222

Annual Meeting of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

a sweet delicate flavour to use a culinary | fiery furnace twice daily, proved an immense
simile-quite appetising, Miss Hetty Tracey, success. A woman who enacted the same
who is a favourite with the audience on account exciting róle was encored in ber seemingly
of her ability and her pretty face and figure, perilous undertaking; but I have never heard
acted the heroine, Eily O'Connor (The Colleen that the useful invention practically illustrated
Bawn), in a pleasant little tame manner, which in the proceeding has found favour in the eyes of
did not jolt one's sympathies. Her Irish pro- mistresses of families or their laundresses. At
clivities are of the slenderest description, the present time, the mystery of the “Speaking
*spake, mane, kape, and a few other words Head,” the representation of which renders
appeared to comprehend the whole of her every hoarding and dead wall grimly suggestive
notions of the speech of an Irish country girl. of a scene of horror, has taken the town by
Father Tom's blessing on her head, that the storm, and shown that something akin to the
swate Irish brogue may never lave your tongue,' morbid sentiment that fills the Spanish circus
was one of the shortest lived stage blessings that with spectators is not “dead, but sleepeth"
we ever heard uttered. In truth, the first night, amongst ourselves. But the really and deser-
nearly all the actors wandered in and out of the vedly popular, and at the same time satisfactory
brogue in a fashion that may be excusable, but sight at the Polytechnic, is the automatic Leo-
was not artistic. We must not omit to mention tard, the ingenuity of which renders its exhibi-
Mr. Steyne, who as Mr. Corregan was capital. tion doubly interesting. The figure of the
The more we see of this actor, the more heartily mute acrobat, which appears suspended from
we can endorse the opinion expressed by a the ceiling of the Hall, is not moved after the
metropolitan reviewer, that he is 'a thorough ordinary manner of self-acting machines, that is
artist. Miss Lotti Moreton, as Mrs. Gregan, by clock-work wound up to perform certain
deserves much praise. She dressed herself well, movements. The only agent of the extra-
and acted with more power than we thought ordinary and life-like performances of tbis figure
she possessed. Miss Seymour, as Shelah, was is electricity communicated to it by the action
a very effective bustling and animated re- of a singular musical machine, which simulates
presentative of the cottage woman. Her make (very harshly we are bound to say) the sounds
up and style were excellent. Mr. Roberts, as of various instruments, which, at the moment
Danny Mann, was decidedly good, in spite of of their simultaneous crashing together, excites
the deficiency of his Irish vocabulary.”

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 ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, swing with which he emulates his living nameREGENT-STREET.

sake, and the way in which he appears to

gather up his strength to make the exciting There was a time, notwithstanding the popu- sommersault. One thrills, and cringes, and larly instructive style of Professor Pepper's curdles through every vein and nerve, while lectures, and the odds and ends of scientific watching the marvellously life-like simulation; and mechanical knowledge to be gleaned in its and yet one knows it is but simulation, hall and theatres—there was a time when enui and that no harm can come of it. It is a hint, and headache indissolubly connected them- in its way, that should put an end to living selves with a visit to this respectable institution. exhibitions of this nature, for the effect can be The illustrations of electricity failed to arouse obtained without the danger, and horrible risk the languid and scanty audience; so did lectures to which living professors of the trapeze, &c. on light and chemistry; they interested a few, subject themselves. And, judging from the and superficially amused the majority; but cumulative applause (almost sufficient to warm people were glad when the dissolving views even the hollow bosom of an automaton) that came, and the diver, and the glass of Thames follows, this wonderfully clever performance ; water magnified. These last, if we except the Men, as well as women and children (the speapparition of a kindly-looking old gentleman's face cial patrons of the Polytechnic) can be equally (we have missed it for many a year), enlarged gratified by the mental ingenuity of their kind, to gigantic proportions, and the immortal illustrated in the grace and gymnastic power of Polytechnic flea (whose ubiquitous existence we this interesting figure, as by their hazardous and still firmly believe in)—these tvere the nearest fool-hardy daring, however wonderful and ex. exhibitions approaching the sensational. But citing the exhibition.

C. A. W. the executive discovered that the adage “All work and no play" appliod to Polytechnic audiences, as well as to "Jack;" dull boys yawned there, who should have been drinking in all ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ROYAL sorts of scientific snaps; but who didn't, and NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. came out feeling as if their ears had been entertained with “ tinkling brass and sounding cym

On th 28th ult. this Institution held its bals.” So a new régime was introduced. A man annual meeting in the Egyptian-ball of the who played in his single person the parts of Shad- Mansion-bouse, under exceptionally interesting rach, Mieshech, and Abednego, walking through a' and auspicious circumstances, the heir to

Annual Meeting of the Royal National Lise-boat Institution.

223

he throne of England presiding. It was pointed out that for forty-three years the Society no wonder therefore that the hall was filled had steadily pursued its benevolent exertions, beyond its power of accommodation, and with yearly-increasing success. Thus, while in that many gentlemen stood throughout the 1824 one hundred and twenty-four lives had whole of the proceedings. The Prince been saved, last year nine hundred and twenty(whose voice, clear, sweet, and resonant, four persons were rescued, either directly or inlike that of his august mother, made itself directly, by the instrumentality of the Society. beard distinctly throughout the hall) spoke Vain, however, would be the efforts of that earnestly, on behalf of the noble and im- Society and the generosity of the British public portant charity whose cause he had undertaken. were it not for the happy combination of bravery He pointed out the absolute necessity for an in- and humanity which had ever been the chastitution of the kind in a maritime nation like racteristic of the true British sailor, who was our own, and how it differed from the many other always ready to come to the rescue, and to beneficent charities we possess, because the throw himself, however desperate the chances saving of life for which it operates involves the and dangers of the undertaking might be, into risk of life on the part of those engaged in its the life-boat and rush to the help of his sufferservice, His Royal Highness drew attention to ing fellow-creatures. He reminded the meeting the grateful facts that a thousand lives had also of the aid the clergy had ever given to been saved, by means of life-boats, in the pre- the Association, and of recent instance in sent year, and that life-boats were no longer which clergymen had physically lent a hand confined to our own coasts, but that many in saving lives from shipwreck. foreign nations had emulated our example, and Lord Hardwick, Sir Stafford Northcote, and had chosen our institution as the model for other gentlemen, spoke of the influence and theirs. The Prince also observed that life-boats objects of the institution. had been given by many benevolent individuals : At the conclusion of several addresses a some as thank-offerings from the friends of vote of thanks was tendered to the Prince, those whose lives have been saved, and others who, in briefly replying to it, gracefully in memory of those who are now unhappily no acknowledged the gift of a model of the more. Turning to Mr. Lewis, the energetic "Albert Victor”, life-boat from the Society, Secretary (who occupied a seat on the Prince's which appeared in a glass-case on the table; left), he remarked that Mr. Lewis had held and he hoped, when his eldest son at some that office previous to the Duke of Northum, future time was looking at it, he would reberland's presidentship, and his late lamented member that it was named after him in his father's vice-patronage, and had done so ever infancy, and that before he had attained the age since, and that it was mainly owing to his ex- of three years it had been the means, under perience and the manner in which he has God's providence, of saving between twenty worked, that the Society had arrived at its and thirty lives. The touch of nature in this present efficiency (graceful and well-merited allusion to home-life and his little son ran praise). Other officers of the institution were through the assembly electrically-one could mentioned as rendering and having rendered see it in the women's eyes, and hear it in the important services to the institution. One men's cheers; and if the Prince was popular hundred and seventy-four life-boats were afloat, east of Temple-bar prior to the last day of thirty-three of them having been added to the February, 1867, there is no doubt that he has Society during the past year, at the cost of become much more so since; while the cause $17,000, which had been defrayed by benevo- for which he presided was thus incidentally lent individuals. His Royal Highness ended furnished with one of the strongest incentives his address by calling upon his hearers to offer to its support in the reverence for and love of their support to the institution.

the home and its relations, that is so dear to Mr. Richard Lewis, the Secretary (as soon as English men and women. Every pound-nay, the cheers that followed his Royal Highness's mere pence, presented to the institution turn speech permitted him), read the annual report; to life-boat timbers and fittings; and every and, amongst other encouraging facts connected being snatched from the engulphing waves by with the institution and its objects, stated that their instrumentality preserves some home from it was now building five of its improved fishing- desolation or destruction, and takes back to it boats, provided with safety fittings, hoping the father or brother or son on whom it prothereby to gradually introduce such improve- bably depends, or by whom it is, in some sort, ments in the sinaller class of fishing-boats as supported. might lead to a considerable diminution in the During the meeting a magnificent donation, loss of life.

In conclusion he pointed out that from an anonymous lady, of £600 was handed operations of the Society extended over all the in; and two other cheques, for 400 and 100 British isles, and the committee were deter- guineas severally, were announced.-C. A. W. mined, with the blessing of Almighty God and the sympathy of and support of the British Contributions and donations will be thankpublic, to leave no effort untried that can assist fully received at the office of the Institution, in any way in lessening the annual loss of life 14, John-street

, Adelphi, by Richard Lewis, Esq., on our shore.

Secretary, and by all bankers in town and Sir John Pakington, in a forcible speech, country.

THE LAD I E S' PA G E.

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 5th. Work 3 plain on the 4 plain of the last the length required.

row; then 1 chain, miss 1, and 1 treble in each 1st row. 6 chain, miss 3, and I plain; repeat one chain. Repeat. to the end and turn back. 2nd. 6 chain, miss 5, and 1 plain in the 6 chain

6th. Work 2 plain on the 3 plain of the last of the last row. Repeat.

row; then 1 chain, miss 1, and I treble in each 3rd. Work the same as the 2nd row.

one chain. Repeat. 4th. Work 1 chain and i treble 6 times, all 7th and 8th. Work as the 6th row, inaking 2 in the 6 chain of the last row; then 1 chain chain instead of 1 chain each time. and 4 plain in the next 6 chain. Repeat.

A ROUND FOOT-CUSHION.

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

This very pretty cushion is covered with 5th. Work 7 loops of 3 chain at the back of roses worked in crochet. Each rose is made petals of last round. separately; nineteen are required.

6th. 3 double within each loop, one double For the centre rose take the darkest green between each. wool and make a circle of 7 chain, work a 7th. Work over each petal in the same way second circle of 5 chain, with black wool now as in the 4th round. * work a circle of 7 chain, 1 chain, 1 double in In the 8th round work 9 loops of 3 chain; the the nearest stitch of first circle, repeat from * 9th and 10th are worked in the same way as the 4 times more.

5th and 6th with darker wool. 1st round. Lightest red. Over each loop or Now work two more circles of petals, increascircle work 5 treble, 1 double in the nearest ing in the same proportions. This is the centre double. Work 4 petals in this manner. rose ; the 18 others are completed with the 7th

2nd. Work 4 loops of 3 chain at the back of round; they are grouped round the centre rose the petals of preceding round.

and all firmly fixed on to the cushion. Two 3rd. In each loop work 3 double and i double circles of scallops of treble stitches in two over each double of last row.

shades of green wool are added as an edging 4th. Take the middle shade of red. Over round the roses. A border of plain crochet also each petal work 1 double, 2 treble, 3 long in green wool is placed round the sides of the treble, 2 treble, 1 double, and one slip stitch cushion, which should be well-stuffed and lined between each petal.

with green glazed calico.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Poetry received, with thanks.-"In the Watches have accepted a paper on this subject-M. C.'s must

of the Night;' ' Blessings in Disguise;" “The stand over); “ The Rose of Riversdale” in its turn. Schoolmaster's Idyl;” “Treasures ;"°« Blossoms;" E. R., Ringwood.—We are obliged for the vigilance “Children.”

of our correspondent. The coincidence is quite

natural, Declined.--"Our Volunteers ;" The River ;'' “ The

Both publications are indebted to the Little Vines about our Home;" Dulness."

same source--an American reprint.

To CONTRIBUTORS. - Our rule for the return of Prose received and accepted.-"A Night's Walk in manuscripts has been so frequently published that

the Tyrol ;” “Concerning Comic Songs ;” “Seeing it ought to be unneccessary to repeat it. If stamps a few Friends;" “Over the Hills” (The writer shall are not sent, we will not hold ourselves responsible hear from us); “Relating to the Fine Arts” (We for the return of manuscripts.

PRINTED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND.