing scenes of the play, are all marked by the polish and beauty which evidence the study Mr. Charles Kean bestows upon all his representations. His Hamlet is that of a refined gentleman, and every line has been pondered over, and is duly emphasized. The scene with Ophelia, alone, would stamp Mr. Kean as a great artiste. The house has been, of course, crammed from roof to floor every night. The inimitable Lord Dundreary has returned to THE HAYMARKET,

And is more inane, stupid, lisping, ignorant, and laughter-provoking than ever. Mr. Sothern possesses the rare faculty of keeping his listeners, not metaphorically, but absolutely in a roar of laughter from beginning to end. Even his look and gesture are sufficent to set the house off. There is not in London, nor has there been for a long time, anything so thoroughly original, and really laughter-making as his acting. It is perfectly refreshing and invigorating to go and pass an evening with Lord Dundreary. We generously present this hint to the dyspeptic and atrabilious. The pantomime runs with unabated success. The

ST. JAMES's

Keeps on "Self Made" and "Perseus and Andromeda." We described both last month, and have only to repeat "Go and see the best burlesque in London." Miss Herbert is the heroine. What more need we say? At THE OLYMPIC

Mr. Robson has revived the farce of "Retained for the Defence," and sustains his original character of Pawkins, wherein he detects the vulgar pick-pocket at an evening party with that broad humour and ridiculous gesticulation and mannerism which distinguish him. W. R.

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION,
REGENT STREET.

During the past month Professor J. H. Pepper has given a lecture thrice-weekly "on the magnificent field of discovery opened out by the new terrestrial and stellar chemistry, and experiments of Bunsen and Kirchkoff"-a most

MONTH.

interesting subject, with which Professor Pepper deals in his usual clear and clever style. Great as has been the success of the optical pantomime, we confess that we feel relieved by the absence of "Mother Goose" from this school and nursing-place of the arts and sciences. Her golden egg, we hope, however, has proved a reality to the Institution, which has certainly known during her presence the luxury of a crowd beyond all our experience of its gallery and theatres the former, by the way, well worth the price of the admission, if only for the sake of the exceedingly interesting geological map which enriches it.

-

VOCAL ASSOCIATION,

ST. JAMES'S HALL.

The sixth season of this Association, which has achieved a permanent rank amongst the musical societies of the country, will commence on Wednesday, March 19th, and will be extended to the 13th of June. The subscribers having voted their unqualified approval of the Conversazione, it has been resolved that this should take place in the last week in June. Amongst a large number of vocalists and instrumentalists engaged for the coming season, we notice Miss L. Pyne, Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Miss Anna Whitty, Madame Lemaire, Madame Laura Baxter; Signors Gardoni, Beletti, Guglielma, Herr Formes. Miss A. Goddard, Lindsay Sloper, in conjunction with the talented conductor, M. Benedict, Sainton, Ole Bull, Aptommas; the Quintet Union, whose delightful performances gave such a zest to the last year's concerts, and the well-known organist M. Lemmens. This list by no means includes the whole of the talent promised.

Subscriptions for the series, &c., received at Mr. Mitchell's, Royal Library, Old Bond-street.

SOCIETY OF FEMALE ARTISTS, 63, PALL MALL.-SIXTH EXHIBITION.

We remark with much pleasure the great improvement in the present exhibition of this society over those which have preceded it. The association is not yet out of its apprentice years, but if every succeeding one is to produce a corresponding advance with that of the present season, we may congratulate ourselves on the conservatism of the old societies which forced upon the great body of womenartists the responsibility of special representation. No one can walk through the gallery without feeling that the "hanging committee" have arrived at a truer sense of the importance of their duties to themselves and the public; and the result is a weeding of the pictures sent in for exhibition, which is highly creditable to the good taste and critical judgment of those intrusted with the onerous task.

All copies

have been rigorously excluded; and in future (we are glad to say) no member of the society will be permitted to exhibit flowers-a resolution that we hope will not be without its effect upon exhibitors in general.

وو

Of course there is still a wide margin for censorship. Where, indeed, would be the pleasure of an exhibition which left no occasion for the exercise of this enjoyable faculty? What a triste affair would be a "private view," in which all the pictures came up to the line of conventional perfectibility, and left no vulnerable point for the "stings and arrows of outrageous fancy! For our own part we have never yet seen, in Pall Mall or elsewhere, the exhibition that withheld from us this amusement; and accordingly we know exactly the numbers in our catalogue that correspond with others on the walls of the exhibition, where we could point to sins of omission | and commission out of which it would be possible to extract whole paragraphs of "Fun." But we remember the dignity of criticism; and while we leave to other pens its cruelties, we gladly glance back to some of the most noticeable of the many praiseworthy pictures that adorn the gallery.

A very charming view (35) of "Grève de Lecq, Jersey," by Mrs. Dundas Murray, reproduces very faithfully this beautiful bay, with the calm sea spreading from point to point of its many indentations-the changeful hues of the water-the little foam-wreaths marking the place of hidden rocks-the cliffs-the atmosphere-take us back to it on the soft eve of a summer's day, and delight us with the artist's keen sense of marine beauty, and the fidelity with which she represents it.

Mrs. Roberton Blaine has anticipated Mr. Warren on these walls, and gives us a very striking picture, "Evening in the Desert" (77), in which this gentleman's properties-Arabs, camels, yellow sands, and crimson skies-are very beautifully treated. The clearness and the stillness are almost palpable, and the composition and colouring excellent.

Mrs. W. Oliver exhibits largely, and we notice amongst her works a view of "Rydal Water" (62), which has considerable merit.

overcast the whole picture, which is, nevertheless, an exceedingly clever one, and a proof in itself that where a true love of art exists, the steady perseverance essential to success will not be wanting in women. (57) "Escape of Grotius from Lowenstien." Two soldiers, bearing the great oak chest in which the philosopher is concealed, down the steps of the castle to the boat on the lake beneath. On the upper step the governor's wife (who was supposed to be in the secret) negatives, with extended hand and a grand air of command, the misgiving of one of the soldiers as to the weight of the chest. There is considerable breadth in the handling of this picture, which is full of colour, admirably harmonized by the brown and umber tints of the castle wall, the oaken chest between the soldiers, the steps, the boat, and other accessories. The large, fair German Chatelaine is admirably drawn, the flesh tints of the face and neck well worked in, and the pose of the figure, and expression of the face excellent. One fault, however, appears in the composition of the picture, which, though distance removes, should not exist at all: when the spectator stands in line with it, the helmets of the soldiers are apparently parallel. A step more between them would have given the requisite difference of elevation to the figures, and rendered them more effective. The care and delicacy with which the whole is painted is worthy of the promise of Miss Kate Swift's former works.

Madame Julliette Peyrol (née Bonheur) exhibits her wonted felicity in depicting the plumage and characteristics of domestic poultry.

Her gifted sister, Rosa Bonheur, confines her contributions to three marvellously spirited works in bronze-"Taureau" (281), "Belier couché" (282), and "Brebes debout" (283).

"School in Normandy" (76), Mdlle. Eudes Guimard, has spirit and character.

Mrs. Backhouse-who can be clever, and whose pictures "Beginning Life" (154), and "A Year in Place" (198), have so much cheerful colour in them-should remember that the aim of painting, like that of poetry, is to idealize and refine. We really do not like to say what we think of the cruelty of making those pretty little country girls retain companionship for the course of their natural lives-the one with a formidable-looking carpet-broom, and the other with a dusting-brush.

66

66

Going to be Confirmed” (141). Mrs. Valentine Bartholmew. A sweet face, full of innocent seriousness. "The Hop Queen" (125), by the same artiste; a pretty rustic girl, but with scarcely sufficient coquetry of expression for the cha 'racter,

Study of Garden Rock-work and Robins' Nest" (146). Mrs. Withers. The ferns and mosses fresh and real, but the composition too crowded.

There are some very beautifully painted portraits in the room, but we have not space to particularize them; we cannot, however, pass over that of "A Young Donkey" (217), by Olive Newcomen, which is very clever, and may be pronounced a first-rate likeness.

Amongst the works of very young exhibitors we notice "The Culvers, from Foreland, Isle of

THE

and

Wight" (93), by Miss Madeline Jee; "Kalmia and Birds'-nest on Screen" (251), by Miss Rosa Place, as giving promise.

Mrs. Thornycroft exhibits her exquisitely sculptured "Princess Beatrice," which we remember to have met at the Royal Academy last year.

On looking at our catalogue we find we have not been able to notice half the meritorious pictures we had intended to do. Our readers will have a higher pleasure, however, in discovering them for themselves. C. A. W

BALL AND EVENING TOILETS.

FIRST FIGURE.-Ball-dress of white tarlatane, over white silk, the skirt ornamented with alternate rows of three puffings and a flounce of tarlatane, set on in undulations, and repeated to the bottom of the skirt; the edge of the first flounce touching the next tier of puffings, and so on. On each side of the skirt a long spray of rose-buds and foliage, mounted on natural wood. The body is decorated with three tarlatane frills, surmounted by a puffing; in the middle of the front a rose, buds and foliage to match those on the skirt, trail as it were over the shoulders. Short sleeves, composed of a puffing and two narrow frills. The head-dress is in harmony with the toilet, and consists of Honiton lace, placed on the hair according to the taste of coiffure, accompanied by a rose and a branch of foliage, turning behind and showing slightly in front. Pearl bracelets. White silk boots, decorated with a rose, instead of ribbon rosette.

SECOND FIGURE (Toilet for Opera or Evening Party).-Velvet dress of very dark capucine (nasturtium) colour, decorated at the side with a bunch of drooping loops, and three long ends of Chantilly lace; body low, trimmed, as are also the sleeves, with lace. Head-dress a long scarf of tulle illusion, with strings of pearl interlaced in the hair; a feather of the capucine tint falls across the head from the folds of the scarf -a head-dress, in point of fact, very much resembling the tasteless intanglements of ornaments worn when Bartalozzi's burin was active, and old Queen Charlotte in her prime.

THIRD FIGURE.-Ball toilet of mauve silk, veiled with mauve tulle. Corsage ornamented with a drapery of silk and tulle. Three rows of similar drapery are placed on the skirt, and attached with white roses. The head-dress is

PASSING

INTERNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC CONGRESS (CONGRES INTERNATIONAL DE BIENFAISANCE).-SESSION OF 1862.

The International Philanthropic Congress has for its object the rational and progressive improvement of the physical, intellectual, and

blond, capriciously blended with the hair, and surmounted by a tuft of white roses. Necklace and bracelet. Mauve boots ornamented with a white rose. Ermine ball cloak, lined with white satin.

FOURTH FIGURE.-Toilet of green crape, trimmed at the bottom of the dress with five goffered flounces of white tarlatane, with a very small head attached by a narrow plaiting of green crape. A tarlatane fichu, with four plaits in the body, trimmed with goffered frills. Head-dress similar to that of the second model, with the difference of three roses in the scarf instead of the feather. A rose is also worn in the middle of the body. Pearl necklace and bracelet. Green boots ornamented with the same flower. Ball cloak of English velvet, lined with pink satin.

Black silk continues in vogue for home or visiting dress. I have just seen a very elegant model, the skirt, trimmed at the bottom with a flounce, having a heading formed in hollow plaits. The body high, and buttoned in front; the waist round, and finished with a band which exhibits the novelty of three buckles in the form of medallions, one in the centre and one nearly above each hip. Sleeve with an elbow rather tight, slit up from the bottom, and ornamented with a narrow flounce en suite with that on the skirt.

Plain cambric collar and undersleeves, bordered by a hem and Valenciennes insertion.

Plain velvet bonnet, made of a single piece stretched over the shape, and ornamented with a bird-of-Paradise plume. Another elegant model is of Azuline blue silk. High body, trimmed like the skirt, with bows of pinked silk. Sleeves half-tight, open, rounded at bottom, and trimmed at the side with black lace. Hair net of blue velvet, with flat bow in front.

EVENTS.

moral condition of the working classes and of the poor. It collects accurate information concerning their present state, and the successful or unsuccessful means employed for bettering it; it elicits the opinion of men who have devoted themselves practically to the welfare of their fellow-creatures, and thus gathers together the