In spite of Lent, in spite of rain and cold, the community of Hankow met almost to a man to celebrate, on the evening of the 10th instant, the winding-up of our dramatic season after a series of most successful performances, Visitors arrived from Kiukiang to swell the audience and enjoy the fun; and there is every reason to believe that they went away more than content. The truth is that two of our ladies were taking leading parts—which accounts for the crowded house; the satisfaction of the spectators is due to a display of talent which took the house by surprise, and brought down genuinely enthusintic ap-Janse at every step in the proceedings, tis one thing to act well for an. amateur and another to act superbly for anybody, amateur or professional; but the latter is only a just and fair meed of praise for the ladies who distinguished themselves on that evening in a manner that will long be remembered in Hankow.
The entertainment consisted of (1) Under the Rose, Miss Roseleaf (England) taking the part of Mrs. Magnet, and Mr. Franklyn that of Sheepshanks; (2) Nine Points of Law, in which Mrs. Thistledown (Scotland) played Mrs," Smylie—an ex. ceedingly difficult character, as will be acknowledged by all who know the piece. Tronside was taken by Mr. De Burgh, and it is only necessary to idd that he acted 8 Mr. de Burgh always does. Not so Mr. D. Vardon (a former paragon in petticoats), he didn't act as he always does, but came considerably out of his shell, and astonished everybody by an exuberance of rollicking, fun as Rodomont, Rollingstone. Mr, Franklyn appeared as John Britton, having already secured a previous triumph: in Under the Rose; but he is just one of those actors whom it is idle to praise, his reputation being fully established as a first-class Amateur, "Mr, Huntly gave Cunningame with his usual skill, and is probably the most self-possessed actor of all amongst.a decidedly brilliant troupe. In canel it would be unbecoming to pass in silence over a gentleman who kindly consented to do the Servant—a part which, though ai parently offering not the slightest handle for display of talent, and consisting of. some dozen unimportant sentences, was nevertheless acted to perfection.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.