Some few months ago a happy idea was started by several English artists of each contributing one picture which should be shown in some public building, and eventually sold by auction for the benefit of the fund. The project was warmly taken up; the Lord Mayor granted the use of the Guildhall for the exhibition, and most of our noted artists contributed a picture. 328 were sent in, and among the donors were Her Majesty the Queen, the Empress Frederick, and Princess Louise. Last Saturday and 'Monday Messrs. Christie put these works to auction at their rooms in St. James' and from their sale no less a sum than £°,663.8.6 has been added to the fund. Her Majesty's contributions consisted of two etchings, One of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg whens little hoy fetched £15, and the other, an etching by the Prince Consort, E35, An oil painting by the Empress Fre: derick fetched £70, and Princess Louise's sketch £46.4. The highest price gained for any work was 420 guineas., It was paid for A Flay of Truce, by Sir 'T. Alma Tadema. Phe pictures were mostly small, as it was thought tht they would sell more readily, and this, I believe, proved to be the case. Among the purchasers were the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Last weel 1 in the cause of charity) two matinee performances were given at the Savoy Theatre of a most charming little musical play in three acts by Alfred Scott Gatty, called Tullercouts. Tt was not performed by the Savoy Company, but by a specially selected cast and a chorus composed entirely of amateurs. The whole play seems to me to be specially suited to amateurs, and to such I specially commend agem of the first water—pretty, bri and altogether charming. Tattereoats the name under which the grand-daughter of a certain Baron Trevainé roams. the country side in the guise of a herd girl, She knows nothing of her real position, her mother married ayainst her father's wishes, and was di ad in conseque She has, however, two friends, Jenefer, her old nurse, and the Hexd Boy, " super na. tural or' immortal personage, at the tune of whose pipe all wrongs seem to he redressed. OF course, there is a Prince—in this instance his name is Cai—naturally also he sees and falls in love with Tattercoats. There is likewise an old sropheey to the effect that on Camel's tanks she shall "meet her fate." 'This she accordingly does, as quite near the river the meeting takes place, All comes right in the end; the old Baron relents, forgives his dead daughter, and owns' her child as the Lady of Camelford, greatly to the delight of Prince Cai and the company generally. Mrs. Beerbohm Tree, who devotes so much of her time to charity able work, made a fascinating heroine.
inging ig not her strong point, but acting was charming, Miss Dorothea made an effective Herd Boy Alice Aynsley Cook for. Mr, Ernest I
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.