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qualities of a really first-rate actress. In sustained power, cultivation of manner, purity of tone and accent, and tenderness of emotion, her performance was a rare specimen of Nature and Art. She looked and behaved like a high-born, high-bred damsel. The Romeo of Mr. McFayden was a performance which deserves encouragement and commendation. Miss Seymour, as the Nurse, was not unsuccessful; and Mr. Roberts made a creditable Mercutio. Mr. Steyne, who, as a low comedian, is a thorough artiste, enacted

text given was not entirely Shakespeare's. The conclusion was improved by Garrick, and is now commonly known as the acting version. Garrick's 'improvements' of Shakespeare's play are like a darn to an Indian shawl, or a crotchet patch on some old English point lace."

-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Juliet is a girl loving and tender, passionate and courageous, earnest and yet womanly, altogether above and beyond any conventional type of humanity; and the actress who would do justice to attributes animated with such intensity must possess no ordinary gifts of mind and person. Of late years, Juliets of any mark on the stage have been rare. Those who could once act the part are now too old; and the latest modern representative, Stella Colas, although a great actress, marred the performance by her unfortu-Peter in a manner worthy of the part. The nate accent. Did Miss Sallie Booth's embodiment of the character realise our ideal of what Juliet ought to be? After careful consideration we feel bound to answer this question in the affirmative, and to declare our conviction that Miss Booth deserves the reputation of a great Shakesperian actress. As critics, we would prefer modifying this eulogium by sundry ifs' and 'buts,' because it always looks clever' and 'discriminating' to be able to discover concealed defects under manifest excellence; but we should not be treating our subject with truth and justice if we contented ourselves with uttering anything less than the highest enconium. We know no one now on the English stage better qualified than Miss Booth to delineate Shakespeare's greatest heroine. We very much doubt, however, whether this kind of entertainment will pay' in this locality. While so many of the upper and middle classes of the neighbourhood do not 'trouble' themselves to visit the theatre, and therefore do not 'believe' in the merit which they can witness there, the higher branches of the drama must pine for want of sufficient support. This reflection is certainly humiliating to the taste of the day all we can do is to endeavour to mend it.

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We have left ourselves small space to notice the other actors who figured in "Romeo and Juliet." Mr. McFayden enacted Romeo in a manner that deserves much praise; he showed himself to be an intelligent and energetic representative of the part. Mr. Roberts was a creditable Mercutio, and Mr. Steyne was a capital Peter. Miss Seymour as the Nurse satisfied a large portion of the audience. Of the rest of the performers we can only say that considering they belong to a company selected with special reference to their qualifications for melo-drama, comedy, or burlesque, the wonder is that they filled their parts with so little cause for dissatisfaction."

The Morning Advertiser of the 11th ult. thus notices the performance :-

"Last week Shakespeare's tragedy of 'Romeo and Juliet' was produced at this theatre, for the purpose of giving the public an opportunity of seeing Miss Sallie Booth in a great Shakesperian character. Although she was apparently suffering from the effects of a severe cold, her unquestionable genius triumphed over such an obstacle as temporary indisposition, and she satisfied the experienced observer that she possesses all the

We think that the present range for light comedy, farce, and burlesque, will probably lead to the decay of great Shakesperian acting.. Actors will discover that it will not "pay" to cultivate anything which seems counter to the fashion of the day; and the result will soon be that this generation will find itself without suitable representatives of the noblest forms of dramatic art. Miss Booth doubtless finds it more profitable to devote her talents to the delineation of the lighter kinds of histrionic work; but while she is performing Shakespeare's heroines, our sons and daughters ought not to lose an opportunity of seeing the great poet's creations embodied in a manner not easily surpassed.

CHEERFULNESS.-Can you think that it is the design of Him who created all things for a wise end, that any human being shall merely fill a place in the world without being of service to his fellow-creatures wonderful faculties with which all are to a greater or or to himself! God, in giving us the various and lesser degree endowed, has evidently designed us to become "forms of use;" for to bestow a useless gift would be inconsistent with His wisdom. To some he has given the ten talents, to some five, and to some but one; but to all he has given at least that one. And have you a right to go and bury your one talent in the earth, instead of using it and increasing it to five? When you see that the reward of usefulness is happiness even in this world, that occupation brings enjoyment, that the only permanent felicity is found in active life, can you help being convinced that to be useful to others and to ourselves is our destined end?

We learn this lesson from every tree, from every weed that we trample beneath our feet? Are they herb, every flower that grows, even from the meanest not all images of use, springing up to some useful end? Does not every one possess some property serviceable to mankind, and does not every one perform an ap pointed office? There is virtue in the leaves of even the despised weed; and look, how it unfolds those leaves, shoots forth blossoms and forms seed which serve to propagate its species.

THE LADIES' PAGE.

DAISY PATTERN FOR A CROCHET COUVRETTE.

MATERIALS. For a large Couvrette, Boar's-head crochet cotton, No. 8; for Pincushion-covers, Mats, and such-like small articles, Boar's-head crochet cotton No. 16 or 20, of Messrs. Walter Evans & Co., Derby.

A pattern of this description is most useful,, as it can be converted to so many purposescounterpanes, couvrettes, and a thousand other things.

Each article is made separately, and joined to the others, as the last row is crocheted. Begin in the centre; make 8 chain, insert the needle in the first, and make a long treble stitch, then make 3 chain, repeat 4 times from *, always inserting the needle in the 1st chain stitch, join the last chain to the 5th of the 1st 8 chain to close the round. 2nd round. Work 1 double crochet, 9 chain, turn, work a slip stitch in each of the 9 chain; work round the stem thus made in close crochet, working 3 stitches in 1 to turn at the point; miss 1 stitch of preceding row, work 2 double crochet, and repeat from * 5 times more, making 6 petals in all. 3rd. Work at the back of the last row,

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behind the petals; make 1 petal between each petal in last row, 1 double crochet at the back of each, and cut the cotton at the end of the round. 4th. 2 double crochet at the point of each of the 12 petals, 5 chain between each petal. 5th. 2 treble, 5 chain, repeat. 6th and last round. 1 double crochet in the centre of the 1st 5 chain, * 5 chain, 1 treble in the centre of the next 5 chain, 5 chain, 1 slip stitch in the top of the treble stitch, 6 chain, 1 slip stitch in the same place, 5 chain, a 3rd slip stitch in the same place, 5 chain, 1 double crochet in the centre of the next 5 chain, repeat from to the end of the round. There should be 12 trefoil patterns in the round.

For the couvrette join the circles together in working the last round by each pair of trefoils. As many circles can be added as may be required for the couvrette.

CROCHETED FLOWERS.-CAMPANULA.

Two shades of lavender split wool will be needed: one must be very light.

FLOWER.-Take a small piece of the lightest shade, not split, and work a chain of nine stitches; break off the wool after fastening it, make a loop on the needle with the second shade of wool, which must be split, and work round the chain one stitch of double crochet in every loop, putting three stitches in the top loop; a wire must be worked in the edge as before directed. This completes one petal. Another must be worked exactly alike. Having completed this, place it on the first-the right side of one petal on the right side of the other. Begin at the end where your wool is, insert the crochet in one loop of the edge of each petal, and work a plain stitch in these two loops, taking them together as one. Work the three following loops of both edges in the same way, and in the fourth be careful to place the needle under both wires, so as to tire them together with the stitch, break off the wool, and fasten the end securely with a rug-needle. Work

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another similar petal, and fasten it to the edge of one of those just made, with 5 stitches of plain crochet; two more will be required, making in all five petals, which mast be fastened as the rest. The flower will then present the form of a little bell; place in the centre five yellow stamens (not too small), round a pistil tipped with green, and cover the stem with green split wool.

LEAVES.-The leaves will require two shades of green wool, of a nice bright colour; one should be darker than the other. Take the lightest shade, and with the wool, unsplit, work several chains from seven to twelve stitches in length, and with the darkest shade (which must be split) work a row of long stitches round each chain, one stitch in each loop, till you come to the top, which will require three stitches in the loop; fasten the wool off in the last stitch, and work a wire in the edge of each leaf, leaving a small bit at the end, as a little stalk, which must he covered with wool.

THE. TOILET.

(Specially from Paris.)

FIRST FIGURE: Ball Toilet for a Young Lady -Consisting of a first skirt of tulle, short enough to show the feet, and trimmed at bottom with a transparent, through which a blue ribbon is run about a quarter of a yard above the hem, which is bound with the same coloured ribbon. A second skirt of tulle, slightly looped at each side with a long wreath of flowers or foliage of the same shade, falls over the first as low as the transparent. Blue silk corslet over a tulle body; short puffed sleeves, with others of tulle hanging loose over them. The corslet is fastened over the shoulders by the same flowers as appear upon the skirt; and a long and wide sash and rosette of the same silk finish the dress behind. The hair is ornamented with blue velvet foliage and flowers. White satin shoes with blue rosettes.

Buttons continue to be very much worn; the newest are of a square form, and are worn not only up the front, but upon every seam. Talking of seams reminds me that at last some strong-minded lady, regardless of the raised eyebrows and self-suffering smile of her mantua - maker, has suggested that, instead of having her breadths of silk gored for that artiste's benefit, the piece hitherto cut off shall not be cut off at all, but turned in; and now this contemptible innovation has become the rule, and our fashionists have become economists, and find that when the material is both sides alike, it is a great advantage when a dress has to be turned. The walking crinoline has contracted to two yards in circumference, but that for full dress is still of full dimensions. The struggle between short SECOND FIGURE: Dinner or Evening Dress and long dresses continue as far from being -Consisting of a velvet robe with a long train. settled as when I last wrote. All young The skirt and body are cut out of a single piece, women with pretty feet and ankles will no like a long basquine. The first sleeves are doubt adopt the new style, especially as the made of satin of the same colour as the dress; under-skirt is more elegant and ornate than and a second pair of velvet, lined with silk, ever; but matrons will in all probability hang from the shoulders, and are confined at continue their preference for long- trained the bottom with about four inches of seam. dresses. The newest under-skirts are white, Collar of guipure, of the shape known as the with a plaited flounce one quarter of a yard in Henry IV. Ruff; and cuffs to match. In the depth, the whole of which falls below the hair a bandeau of velvet, studded with pearls. dre33.

I had almost forgotten to say that this dress is trimmed from top to bottom of the front with five bands of satin of the same colour, the widest or centre one having buttons all the way down; five bands of the same trimming surround the bottom of the skirt, but are wider than those on the skirt.

Of bonnets there is no end; the new straws are charmingly coquet, as we say here, and are trimmed in a variety of graceful simple ways. For dress, those made of crape or lace predomi nate.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

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"W. R.," Hampshire.—We should be glad to hear if this gentleman intends to favour us with the remainder of the tale "Infelix," the first five chapters of which are in our hands.

"M. C.," Stockport-" From Paris to Neufchatel" is in the printer's hands, and will appear next month. "J. Lee.”—The tale is quite unsuited to our pages. TO CONTRIBUTORS.-All MSS. will be carefully read,

and if not accepted, returned on receipt of stamps for postage. But the editor cannot be answerable for any accidental loss. Books, &c., as usual.

PRINTED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND.

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