The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 8

8 THE OBSERVER, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1929. THEATRES. LATEST WILLS. 3tlusic and 3tusiciarts. THE LITERATURE OF MAGIC.

ROUND THE HOLIDAY SHOWS. man's Nightfall or the words run away with the tune (Vaughnn Williams's A Piper But II. Hughes's A Love Letter" is all a pnug need lie, and yet it did nut cud-vince. The stolid manner of Schubert's FruhlintrnKlaube and the brilliant execution df difficult arpegtrios in Mahler's Wer li.u daa Lit-dlein Erdacht i made us look forward to Urahrns yith some unct-rtaintv. Hera again ihcy ware all sung, but iiDthinit sank in.

Xachtigall was all on the surface, cavn no picture, trie stanza? of Miimeiied were ihe unmodulated Genres nf a mosaic. Mme Liebe ist prim did iint come Ir, f) Licbliche Wangen very nearly And yet a sinfcle human touch wr.uM h.T,v turned any one ui them into t-oiiH'thin in-iii'irahlu. (BY A. H. FOX I happen to Iiae been lhc ijiicnt, (luring the last ten years, or letters commenting on the unpractical state of tnusi- eal notation, and in particular of three I I definite schemes for the third i some sun of shorthand statement of ii.

of which came yesterday. Turning up Hut. a notation musi not Ahdy Williams's Storv of Notation I only him who reads, tmt linn who I see that he thinKs It iirnltiMe Hint is, writing notes, hut thinkin-for the -last three centuries a "new" I before ST UARTIH'i. SORRY YOU'VE BEEN By WALTER 1IA KIT TROUDLSDi I.OI'.NE UA4. ii.

-v S. lit. "JM ht-MLLU anil ll.li Evrv. it 8.15. Fn, 30 1 Cluw-d 23.

24. Mji- SCALA. Bcxinu BABES IN THE WOOD Cmikshnnk. bill! U-nt'cc all Star Ca.t Hy UN HaY anil Sl l.l'hl Climlmai M.iis Her. C6.

27 -d. i 7. 8 STRAND. ITirnrile Br 26bO I 1 THE SPORT OF a IHLl vi vr. STRAND.

BUXING DA and t'l 1 i-S i .1 KORKltT t.UKA INK- TREASURE ISLAND THE OLD VIC." 'I Fri. al 7 V. -A MIDSUMMER NIGHT a DREAM Hi. 30 A. 7.45 -HANSEL AND CRLTEL VAUDEVILLE.

3 JO Hi" I THE RUOF." lit JOHN I CliriMnia-. VICTORIA PALACE. I -niif 1 M. 1M M- THE Hill II. I A rtnlilli- i'.

Ma WINTER CAROEH. Hoi 2.30. UKAl'lfcl KIM. Popular 10.. X.MAS I H0VV iM'j If Un.

THE CALENDAR." I'l I 1 UWK.S NAItKS. CM A1.H1HI1 Dlt.AYTO.N. CIl.l.lAN l.l.NU. X.MAS WKLK Tlue- UiKl.lC i 11.1-1 A RTS THEATRE CLUB, III ij.o. AsMa-Mle nn ml.

10. Friday ut-xl, 8.30, 1, 5' PlUeLE CIKC UI Ki-iaL- u--lvr Nrr. I. I. ill, Krnri b.iU.

VARIETY ENTERTAINMENTS. (Tot. 3161 5.15. 8.15! Norn. Ni'IM.

fjaskcumb Anil a 2.U 1 main. A- W' i aoj M.IIS lollNSIUM. S-ri naupi. Ilirnl. e- PALLAUll'M.

ilerr loo-l 1 2.50. l.A. liouslun SiMi-ra-. bill)- 11-nn. 0.

UI-MU Krtl.r, M.nia llin Perrjrr, Williams Taller VICTUKIA K. on: 4. witi KVirKk. jam; ayh tunlr rni ULAPDY 1 1 1 1 1 ST I A I n'l I) 5 CIRCUSES. AGAIN AT OLY'MriA.

BEliTHAM inrrj. Claris. loth sEAscis. Twict- oS tl.30 anil 7.30. Tline Ilm, L'i 8.3U BOX umct .1 UL1 -Ml'lA Kl -'-ijii all 'Hiram- Tlikit ami l.il.jan...

-IKYhTAt. 1'ALAL'E. OUAXII L'ONTLSEJiTlI 1'IHCI S. Utile, TlMl. Kv.

at 2.30 7.30. Tlirer ilirill, Viiiw 5... 9d- 3 0,1. i 3. Syj' "so PICTURE THEATRES.

ALHAMBRA. Cur. 5064. Al 12 0 20 6 30. B.45.

ATLANTIC." Th5 DrS tnlemanunal TalkniE ASTORIA. Gcr. 5528. 6 11. lln.i,, Diifn 1 8AL0TK.

6 .55. 9 30 All tree liniy. Uaiiinum Snuiirt N.ws. l.triTOI.. KPE- 4455.

6.11. Wllnr, Ra.i.. HOMA.Vl.-K OF THE RIO OllAXOK All-Tali. In, al 6.50, 9.25. oiiillllinil ODUll.l CARLTON.

Hsrmark.l. HAItoI.Il LlTlYU in bi In ALL TALKING Pictme W'EU. OME IIANOER -WorMs Grcau-s; Laugli Hlio.v I Unj. Keallr Can Talk! D. Mail.

Bis U. lonii'l Ai. At 6 8 O. AU trutu 2s. 4d.

Kt-s. 2Z1I. p'MiMKK. 6 1. Wttk-daji.

Noun (F THK Also UlLi All TilkSJ unHHly llriiiiij. t.ll.u-- iD-nlt. Mltul. 31., Cj( T.IL-i.. 11.

I OLL1ES SilOfit Setitiiul. Til LONDON PAVILION. To-nictii. 6 0 ini 8.30 y.30. 6.0.

8.30. Charlm Cochnri sre-rnl MAHY PirKfIRD i DOfGLAS FAIRBANKS la 1UK TAMlNi; Of THE SUKEW." ALLTALhlSo. MABBLF. ARCH I' I Tn niclit 6. 8 30.

Tb-jjt mil Uir Wfrk. FAIRBANKS in THE Poufla. Fanhaiu, LUPINO l.ANF. Talkins Sennd CiiKctt. GaunMiiit Sonnil News.

Xnus Day. Boxifit Day. ducii 1.30. NEW GAt.LEItY. Orr.

9805 6 H. HOD LA liOL'QL'E in "THE DELIGHTFUL ROOUE All-Talkius: al 7.10 9 40. Also Urillatl Moyiilaoi News. PLAA. Muhlj- Xinu ProEmfl AII-TiLlini! CLIVI BROOK Tl.s nETL'KN OF SlIEBLOCK HOt.MhS.

Hcart-GriePing SurT Thriller I Lunino Lane in ruly Cirrumslanlial Mickry Molc-e in JazJ Kovi." To-Qlltlt 6. 8.50. rin 5.30. lies 7201. POLYTECHNIC THEATRE.

ttartair I3J0. liy CHKRItY KEARTON. Uaily. 2 30. 5.50.

B.50. Nut EGAL. Tn-niKlil, 6-11. Faulmi- Frrd.rirk Ulkltil EVIDFNCK." an.l Cl.llilia lil AN' EYE FOIi AN EYE." i'aiM. H911.

STUIJ Klngiiway. To-nisrit iSnn.1. frum 6 m. Drimatic Talkie. HKNTLtM KS 0V THK i'REJiS TJkl- J'lavJft.

Tiltrt The Iliglu Btd." Tu-murrow lWrmryr 3 and kntlrn Week li-loud Clirisirnsi lUyj. Irwn 12.50. Exrhfciiva Prrspnialinn oi Hip All yviTpiw-. UNDKU 'i'HK C.HKENWOnn THr, CHAKL1S CHAPLIN In A Dog'a Life iilrnn cir. TIVOLI.

TempJe Bar 5222. i unnnMnuv 6 11. BEBE DANIELS JOIi.V IH)I mi H10 T1ITA All-Taiking. iSinrriB and at 6. 10 ind 8.45.

Also Brilish Mrji-ictonp clr SITPEH fIX EM A. si. Sin. 6-11. To-nigln.

iKNTLKM KS" OF" THK I'RESS ilw Twin Bfdx," II Kit I'RIVATE LIFE" ad Hyntlinuc ENTERTAINMENTS. TRICITY EST A A NT. riPEV ALL SlISDAV. Fur LfSCIIEOV. TEA.

4 6. 3s. 6d. DIXNKIt. B-U p.m..

i- TKK ITY BAND. KfcMTve TaljlL's lur in? Dun.r i.ifi fTIHE RICHMOND ICL HINK Urert in ihe WotU. S'Siions 9-1. 2-6. 7 11 ck it-r- txl ipecU-tnr Ik.

6d. e-h Kcsion. hxfiin.tior. Uoxmi Dr iM 8.30 n.u. It-tsiiratu 1 nil licefifftl.

Clinsiniat HoiiHnv Mi-nitnT-lnp C3 3- Hi rut-mas Eve Party 7-11 Atlnnitin, indwlirif bkilina, 2s. fed. 'IMionc. Puprhijrn-. 2771.

CHI LTKRN.tm'RT it EST A I' HAN THaUrr-M luoT Kjeci.l Clirilin IJay Dmn.r 10-. ei. ncfi-Book table now. 5544. 205- ART EXHIBITIONS.

2G a line; Af.fUTnur7i 7,6. LFRED IL nti LOULE POWELL. Haud-Pamtwi Put ten BKOUK-STItEET AKT OAfJ.Knii:S. 14. Brook enrttjt.

New BomJiftrt-t. 1. AT THE TWEXTY-ONE OALLERV. 15. Mill.it., W.l.

Daily 10 to 6. s.ii. nil 2 p-d- ART BnfrvTV cvTimi'iTr-YV II. RACING and Hll.VTlvr.. itv -imfA 1.

i IVIi I MIfKCH HI. Scottish Loctij Mo.m. Hv Ki :r.lN7 HI 148. New If LEICESTER GALLERIES. Iicrster 1U-6 (1) ERNEKT anri Win Pill TKK PlclBTff.

2i CAVI.EV HflRIVMTIM a I i dfl Palntinm. (3) W. GIMMl i EDPEIiN GALLERY. 27, 11 li RAVERS, t'm. Afinnai ExnitJluou.

BOCIETY ui Uuu ST. dF.OROF.'K GALLERY. ENGLISH WOOD ENGRAVING 32a. llaiiov.r-Mt.. W.l 10 tiii.iioo ol EXHIBITIONS.

26 a linB; Ainimuni. 7 STaDAME TL'fflAtD'iEitHtiition. Ral-r AM. Daily. 10-10.

CARNKKA IN WAN s. lay- 2-10- Admission Is. 3d. (inc. Uxi Ctiil'ifi or.

J-r 12- o- CONNOISSEURS" GUIDE. 26 a line Minimum 7 CHRISTMAS, iy2a. An ontiil Cliribiinu prwent fur an i be a rear ntX4criuiitn uut linjnon Masanne iht World' fya.lir.,: 7he Burlmnon JUta-armr. Ud U.n St. JamesVai rii-i lridun.

(fW 1 ij BUUltl I NOTABLE WMIIKS 01- AKT V'U 1 If ARK El in tl.r itibiert uf 4u SuDp(RncnL in iht? DtTrpniber number -too Uasaiine Tim imui ilsu (X'niam- flaiea and 16 parr in cnona(tne. Pnre a u-': 3i ixwt friT) 1-Lnrt. 16a Si Janrtri ilreet Lotnlun. SW1. THE s.iraiea Uuilir.r i i ylmir- bu.W-fcrtit- STRANCWAYSJ music employs a compass of sixty semi-' tones, and these would nppear as sixty columns filled or empty, would make nil uie wiieth'ir it was column or column 43, mid wc should require hawk eye to see winch it was: ami so on.

We see. then, that a picture of the StUirill is liT Tin to lis- I'niK tim i iiunillj; I.1 1 (till, 1 1 1 '1 11 1'J 14 and rufusiiitf iu combine. Mundinf! tun viMbiy iiijii slippniL'' inv.iv If. uii tup Hi all this lru'li lu hold tho nVeiinp moment, no is asKCii tu learn and some new Va-y tlf forniniltin it paper, ho will never et his music written. His the paper mist proceeil from life-Ion' habit, with, at most, a n- labour-saving (Jmlv hvu lhai ini Jias invented nr picked up from a friend.

And he is. not aluiir: th.Te am thousands of him. So there will he thmisnnds of (Indies most of Jheni rejecteil, Trw retained; and out of these notation will sinwlv advance, it will advance like a which sprin'M not fimn the plan of one man. hut from thf idiosy in-rasies of many. "I he F'opt Laureate Iieis jut shown us how inucli ope man may do fur a laiifruae ty Making hnnprht.

huf anyone ho tried to f-dl'iw him would have to a noe. Nutation ndvanri-s, inoii' at one tunc than another. The changes we have noticed place In-fly rtmn.il ah. llim, and lljii'l; and Ih'ose wer." He' hiuiiieiils hen oi Milium, oiitiiet pt and Jiaruuiny principles wln.ii a ri- un 111 lllelndv spiatiK inlo Illih-Jii Ildelll e. Islell.

e. round about is the lhc ai iepled prim iple And nnw aaiti. mi 1 when Uev, Uie last lliree nluries. is beiiiL- eiilarKetl, if not hurst- nikr its shciith. Accordingly, we see the signatures of key and lime i-iii' omitted, i Uikm Willi aL ritli-lilnls, and Uie clefs lending towards siniplilica-i .11.

lint nn niie man is lining it. nor is In- who does it inuiiti at a ii'W lintalioti. He is'meicly tiinu- vvi'itu his music In iiie ay in which lb-1 K-i e.attst number people ill be able to underhand and per- lonu it. To turn brick to noiaiinn is desirabli piecetneal our questions, a new but it is already being; and uncoiisciouslv, hv soineoiie every dnv. And it is feasible In invent conscious iinpiuvemetits in some one depuriinent, hut scarcely oer ihe! whole li.lil.

The voice is sin a depart-! incut: it has a special need: whereas nn instrument begins a include on a note iboen beforehand, the voice wants to make its choice on lie spur of the ui'mieni. and needs a namitn; of Ihe nnii-s applicable I to any pitch. Sollnisation meets this! lined. It has a respectable antiquity of couple' of millennia, and the Kuropean s. inns of the stock have a century or two.

llelciuni litis dropped Us IViceilisiition." i (lerumuv its naineiiisalion. ami uir i 1'rniice its ve." Tonic Sulfa" goes on, though but ii will be hetier not to pin a hand inlo thru luunels' uesl. At SIC OF THE WEEK. Mr. Harold Brooke's Choir.

If Handel is to he revived, a r5eren.iU like Aeis is rn-irlv suitable, for the but it have a belter performance than this choir gave it. was unfortunate, when Ihere are two tenor parts, that the tenurs were short in number; but the rough singing was the fault of the choir, ami the wmiilen rhthnis of the conductor. Of the solo singers, Mr. Stuart Hohertsou had sung Parry's songs quite well, and his voice has a ring in il; but neither be nor Miss Isabel I'anson. nor Mr.

Wendon has nntioii of what is required of those who sing Handel. Mr. Wendon, having been dispensed from the tun sungs which precede Love in her eyes." might have taken more pains with this one; hut it was difficult for anyone to make much of it at a very alow tempo, with six in a bar beaten. solidly all through. Mr.

Murehie's flute and MY. Goosseiib's hautboy covered up Rome deficiencies in Ljie orchestra; the play ing of the strings wns perfunctory. Arthur Illiss's Pastoral, Lie strewn the white docks, was beyond the powers of ebnir and orchestra. The Aeolian Hall does nut flatter an orchestra, anil the choir used to do much better at the Ilishopsgate Institute. Perhaps il is onlv that Ihey have struck a bad patch iust now.

Astra Desmond. Miss Desmond's voice gives pleasure, her crest breathing power gives confidence, the apt phrasing makes the structure clear, the choice of programme dispels monotony. The question one asks oneself at the end of it all is. Which of these- songs does the" singer believe in? There is no fault hnd with the manner of sing-; inc. but somehow not one of them goes home Sometimes it lav wilh the com poser, who dared nnt be simple (liax's Celtic Lullaby or had nothing to sav (Ellen Cole KONODY.) world by which he seems to be perpetually haunted.

Mr. Claude 1-Tigln's manner of lilting every aspect of nature into geometric patterns leiuK it-e(f well lo "his ii, ri-hi, "'Vaus' 1,1 'V--1 panning. Hit lance. is carried to 1 Mich extremes as lo suggest a pattern of i i coloured paper. hc severity of Ins geometry is relaxed in the ate r-rulour 'drawing of The Wave," in which lhc movement of the swelling waters is svn- Ihesised in a way that owes nothing lo ihe Japanese convention.

That Mr. -Tight was i ante lo iioni mis cnnveui.nn Is 1IIC more remarkable, as Ins I-Tshiiig in ihe Ham proves his famihanlv with Japanese ail. Mr. Might's example appears to have intluenre'd Miss Edith Lawrence. Mr.

Mai'kechtiie. loo, seems to work on similar hues. If Dirt Track may be taken as Ivpical of his manner, but ids abstraction l.it loeiil iKfll. Mr Tl.n rtpm nroun'. Mr.

E. Carrick shows a delightful woodcut which Mr. Gordon Craig himself would not have been disgraced to sign and a Design for Decora-' lion, which vividly, recalls similar work hy Mr. Albert Itutherstoii. Interesting pictures nttd drawings have also been con- tnbuted by Mr.

Jain MacN'ab. Mr. Junes M-n, and Miss riorcnce Ashcr. A HUNGARIAN PAINTER'S DEBUT. Mr.

Istvan Szegedl-Szuts, the young Hungarian artist who Is holding his first i-Aiauiiiun ill wiu uana Udiitri) is a uraugmsman or quiie exceptional power; and it Is not surprising that Ihe Contemporary Art Society have been sufli-1 cienllv impressed to acquire the drawing i Hungarian Landscape with ive Hull ever reputation he mav enlov in his own cuumry, lias tome lo England as an un- ct.i.nn, i I 1 QUARTER OF A MILLION FROM TOBACCO. Mr. Thcophilus Hignett, of St. Ives, Sand-llcld Park, West Derby, Liverpool, tobacco manufacturer, left unsettled property of Uie gross value of 241,375, with net personally The duties on the properly at this valuation according to the dispositions of the will, will amount to about He left 1,000 to tho Liverpool Infirmary for ''hildren; his collection of birds and beaals in the Liverpool Muaeum; and 500, a life iwinuity of 100. and all his motor-cars, carriages, harness, stable furniture, to his coachman, Thomas France.

Mr. Latimer Pfander Swinborne, of Sun. dun. GreM CoRKesliall. Essex, isinclass tnaniifiicturer.

who left tlUii.iOG, with net personalty 91.898. cave icquests totalling 5.650 and some annul- lies, and left tin- residue of the property to his sister for life, and then for the Hoval Lifeboat Institution. fear Mary iilentine Ignatius Chirol, of Chelsea, S.W., head or the Foreign Departmetit in The Times olli. a leading authority on India and the Last generally, who died on October 22 last, aged seventy-seven years, left gtoss, with net personalty 14.953. His bequests included 3(10 to "hospitals and Two long painted Chinese scrolls to the liriltsh Museum: his portrait bv the Hon.

Collier to the National Portrait ilallery; The gold lacquer boxes and writing implements presented to him bv ihe hue Emperor of Japan to Lieut. -Col. Clive Moherly Bell; bis librarv on India and Indian mutters to Lionel Curtis, of All S-nuls College, Oxford and 1,000 to his former Marjorie Dixon, primarily ii.wards the educatiun of her son lremv, bis codson. Mr. I-MwVil Harold Begble, of Ring-wood.

Hants, the author and Journalisi, who wrote "Mirrors of Downing street" under the pen name of "The Gentleman with the nusier." l-rt 3,145. with net personally 4.f-fi. He nominated as his liiciaiy uior bis daughter. Janet Muriel arwell. Mr.

Uegbie 'desired to be cremated, and staled: I do not wish any religious service to be performed over my dead body, believing all such services," however well mleu-tloneil, In be relics of supers! iliojs fear, and I likewise desire that no or monument of any kind bo erected over He asked that his ashes should le scattered in the gardens of the crematorium and his friend anil I liarles Kliut- West, should attend to this, iug no woman should bear u-i art in such matter." Mr. Francis William Sliorland, I I'lith Lodge, Nortliwood, in his younger eai one of the most famous racing v. bnlli of the road and on the track, who died on October 14 lasi. aged llfiv-eight years, left 31,177 gross, with net personalty iiti.s RELIGIOUS REQUESTS. By the will of the late Georgina Watson, of Helensbtirg, who left 44,000, several hollies will receive substantial gifis.

She loll lu the National Bible Society of s.i.o;tanti. i.i.isio encii to tin; China Inland and the tjuarriers' Homes, 2,000 each lo I In-- salvation Ainy and (lie Church oi scoiiaiij Women oreign Mission and il.noii lo lhc Kduiyti Missiun, Last Alrica. THE HIXGY MAXSIOX HOUSE. or modernisation. Mr.

Sydney Tatclicll, II. 1. 13. A. has lust been appointed as consultant architect to co-opcralc ith Mr.

Perks on the whole question ol the modernisation of the Mansion House. Nol only Lorjl Mayors and Lady Mayoresses, but their lnnuiiuT-i able at times found this enure of the city oi l.oudi u's hospitality rather uiicuinloriable and Jraughiy. The whole interior is also very dingy, aiihougn each l. out Mayor on coming into ouice experiences a periud ot intense dis comfort with the painters and decorators cleaning up ins icmporary lionie. Mr.

Taicbell's opportunities are extensive, and Ins difficulties are many lu the Hrst place attention is to be given to the Egyptian Hall. How can this he heller warmed without becoming loo stuffy? Can ihe ventilation and lighting be improved? How can the magniliccni gold plale be dis-played lo better advantage? What can he done to remove the atmosphere of per- pviuui iog, which seem 10 ue in me air; Tatclie.il has shown what can he done by skill and taslc in the magnificent banqueting hall, which he designed Tor the Iroiunniigci s' Company to take the place of the building destroyed by German homhs. The Ironmongers' Hail Is the llnest example in post-war London of ancient craft lining linked with modern science. If Mr. Talchel can succeed in maintaining the feeling of dignity, and al lhc same time adding essential con veniences to the Mansion House, the many thousands who go there each year will indeed be grateful He has already commenced the task ol investigation with a view to submitting a full report, on his proposals in the New Year.

Hfuitdred Pears Execrpta from Cbc Observer December 20, 1820. of The Puke of Wellington's frequent visits to the King at the cottage purchased from Mrs. Broadhead in Windsur Great Park, in addi-tion In other important matters, have related a change in the Liturgy, which is said to have been originally suggested by his Majesty himself. Mr. John Murray, the well-known publisher Albemarle-street, was yesterday tried in -the Court of King's Bench for a libel on Messrs.

C. Leeesne and Escboffery, contained in a book entitled "The Annals'of Jamaica," by the Rev. G. W. Bridges, a member of the University of Oxford, and Reclor of the Parish of Ann's, Jamaica.

Mr. Murray was found guilty. Most Aussiisg Prediction I A Scotch paper states that "Mr Edward Caird, of Arbroath, has publicly announced that the Millennium is to take place on February 23, 1832, at 55 iniu and 30 sec. past 5 p.m." Extensive preparations are making at Drurv Lane and Covent Garden for the Christmas pantomimes. At Drurv a new wonder is be produced, called l' Jack in the Box, or Harlequin in the Hidden Island," in which young Giimaldi is to be clown At Covent Garden, The Death of Cock Robin forms the burthen of the storv.

Literary Discovery. Among the letters now Iving at the Post Office, which cannot delivered because the reeidencss of the party wbnm they are directed is not known, is one addressed tn Samuel Johnson. LL.D., author of a Dictionary." It would appear, from what is written on the Iward in which this address is inserted, that some person having filled in a direction with his pencil, the postman has ben sent to a house in -the City search of the doctor, who has been dead a few daya more than forty-five years. MR, PRICE'S EERIE LIBRARY. SHAKESPEARE AND "WITCHCRAFT.

Thanks to the collecting enthusiasm of Mr. Harry Price, honorary director of the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, there is a room In London where mystery bows her head and confident magic can no longer look the most credulous audience in the face. The existence of this room ond of the unique library which it contains is the finest assurance we could give to any illusionist that we still love nothing better than to be completely bamfoozled hy his skill or his trickery. For close on five hundred years Discoveries." Anatomies," Demonstrations," Fallacies," and Clear proofs have been pouring exposure, refutation, ridicule, and abuse from their pages on to the heads of all who even pretended to touch the rringe of Magic's dark robe, and still we sit, the vast majority of us, with our faces full uf blank astonishment and our eyes untrained, to follow the movements of the simplest sleight-of-hand trick. I visited the National Laboratory or Psychical Research (writes a correspondent) not with any intention of using Ills library for what Mr.

Price calls its main purpose, to ussist the seri oils Investigator in detecting the psychic impostor," but out of lo sen one of the largest specialised collections of books in the world, and in the hope that migni ioucii im meaning oi a passion for explanation of the obscure which has never faltered since his acquisition of Professor Hoffmann's Modern Magic at the age of eight. "PRODIGIES" AND "BLACK MAGIC." To-day you may handle at your leisure any of tho several thousand volumes dealing with mystery and deception from 1450 until the present year, which he has speiit the rest of his life collecting. Even to catalogue the classifications of mystery into which this library falls wuiuld be to occupy undue space. I counted 140 subject headings: Ecstasy, Prodigies, Divination, Fire-walking Kakirism, Blood Miracles, Black Magic, vampirism, Water-spouters, Fire- eaters Magical Vivisection, Human Ostriches, suspended Animation, Regurgt-tators, Magnetic Ladies." Demoniacs, and un army of others. Mr.

Price's favourites take rank accord lng to their rarity, or the romance attend nig then- discovery. There is Samuel Rowland's Art of Iugling or Leger-demalne," published in 16H, Wherein is deciphered alt the conveyances of Leger- uemaine and lugllng, how they are effected, and wherein they chiefly con sist, i Herein also you may receive cautions to beware of cheating al Cardcs and Dice," together with Detection of the beggarly Art of Alcumls-try, and the foppery of foolish cousoning Chanties." This was ihe first English work devoted solely to conjuring and trickery, but "Hocus I'ocus Iunior, the Anatomie of Legerdemain," a copy of which was recently secured hv Mr. Roseiibach, came tiaru on its heels tn 1034- SWIFT AND DEFOE. Still in 1lt. nnnnnro Loyer's Treatise of Specters or Slraunge u.t,..,.;, uuu sAppm muiis appearing sensibly unto men, wherein is delivered tho Nature of Sprites, Angels, and Divels: their power anu properties: as also of Witches, Sorcerers, Enchanters, und such like." Climblnt? un the nt tv, u.

a "i IJlultlJ world come Defoe's Essay on Uie History nrnt nr ui nupuiiuuns, nis system of Magick," his Second-Sighted Highlander," and other volumes, all nroduced under the pseudonym of Andrew moreion. Dean Swift's v. uu int. twilltllliiuiv. maker, John Parlldge, Predictions for the tiua uy isuuc liicKerstarr.

Esq. Written to Prevent the People of England being Imposed upon by Vulgar Almanack Makers." has a place among the carlv works on charlatanism. More proudly than of any of his acquisitions, ancient or modern, does Mr Price speak of his first-edition black-letter copy of Reginald Scot's Discoucrie of Witchcraft, which he procured from the Yatton Court Library. This book, which was published In 1584, was ordered to be destroyed by James I and existing copies of It are exceptionally rare. Mr.

Price's pride In his possession of it is justifiable. Shakespeare is known to have read it. and he likes to think that Shakespeare may have handled tills particular copy END OF TERM AT HARROW. PERFORMANCES BY CHORAL AND MUSICAL SOCIETIES. Harrow School the Christmas holidays, and will reas- ocmuiK on January -j for the Easter term.

The SChOOl Will hlH rnron'all tn u. c. 1J Pope, housemaster of The Grove, who, aner oeing a boy at the school, returned as an nssistntit ago. He held a small house and a large house in Church Hill before taking over the fimVA fOllrfppn van arm 11- i js.ij a(sw- ne piuyeu cricket for the school, was captain In 1891 and got his Blue at Cambridge. A popular and efficient housemaster, his retirement in un a loss 10 me scnooi.

He will be rollowed at The Grove by Mr Yesterday the School Musical Society, of which Mr. Pope has been secretary for many years, gave their end-of-term concert. The programme included school songs, orchestral items and violin and piano solos. This afternoon the Choral Society will give a concert in the speech roooi, at which choruses and airs from "The nf i. aim carols will be sung.

CONCERTS. i3fi a line; Minimum 76. ROYAL ALBERT HALL. TO-DAY (SUNDAY), at 3. LIONEL POWELL ortMnu BACH'S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO BACH CHOIR.

Patron: HIS MAJESTY THE KING. LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. CONDUCTOR: ADRIAN C. BOULT. topim1- 'Hqrsy lELMRicn.

TOPUSS GREEN. HUBERT EISDELL. BroAdwixxl Piano. II RmrH. s.ra.s.-rl"! aQi.

Bnrtd-Btrfit. W.l. NATIONAL SUNDAY' LEAGUE CONCERTS. PALLADIUM. To-night at 6 30 Efe BlNlNG.

UONA M. to Si M. Bot-offlce open Iran 11 un, uxlsr. Guisrd 1004, The cinema Is perhaps the only one of the popular entertainments that has no definite Christinas season. The theatre public, the music public, the reading public can all find, if they want it, a specialised huliday programme something that marks the lime of year.

Hatters the leisurely mood, suggests more or less imaginatively the crack between the Old Year and the New. But the film programmes for Christmas week are indistinguishable in matter from the programmes of August, or November, or May. They lake no advantage of the cinema's powers of fantasy and pantomime. Wilh the exception of an odd novelty short here and there, or a revived version of some popular Christmas play, the holiday entertainments in ihe cinema are remarkable only for the fact that they have less intelligence ami more bad workmanship than those of any other season of the year. So I remember il, in a great many towns, and during the space of a great many years, and the cinema Christmas release list has no indication of anything better for 1923-341 in the theatres outside the West-End of London But 1 must confess that the London key-theatres have surprised me.

Without nny suggestion of a definite Christmas entertainment, ihey have at least procured something of qiialny for the holiday public, something that will stand on its own merits, and catch, not inertly the ovit'Iow from packed thealres and pantomimes, bui an audience on seeing the film for ils own sake. The English version of Duponl's Atlantic goes into the programme at the Alliambra, and will stir up more uerceiv than ever the old argument of the potentiality of lhc talking lllm. Atlantic has many faults, though not, 1 think, the faulls that are generally ascribed to it. 11 does not matter, from a psychological point of view, that the action is limited tn a small group of individuals in the llrst-class saloon; nor, from a practical poini of view, that Ihe bar counter is not broken up to make raris. nor the ship oil used to prepare Ihe passengers against immersion in lhc sea What does matter is that the dialogue has often sluck too closely to literary tradition, that costume and grouping tends to be theatrical, and that llabDy acinic blunts, in too manv cases, the fine point of psychological interplay.

Bui Duponl's film is strong enough in texture to stand these faults, and more. It is thoughtful and simple, has rhythm and method, uses sound wisely and silence subtly. It works in contrasts, not merely of incident, character, or lighting, hut of natural and unnatural sound cadences, of continued sound with visual Inanition. It brings the experience of a generation of silent film production lu the service or Ihe sound studios. The Return of Sherlock Holmes." at the Plaza, is Basil Dean's first production for the talking screen, made in America with many British players in the cast: a conglomeration of the Holmes stories, presented in a version of Dean's own.

This is a ship-shape piece of work, well devised and sharply executed; speech (in every case but that of the two lovers, who might well he, filleted from the lllm) is credible and illuminating, and the dramatic possibilities of each scene, are given their full weight. Thosp of us who have a sentimental place in our hearts for the cold, brilliant, impossible, ridiculous detective of pie-Wallace days will he grateful to Basil Dean for this resurrection of Holmes in a modern medium: the transference from Baker-street and its hansom cabs to the world of wireless and Transatlantic telephones has been superbly done, and it Is significant of the skill of the adaptation hat Holmes emerges from this new scientific contest in all the cool serenity of the hero of 'l'he Speckled I expect lo be disputed over Sunny Side I'll," Ihe Boxing Day show at the New Gallery, just as my own pleasure in It disputes with my own judgment. "Sunny Side is frank and unassuming musical comedy, cast firmly in its type mould; the clinrnclers and choruses have the formal precision of the muslcal-coniedy stage, and Ihe words only become intelligible in view of (he tradition in which they were. framed. The plot is a clap-trap version of the old Cinderella story, in which Ihe social distinctions of modi rn America are given a very bad advertisement.

The singing is second-rale. It is difficult to find any angle from which to admire Sunny side Up," but very easy to like It. I like it immensely. I like the mechanical tunes, and the mechanical treatment of them; I like the pare of production, and the fabulous changes or rortunes; 1 like Janet Gaynor's husky little voice; and. above all, I like the ridiculous sentiment of the story, which dates from theatre and a literature that the talking pictures never knew I do not myself get as much pleasure out or Gold Diggers of Broadway," the new film to be shown at the Regal on Saturday it seems remote and artificial, without the saving grace of formality and its laughter belongs to a lype which, like thai of "The Coconuts" and "Rio Rita" leaves me unflred.

But I do admire its experiments In colour, and I do like to whistle its two melodies, one of which Tiptoe Through the Tulips," is going lo risal The Wedding of the Painted Doll in insistent popularity. Welcome Danger." at the Carlton, is Harold Lloyd's flrct fnlL-lft" k.o tor the daring use of a blank screen during! uiaiufeuc acqueuces, mere is mite valuable in the new entertainment that has not been carried over from ilo. ni.l i his familiar edifice of comedy from the ni i uiiKeiiieiji oi inoivianai gags in perfect time; he is always the butt, never the hero the effect of Lloyd's touch on accessories. Is the mainspring of laughter "Welcome Danger" sutlers hy comparison wilh the brilliant Mickey Mouse Cartoon which precedes it for Mickey is the true comic genius of the sound film but, like every Lloyd production, it is slick, smooth, well-considered stuff, based on the psychology of laughter, and shaped in real understanding of the screen. The Fmnirp nHHa cnmn 1 vjiiL.uiiai.iuu- tlUmOUr tO the WPPlt'c a silent film, "The Mask of the nevit in Which SlOStrom not Innrr ein.n uiiec-or, co-mjines me sentiment and sym uwnsrii oi a pavement artist with the meioaramaiics of East Lynne." The new Metronole at Victorln ns-s with a film version rr tho rn.nntin.1...

v-u-ufieiiiow wuu-oi-rreu more or less bodilv from the stage, and the Canimi in. Its OWn lllm Concert nnrlv In The Splinters." The Shaftesbury promises suiliriiniiL' Kooa Will 1 hp. I.1H U.lrh Girl." Jean Renoir's version of tho Andersen story, Lupu Pick's New Year's Eve," a short silhouette and a marionette film. Rio Hlta still rhymes with sweeter at the Tlvoli. -i And the Fairbanks shows.

Tha Irnn Maiii two at the Mnrhle Arrh. nn' -Tho Tr. i the Shrew," at the London Pavilion, bring to Christmas holiday audiences perhaps the 3V.1CCH a uppro.xuuaiion to me real spirit of harlequinade. THE PICK OF THE WEEK. Atlantic (Alhambrs).

The Little Mitch Gibi isd Oram Films (Shaftesbury Avenue Thx Jazz Foot, tho newest Micxiy Moubi cartoon (Carlton and Plaza). C. A. L. Frlda Ltndrum.

Miss Lemlrum his the feelings of but imt lhc skill or experience. 1c. irisuffioient training the voke Tided and was tul of tunc Inwards the end of the pro rAonne. While it whs frc-di, though inex-1'ilrieiii'e prevented much lieing made Knell there ivus si. me pretty sinking in sirnpl.T thing, like Crieg'a Zur nh.Tii i.

IlrulH li 1 1 1 1 Miir's L'lld llrH-m cr inlr H'r-eii tit lir.u hl Iln-iuth n.t I eii.aiitu. in If ihis nicer i.trcd t.i work h.inl at it, ns thing live u.r and take pa well. about, she might Ths Oriana Madrigal Soolaty. The serret of these singers' fri.lii their earpful, artistic performance, lies in the jnii-resi they show they are takinf: in the musk: and the enjuyiuent they show Ihey are getting from their wi.rk. That is very sensible of tliem.

for in that way thev persuade their audience nut only i.f the l.e.-iutv "i the music, hut the worthintss of singing 'IIipv made one want t.i join in. and made it plain, tnn. thai carols wt-re never made to he listened anv mure than folk-dan, t-s in he on al. Until might to be dime, with no thought of an audience. Hul if we have Inst the art of lining these tmigs, a c.

nicer! like last Tuesday's is al least a fnrtuuati- exc hange. Tho Now English Music Society. 1 Vaughau Williams's new work, a Christmas I'aml Suite, played by the London Chamber Orchestra, is exactly and charmingly what one would by now expect to be. coining from an i-nt li usiast of fnlk-lunen and one whose manner of selling them is tirmlv estab- Ihe new Atil.nde by I'oulene. of Les -i-" is pieoy.

ainiisijjg, UajjiiiJv wrilten, and i nee ni near i Here was some good ilaj illg at this culiceli. Other Conoerts. Hoih Miss Vvoune Morris, the violoncellist, and Mr. Herbert de Leon, the singer, need to listen carefully to the tone they produce. iiuni are good executants, and give an urlis- lie performance.

The tone gels hard and thin with the. violoncellist in nuiek nassage- above middle register, with the singer almost 1 lc "l'rri ranges. uie- cnoir sang li-aruly and well al their concert. Attack is gnoil. tone (except high up) of the right v.e.i...

ineie seems in he a tend encv tor rliylliiu to In too not enough "Jilt. WREATH OX VAX DYCK MEMORIAL. HELCilAX TRinUTi: IX ST. PALL'S. Dr.

Van Courvclaerl, Burgomaster oi iled a hammered been hung be- Van Dyck, the Antwerp, yesterday tmv bronze wn nih which 1 tin; memorial h. inisl: painter, in the Crypt Chapel. of St. Haul's Cathedral. Van Dyck died in Loglalid at he age uf He was knighted hv Charles 1 who appointed him Court painter.

Others present at Ihe ceremony included IJaron dc Cartier de Marrhienne (Belgian Ambassador), I'nncess dc Cray, wife ol i Ihe Counsellor lo the Kmbassv," M. Ivn. (Town CI, ok of Amw. rp M. Sa'bbr nf the l'lantui Museum M.

Van lined to uie Ciiy of Antw erp M. Gum- iseceifary to Uu- liurgoniaster Opsomi din eetor or tin- Institute ol l-llle Arlsl, Dean lllge, Canon Alexander Canon Kllintt, Viscount Lbbishain iVice of the Angln-Uelgian Inion. aliii Mr. Algernon Maud-lav (lion, src.i Sir William lilomflel.l. Sir William I.l-w '11 vii (president nf the liovnl Academy ic ir-c Clans and Mr.

M. I Macai l- nf the nrijjinnl memorial1 M. C'uirvidaert, furtuallv asking lh Pcau iiecept tin wri alii. rpnki tn i'reiu li and drew an aiial'i-jy lntwecn i cuuntry'. ju-ntit'tiun nf Van Hyck and the I.

rip wc ave to llflri i in i during the lirenl War. lean lnjje said that Van Dyck, by hi rlh and descent, liJoncd fielnun. hut wp had jinnexed him as far ns pns.sihh-by lakinp him to our hPavl. 'I he and haJuNome features of our unfor-lunate Kinp Charles live mainly on Ins canvass" llr add-d. A.

A. GU 11)13 FINED. Kt-'hcrt Noel Ii. Askey (thirty-three), an A. A.

Kuide, al was fined three puunda at l'nlice-eourt ycstcrtlay for representing li i iti pel to he a policeman, and also thirty shillings in enrh cae for two common assaults upon two pirls. Kvidenco wns piven that Akey acenpted the Rirls in tlie street and offerisl tn prelect the i nn the way home. A "key's defence was that lie had been drinking. simplest elements any subject that may appeal lo him. Economy of means cannot go further than in these drawings of Puszla life, the very essence of which is expressed in a few intensely vital strokes of Uie pen or brush.

There can be no doubt lliat the ariist Is in complete sympathy with his subject and that he biniseir has lived Ihe life which is inierpreled by hiin with such penetration and s.wifiness. As a painter Mr. Szegedl-Szuts less spontaneous and more sophisticated. One nnnfinn imagine the drawings beinc done py a seir-iangiii artist who Uirough con-slant practice has evolved his own telling shoiDianil. Die paintings, with all their modern expenmentalism and disregard of engaging surface quality, betray sound arl- V' liool training.

His Self Porlrait in inlcr No. 7i and Ihe portrait of a Hun. garian author (No. 4), who happens lo bear an almost ludicrous likeness to the late Lord l.cverhulme, are among his happiest i rrorts. And ihcre is, in ihe llapc of the Sabincs f.No.

251 and Flaming Spring" No. something of the energy of noi.uinn and liveliness movement that distinguish his drawings. But I must confess that I cannot rise to enthusiasm over his compositions of scriptural subjects. EXGLISH POTTERY. A -week or two ago I had occasion to refer In this column to the tendency among modern English potters to go to Chinese sources for their inspiration.

Alfred H. and Louise Powell, whose annual exhibition of hand-painted pottery at the Brook-street Art Gallery has become quiie a conspicuous and appropriately timed fixture of the Christmas season are emphatically not of their number. In their work there Is no trace of Eastern influence, and all their designs, whether Horal or landscape, heraldic devices or animals, are clearly based on the best English traditions. But then. Mr.

and Mrs. Pi-well are not, strictly speaking, potters, but decorators of pottery As such Ihey seem to be inexhaustible in the invention of pleasing desizns which thev annlv in the tlowing. calligraobic manner uf the In their colours, too, they show a marked preierence lor me silver and gold or purple, lustre so effectively used by English potters of the past. I i to of L. St.

to be to U3 notruion tins liet-ti puhlislitMl liurupt; f'V-jry ihrue years. A guud nmn people Is ii 1 I i i i iwfMvp Our noi-oli 'n has centuries to rvfu-h it: the i.f ih. arranypinfMii has rum has survived. It ikn nhont forut. and t'wry cuiu'pivfiblt; uji, and the had two mum sair-il and secular, which ninaus piaru- jiDy vncal and lustrnme utal.

Thu Church wire known every, where by ear and fur a lony limp f'Ou-fOu. mere adapunon of accents, tin! nfMiuie." was enough to remind people of which was all that was needed. As Un Church spival, me melo-dn-s hail in bo taught and he re fori! written, nrid the pitches uf thest! iif-unie wen; delmod hv one, two, and v-niualiy fucr parallel lines (eleventh i fiitury Hut insinmienial rutdndies had no siii.h null 1 1 on Ihcy sprang up any- wln-ri-, ihe had Uu- uuinher of i That suiled ihe particular instrument i. lor tne isix-sirmL'Pd) two sixe Inr the harpsichord (two six and i t'lni i ii 1 1 it? oran, and up to Iwenlv-fuur for choirs. (The "rent slave of eleven lines is a lldion of the text books I Our llve-iine stave wits llnally established the llfteenlli century Afrain, vocal music considered the normal tune to he triple, because the tliree-unit trochees ami iambs of verse are much coinmuner than the two-unit sponleen or tonr iniii in.

music, on the other hand, started from duple tune, because a. man usually walks, and only asiunal.y limps or hops. Then, in ninrkini; pitch, were ihey to put the notes on the lines, or between them, or All three wi re Iried in the tenlh eutiiry. When Ihcy came lu leUennt: the i miles, were A Ii to he Hie minor scale (with all the Cireek piesticu behind in or me major winch minsu els. made their When you have no keyboard on which 10 see ihe'noies and can only bear them as you make them, this is very difficult tjucstiun.

I hev decided on the minor; but Guulo Used the noies so named in such century) I wiiv as1 to make iliem sound major; anil so now we have our two modes. And whai about ihe notes between Ihcm? The Hat was invented Ihe thirteenth century, the sharp in the sixteenth, the double shnrp and douhle flat in the eighteenth, anil key signatures minus one sharp or one. flat at li st i about I Kiiiii. We write as much of our music as we i can in Ihe clef; but that came in. 1 and only for Ihe violin, in the century.

Nolebeads were first squares and lozenges, filled or empty, black or i (w iiii, or course, different meanings then triangles, then spade-sbnpetl, and finally, to save (rouble, round. 'I imc-iiotallon has a twofold origin metrical from the Church, accentual rrom the. people. From the former come Ihe notes lhai are longer than the crotchet, from the latter those that are shorter. The two sets are two ways of shuwing relative times; and though tiny have merged into one.

their original, independence is showui in one curious fact that we write our fast movements. In minims and crotchets ami our slow in quavers and semiquavers. When a judge asked once in court. What is a crotchet? he usked a pertinent question, which it would have taken leu good iiiinules lo answer fully. Time-notation, to be satisfactory, must answer three questions II) What "number nf ticks of a clock are.

you going to lake for yonrj unit of measurement two, three, five, seven (2) What frai iion or multiple of I -ui-h unit is Ibis particular note of ihe melody lo lie? (3) What clock are mhi i going by, the frivolous pcnrfilc le toiiiral. or Ihe sedate Hig lieu? Tunc looks simple matter; but from the fact that It is always srenth)fj to go fast nr according lo the exciting or tinexcii iiiu-nature of its content, we tire always making mistakes over it. This simple problem took six reniuries to solve. In the thirteenth century the moods" of musical lime were just Ihe ordinary poetical metres, in the nineteenth the final touch was put to noia- lion by tying the svneopated note If we were now- to start the thing afresh we sbould perhaps think of the pianola roll gs a basis, for that gives an actual picture oT the sound. Hut, in the Irst place, it would be, like Ihe lute tablature, suitable only for a particular instrument; secondly, the Ilanimerclavier sonala, Lo lake one rase, would occupy a hook of a hundred pages; thirdly, since ordinary Srt and (BY P.

G. GROUP. THE GRUBB A certain note of flippancy is struck by the name of the young artists' society under the presidency of Mr. Edward Carri' Ihe Grul.b Group and in the iiiuilo they have chosen: "Ars I.onga, Grub Lugit." This lightheadedness is the Inure welcome, as artists, on the hop1, are Apt to lake Ihemsi'lves too seriously not, indeed, in iheir work, tint in their up-proacfi of. and attitude towards, the public.

Presumably the Grubb Group was founded hy Mr. Carrick, who, t.y the way, is Mr. Gordon Craig's son. and "a few friends, who used to meet at convivial gatherings at the Uuo ntlis ltestaiiram in Uean-street. '1 heir exliibitiuii is held at that restaurant.

T'lieie is much to be said for this Idea. It is pleasant to dine genial surroundings, and to see an exhibition comfort wiih- OUl 11SV1I1 to pay the customary charge for admission. And a good chef, bv the effect Ins art has upon the diner's mood, tnav prove a belter salesman than tlia persuasive employee of the leciliniate si-End gallery. And so the Grnhb arusts. wno nave now been joined bv Mr.

Jliehard Pinny, this year's winner of th- Prix de Koine for painltng. M.s 'e ISissili, the Edith En Lawrence. Mr. or painter, and Mr. adopted the slogan and Huy I Jam Nab, and .1 In their work the members Group are serious enuugh.

any rate, will accuse Mr. pancy, when he interprets wn! Grubb one, at of ilip- lmost tragic primness the hardships of the miners' underground WOlk He I paints not so much what the eye beholds hut what It feels like to be a miner ami to experience a ctushing pressure on body and brain. Mr. Austin Spare is anotln artist to whom the jocular mood is unknown. Ha Is a draughtsman of rare distinction, and capable of producing such cxoulsite figure drawings us Drift and ljl reuuiruxiie uia laic iiiouiEijka ui I I i I i I I I i I I LECTURES MEETINGS.

26 a line, ifininium TTNITED LODCE OP TIIEOSOPHISTS. VJ MAUCOL IIULE. Z95. REGENT ifl EKI.T. ftJ- i'UBUC THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.

Pdlluwcd by CJUMUons and lO NIGHT. SUNDAY. December 22. at B.15 flakes: 8.15: 0ran ol Tiiposop-' tiaU 2 p.m.: The Gecret Doclrln-" Rooms open daiJ. exoest 10 5.

Ail aro n-dcoma Ko tea. Ko coUcciioa. gcape from the nightmares ol the splrltjy bas ffii" power to reduce to Its.