The Birmingham Post from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 5

THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY POST MONDAY APRIL 25 1898 of literature for the moment he could not be wrong in Company for their gratuitous performance and to Mr GLEANINGS PUBLIC NOTICES THE SUBSCRIPTION LIST WILL OPEN THIS DAY (MONDAY) THE 25th DAY OP APRIL AT TEN XM AND WILL CLOSE ON OR BEFORE THURSDAY NEXT THE 28th DAY OF APRIL AT FOUR PM PUBLIC NOTICES 0ITY I I A GAS DEPARTMENT PRE-PAYMENT METERS Arrangements have I een completed for the more prompt Supply of these METERS and FITTPTGS for them All applications for them will now receive early atti ation 470 EDWIN SMITH Secretary Barnbys (Incorporated under the Companies Acts 1862 to 1893) CAPITAL £25000 DlVIDKD INTO 10000 8IX PER CENT CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE SHARES OF EACH 15000 ORDINARY SHARES OF EACH Limited £2a000 jo 000 ORDINARY SHARES of Each will be allotted to the Vendor in part payment of the purchase money leaving 5000 Shares for future issue PRESENT ISSUE 10000 PREFERENCE SHARES Which are Preferential both as to Capital and Dividend-Payable: 2s 6d per Share on Application 7s 6d ier Share on Allotment IQs per Share one month after £1 No Debentures will be issued without the consent of a majority of the Preference Shareholders being previously obtained No larger dividend than 5 per cent per annum will be paid upon the Ordinary Shares until a Reserve Fund amounting to £5000 has been created DIRECTORS COUNCILLOR WALTER WATERS (Director James Cycle Co Limited) Acock Green COUNCILLOR THOMAS FLETCHER Great Hamptou Street Birmingham EDWARD WARWICK (Director Sanspareil Cycie Co Limited) Birmingham WILLIAM CUTLER Westbeath House Northfield saying with Browning in His heaven right with the (Applause) The toast of was proposed by Mr Levi and responded to by Mr Howard A Gray To the toast of The proposed by the Vice-President Mr Slater responded BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL LITERARY ASSOCIATION The members of the Birmingham Central Literary Association met together at the Grand Hotel Birmingham on Saturday evening at the tenth annual dinner in connection with the Shakspeare celebration Mr Ion Atkins (president of the association) occupied the chair and there was a large attendance of members The compauy included Councillors Tonks Skinner and Hunt Messrs Stoker (vice-president) Hugh Morton (treasurer) Roberts (sec) I Bradley (city coroner) Pearson Antonv Lees Titter-ton Cond Heath A Blackwell Morton Moffat A Riddell Green Rogers Silk JI Taylor Clark Lee Mould Griffiths and Doubleday Mr Heats gave the toast The Immortal Memory of William Whatever they called the great a land surveyor a mad doctor or a deer-stealer they were bound he said to admit his claims as a literary man Personally he yielded to no one in hi admiration and love of Shakspeare His works ranked as the highest literature we possessed and he accepted them with wonder astonishment and delight He respected the honest prejudice that still lingered among some worthy people against the theatre as an institution and hoped they would not be contaminated by the dramatic action which had got so popular in the pulpit He averted that if it were not for the stage and the fact that shakspeare a works were eminently ntted for stage representation and continued to hold the stage hhaksneare would run some slight risk of being swept away by the avalanche of so-called literature that swept dow-n from the myriad pnntmg-presscs of the day The present was not a readtng age was an age of hght and chatty reading whch he regretted after so much edui- tim Dtd not the caterers of know their public? The remenv he nniiln snertroxt wan tit nut utitrt tit if only remedy he could suggest was to put a stop to the BANKERS THE CITY OK BIRMINGHAM BANK LIMITED PHILIP BUTLIN Cobden Buildings Corporation Street Birmingham IL WARD Chartered Accountant 19 Newhall Street Birmingham and London SECRETARY (pro trro)-SAMUEL BOND FIS GENERAL WALTER CUTLER REGISTERED 5 GREAT WESTERN ARCADE BIRMINGHAM PROSPECTUS This Company has been formed to acquire as a going concern the Businesses of Importers and Dealers in Toys (of every description) Fancy Leather and Stationery Goods Indoor aud Outdoor Games Japanese and Chinese Goods Ac known as and carried on at Nos 4 5 39 40 41 45 46 79 and 80 Great Western Arcade and No 5 North-WesternArcade with Wholesale Department aud Stores at Hlaney Street Birmingham and to acquire and amalgamate therewith the Manufacturing Business of Gold and Silver Paints (for which Barnby arc agents of Snow Hill Birmingham The Business of was established in 1880 by the late Mr Thomas Bamby aud has been successfully and continuously earned on from that -late and so far as Birmingham and district are concerned has become one of the nest-known Toy and Game TCBusinePS of GO PAINT MANUFACTURERS was established by Mr William Cutler in 1891 and has since bean earried on and developed with increasing success This Paint is extensively used throughout the United Kingdom and Colonies The Retail Premises of the Businessm the Great Western Arcade are held under an exceptionally advantageous Lease which had at the 25th March last six years to run The benefit of this Lease will be taken over by the Company The Businesses of as well as the Gold Paint Business will be taken over as from 1st January 18S8 and the Vendor will pay all liabilities and take over the book debts existingat that date The Books of both Businesses have been examined by Mr Ward Chartered Accountant Birmingham and London who wports as follows 9j Newhili street Birmingham 22nd April 1898 TO THE DIRECTORS OF MESSRS BARN (LIMITED) I hare examined the books and accounts of the Toy and Fancy Goods Businesses known as BarnbyV situated in the Arcades Birmingham from the 6th February 1397 to 31st December 1897 and find that the profit amounts to £1 127 19a 8d or an average of £1251 2s 6cL per annum I have also examined the books of Mr Gold and Silver Paint Business for a period of three years aud find that the profit amounts to £1593 19s od These profits are arrived at after charging all management expenses and rnakiug due provision for depreciation bat no allowance lias been made for interest The certified profits as above average annually £1782 a a The dividend on 10000 Six per Cent Cumulative Preference Shares will amount to 6VJ 0 0 Leaving a balance of £1182 9 0 The Stock Fixtures and Fittings have been independently valued by Messra Clement Weller and Locker the well-known Auctioneer anl Valuer of Birmingham ami London and their report ie aa Knd THE DIRECTORS OF BARNBY8 (LIMITED) Dear Sirs have made a careful valuation of the whole of the Stock Fixtures and Fittiugs at the various shops and nreTnises of Mr Cutler at which the business of Barn and the manufacture of Cutler's Gold and Silver Paint are carried on and value the same as at the 1st of January at the pounds eighteen shillings and fourpence (£5473 18s 4L i of Five thousand four hundred and Yours faithfully WELLER LOCKER CLEMENT The Purchase Price has been fixed at £15003 which includes the lease goodwill stock-in-trade fixtures fittings horse van icc of the wholesale retail and manufacturing businesses and will be payable as to £5000 in cash and £10000 in fully paid issue' ofSha resafter providingfor the payment of the purchase money (£15000) will give a net additional working ttnital of £5 000 which is considered ample to efficiently conduct both businesses aud fully cope with their continued rapid growth No larger dividend than 5 per cent per annum will be paid upon the Ordinary Shares until a reserve fund amounting to AVilliam OuUethe Vendor and present proprietor of the ouainesaes has accepted seat upon the Board Arrangements are being made to retain the services of the present working staff and thus secure a continuity of the present Moccssful management Tffie following contracts have been entered into viz Dated 19th day of April 1398 between William Cutler of the one part and William Oakton as Trustee for this Company of Da tedVb efsthlay Qf April 1898 between William Oakton on behalf nf this Company of the one part and Walter Bendall Cutler of the other part being the agreement appointing the latter General Manager Various other contracts have been made relating to the subscription of capital and generally to the promotion of the Company hat to which the Company is no party and various current Contracts are in existence relating to the businesses which may teebni-Sv bTafireemenls withih the meaning of the 38th Section of the Companies Act 1S67 or contracts to the disclosure whereof applicants for shares may be held to be entitled Every applicant for shares shall be deemed to have had fnll notice of such agreements and to have waived all further compliance with that section and to have agreed with the Company as Trustee for the Directors and other persons if any who might be liable not to make any claim whatever or take any proceedings under that section in respect of any non-compliance therewith All expenses up to and including the first allotment of shares will be paid by the Vendor Application for a Birmingham Stock Exchange Quotation will be made in due course A copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association and copies of the above-mentioned contracts valuations and orountanfa certificate may be inspected at the Offices of the Solicitor Prospectuses and Foims of Application for Shares may be obtained from the Bankers Solicitor and other officers of the ppfication for shares should be made on the accompanying form to the Bankers together with application money the amount be paid by cheque the same should be drawn to the order of the Company's Bankers Where no allotment is made the deposit will be returned to the applicant in full or where only a portion is allotted the surplus will be credited in reduction of the farther amounts iiayablc upon the number of shares allotted Birmingham 22nd April 1898 APPLICATION FORM Limited CAPITAL £25000 'fflStTE OF 10 000 SIX FER CENT CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE SHARES OF £1 £10000 TO THE DIRECTORS OP LIMITED Gentlemen Haying naid to the Bankers the Bum of being a deposit of 2s 6d per share due on application Six per Cent Preference Shares I hereby request you to allot me the same and I hereby agree to aocept the same or any less number allotted to me and I agree to pay tbe instalments thereon us required in the terms of the Prospectus and I authorise you to place my name on the Register in respect of such Shares and I declare that waive any fuller compliance with Section 38 of the Companies Act 1867 or otherwise than that contained in Buch Prospectus In the event of my receiving no Allotment the amount to be returned in fuiL printing-press for say a quarter of a century paying of course due regard to vested interests (Laughter) lie deplored the growth of popular taste of musical comedy in which irresponsible comedians let loose upon the stage tickled the ears of the groundlings with any drivel stuff in the way of gag that might suggest itself to their delicate taste (Applause) In the great cities including Birmingham they had suffered greatly frem the disbanding of the old stock companies (Hear hear With three theatres in Birmingham they were not so well off either as regarded the dramatic fare provided or tbe manner of its presentation as they were when they possessed only one theatre (Hear hear) It was certainly not as it should be and it was something gained that they were becoming alive to the fact that the stage with its vast influence for good or evil stood in great need of vigorous reform Sir Henry Irving advocated the establishment of municipal theatres in our large towns and if men were wise something in that direction would be dona The difficulties in the way however were very great Such theatres would doubtless involve many subsidies from the rates and although he did not think there would be anything like a general opposition to moderate expenditure he was afraid the theatre rate would have to be a voluntary one He was delighted to see that some steps were to be taken in the city to get more' Shakspearean performances For three months in the year the three theatres were given up to pantomime and in the greater part qf the remainder of the year the stages were occupied with three-act farces Tnere was no wonder the more intelligent citizens were rising in their wrath and declaring that something must be doDe Of one thing he was convinced however and that was that any mere tinkering in the way of guaranteeing Mr or any other travelling company a three or four weeks stay would not meet the case If the new Dramatic Reform Association meant business they must go to work heroically (Hear hear) He had no fear of the result if they secured one of the theatres and installed in it a first-class company for the proper production of plays (Hear hear) Mr Green submitted the toast of tbe which was responded to by Mr The health of the was heartily drunk Songs and Shakspearean readings were given at intervals and an enjoyable evening was spent BIRMINGHAM SHAKSPEARE READING CLUB The members of the Birmingham Shakspeare Reading Club held their unnual celebration dinner at the Woodman Hotel Easy Row on Saturday evening Mr Mackintosh presiding over a large attendance amongst those present being Messrs Stewart (vice-president) Hillman Morley Harding Hillman Hirons Narliorough Margrett Pardoe Porter Flavel Rvland Roper Jacob Haden Eli Griffiths Grant Kempson I Miles Smart Sherrejt After tbe loyal toasts had been hononred the Chairman submitted Immortal Memory of and spoke at some length on the wonderful insight into nature I exhibited in tne poet work The reading and study of I Se home-loving man and therefore works for which their club existed wore occupations that stimulated the mind and expanded their knowledge of life and men (Hear hear) The memory of the bard was toasted in silence The remaining toasts were Drama aud Members and Members of the club contributed Shakspearean recitations and the St Glee Union rendered several excellent part-songs and glees Mr Geo Halliley most efficiently discharged the duties of accompanist CELEBRATIONS AT STRATFORD The anniversary of birth was celebrated at Stratford-on-Avon this year in a more extensive and joyous manner than usual The town has been full of visitors for the past fortnight attracted by the dramatic performances in the Memorial Theatre The weather was beautifully bright on Saturday and visitors flocked to the town during the day Flags streamers anS garlands across several streets testified to the general rejoicings in honour of national poet by the townspeople The Memorial Theatre was decked with garlands wreaths and flags and flowers were displayed at the poet's birthplace at tne Grammar School at the site of New Place his last residence and at other prominent spots At an early hour merry peals were rung on the church bells and the two last performances of Antony and in the Memorial Theatre were witnessed by crowded audiences A special train was run in the evening to convey visitors back to Birmingham Warwick and Leamington STRATFORD SHAKSPEARE CLUB The annual meeting of the members of the Stratford-on-Avon Shakspeare Club was held on Saturday in the Town Hail Stratford the Mayor (Mr Pearce) On the motion of Sir A Hodgson the Mayor was elected president of the club for the current year Sir Arthur Hodgson was re-elected vice-president and the hon secretary (Mr Savage) and hon treasurer (Mr Ellis) were also reappointed The annual report reviewed the work of the past year and mentioned that in the Jubilee procession a made up almost exclusively of members of the club formed one of the principal attractions Among the papers read during the session were interesting contributions from Mr Dasche Mr Joseph Hill (Birmingham) and Mr Brassington FSA Three new members were elected one had died two left the town and two resigned The statement of accounts showed a balance in hand of £10 Is The report and accounts were adopted A congratulatory letter was read from the memliers of the Stockton-on-Tees Shakspear an Club and it was decided to send fraternal greetings by telegraph It was resolved that in future a floral wreath should be sent by the club to the church to be placed on the tomb on his birthday It was also decided that on the present occasion a deputation should go to the church to represent the club at the interesting ceremony which was about to take place in connection with the birthday celebration A vote of thanks to the Mayor for the use of the Town Hall closed the proceedings poet was 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Bad that that should be the day upon which the nation who claimed ownership with ourselves Shakspeare should have chosen for the of war with Spain However in spite of rumours of war the thoughts of all English day were concentrated upon their national had made world-famous the town in which were privileged to live and they hail met in to do honour to his memory and to offer tributes of affection Stratford was Shakspeare As Longfellow We hear in quiet street The patter of his little feet" Every inch of ground was consecrated by his and particularly that sacred building they were assembled Scoffers might whether the poet really first saw the little room in Henley Street because father did not purchase the property years after although it was quite true Shakspeare occupied the house several years as tenant New Place where the poet died swept away but when they came to that were on firm ground There could be no doubt that that building was closely associated speare He was baptised within those sacred the 26th April 1564 the register that lying on the table there conclusively proves in another part of the church they would font in whicn he was baptised From that they also gleaned some interesting facts infancy The child was onlv a few when a great plague broke out in Stratford the inhabitants for whereas in the the deaths numbered only 51 yet in the Shakspeare was bom the number reached the' total of 256 and through that great time life of the infant Shakspeare was preserved who gave it And so lie thought they not only the great genius of him of whom thinking that day was a direct gift from God was through His almighty power combined loving care that the life of the was saved The dread plague passed from house sweeping away whole families and building where the infant poet lay and preserved for posterity Mr Arbuthnot touched upon the early life in Stratford of the esteem in which he was held among poraries when his great genius had become was known as The gentle term with the entry of his burial in the Shakspeare Did it the real meaning of the word gentle not so much a social position that him the title as his character another characteristic of Shakspeare jas love of home Three hundred years ago Shakspeare purchased the house in Stratford he came back to live in his native and where he evidently wished to die loved Stratford and his love was not to be from his native town by the allurements He was a home-loving man and therefore Englishman On the 23rd April 1616 he died it was that on tlfie 25ch his body was beneath that stone at his feet and within the of that holy place Shakspeare was buried sacred part of the church close to' the altar had assembled to do honour to his memory and God thanks that lie had conferred such upon to acknowledge that the genius like every good gift came from God The rev gentleman then received the floral First came fhe wreath from tho Birthplace which was handed to him by the Mayor Pearce) accompanied by the secretary (Mr The inscription it bore was that penned by of the poet Bamfeild who writing in some eulogistic verses on Shakspeare Live ever you at least in fame live ever Well may the body die but fame dies The wreath from the boys of the Grammar next presented and then came a magnificent the choicest flowers from Mr and Mrs receiving this the Vicar said I receive this representatives of that noble profession which so much for Shakspeare's memory in the Wreaths aud louquets offered by young ladies frem the High boys and girls attending the National twenty in number whose posies were mostly ot the flowers mention'd by Shakspeare) various other persons who had brought floral to the church The Vicar arranged the tributes on the tombstone which at the close mass of beautiful blooms A short impromptu followed by a musical selection concluded LAST PERFORMANCES OF The last performances afternoon and evening year's revival and Memorial Theatre Stratford were in many At both representations the densely packed and in honour of the interior was very prettily decorated flowers interspersed with coloured shields monogram and coat-of-arms were carried the fronts of the dress circles and gallery and on each side of the proscenium were a number wreaths bedecked with streamers and flowers choice blossoms the width of the stage running of the footlights At each performance the were enthusiastically applauded and had several times before the curtain In the Egyptian scene Hall in curtain had to lx raised again in response calls and the Mayor ot Stratford (Mr took the opportunity to present to Mrs a magnificent bouquet of the choicest flowers the curtain descended in the last act two more floral tributes were landed to Mrs Benson were loud calls from all parts of the house for Complying with the request Mr Benson said very great pleasure and privilege to be allowed in these SHAKSPEARE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN BIRMINGHAM Tbe custom which of late years has been growing in Birmingham of celebrating the day of birth and death by dinners and speeches was observed by several societies in the city on Saturday The annual meeting of the Birmingham Shakspeare Memorial Library was as it has been for some years past a formal business The subscribers were invited to meet in the Memorial Room at the Reference Library at one on Saturday but at that hour only Mr Sam Timmins tbe hon secretary and Mr Shaw the Librarian were present Councillor Martineau one of the two or three who have been for the last few years reckoned upon to make a meeting was kept away by a business engagement At about seven minutes past one Mr Mathews came in and was unanimously voted to the chair by Mr Timmins who thereupon presented tbe annual report It showed that there had been added to the library during the past twelve months 15 volumes namely 18 English editions and selections of works making 74 volumes 33 separate plays and poems in English 74 volumes of Shakspeariana a French edition of Bhak-speare's Works in 13 volumes 1 separate play in French 3 in German 3 volumes of German Bhakspeariana 12-separate plays in Finnic an Italian edition of Venus and and 1 volume of Latin Shakspeariana The volumes and their cost were tabulated as follows By purchase by the Free Libraries Committee 163 value £20 16s 8d by gift 28 value £3 Is books from stock 24 'Value £1 15s total £25 12s 8d These additions brought the condition of the library to the following By purchase by the Free Libraries Committee 6897 volumes value £1350 4s 4d by gift (including books bought by the Memorial Library Committee) 1751 value £583 15s lOd books saved from the fire of 1879 1137 value £231 7s 5d by exchange 21 value £1 16s total 9856 volumes value £2167 3s 7d The donors of books during the year included Messrs A Hopkin-son Duggan 8 Timmins Cond Walker A Cohn and Boyden Mrs Stopes the Philadelphia Shaksyeare Society and the Trustees of the British Museum During the year the library had been visited by 944 readers who had consulted 1903 volumes in the following languages English German French Dutch Hebrew Russian Spanish and Swedish The subscriptions during the year amounted to £23 12s 6d and the balance in hand had increased from £96 19s 6d to £117 16s 9d In reply to the Chairman Mr Timmins explained that the money was kept hand for the purchase of works which they could not expect to be supplied out of the rates He read a list of editions commentaries which were required to make the collection complete and which had oeen advertised for in vain hitherto but which he hoped would ultimately be added to the The Chairman with a brief recapitulation of the report moved that it be Mr Timmins seconded and carried the motion and in similar fashion the usual formal resolutions were got through DRAMATIC AND LITERARY CLUB MR EDMUND GOSSE ON LITERATURE The Birmingham Dramatic and Literary Club met to eat and drink to the on Saturday evening at the Grand HoteL The dinner which took place in the Grosvenor Room was graced by the presence of many ladies the company numbering some four hundred Mr A Still the president took the chair and was faced by the vice-president Mr John Badger Mr Edmund Gosse was the guest of the evening and the company included Sir Holder and Lady Holder Dr Heath (principal of Mason College) Professor Fiedler Dr Suoweil Rogers Dr Ernest Rogers the Revds l)r Butler Carter and Colraore Dr Savage Dr Gosling Dr A Stern Dr Walter Jordan (hon secretary) Colonel Cox Aider-man Evans Councillors Martineau Green Bowater Balden and Stembridge and Messrs John Araphlett Marshal Halstead (United States Consul) Arthur Keen Hughes (city treasurer) Strong A Vince Parker Walsh Tyndall Walsh A Vince Slater (University Club) Burton (United States Vice-Consul) A Gray Humphreys Ross Jordan Levi Martineau Newey James Turner The toasts of The Queen and The Immortal Memory of Shakspeare having been given from the Dr Showeil Rogers proposed coupled with the name of Mr Edmund Gosse Mr Gosse having recalled the fact that the very first occasion on which he faced his fellow men as a speaker was in Birmingham nearly twenty years ago said that there had always seemed to him something extremely stimulating and charming about the civic life of Birmingham something uniquely interesting and enterprising about the city On passing their Reference Library he could only think first of the thrill of something like sorrow something like agony that passed through the learned world when their beautiful Shakspeare and Cervantes Library was destroyed and then again of the almost equal thrill of surprise and gratulation with which their marvellously patriotic effort was received by tbe world when they determined to revive that library and to make the disaster they had suffered as much as possible a forgotten thing This was truly characteristic of Birmingham with its everlasting elasticity and its encouragement of every great intellectual ideal and he was exceedingly delighted to hear their president with so much courage including Shakspeare among the Birmingham men who had achieved intellectual distinction (Laughter and applause) Knowing how paralysing almost it was at the present day to be called upon to say something new and interesting about Shakspeare he must compliment the president upon the extraordinary ingenuity and compression with which he had presented in the very fittest and fairest terms the condition of things in the world about their mighty townsman (Laughter) What had led up to this remarkable domination of Shakspeare in the world? As the chairman truly said Shakspeare was not raised to the pinnacle of universal fame in his own lifetime They might go very much farther than that It was a very recent thing for Shakspeare to be so universally honoured as he was now Even in the last century much more than a hundred years after his death Voltaire the most intelligent mind in Europe said of Hamlet that it was a vulgar and barbarous drama which would not be endured by the vilest populace in France or Italy But they might come to a much later period In 1864 there was a great Shakspearean celebration in their suburb of Stratford-upon-Avon (laughter) and as a bov he was taken to Exeter Hall to a meeting which was held to protest against the attention paid to Shaksueare (laughter) and he heard a gentleman of charming appearance and a white beard deprecate the fact that this moment idolatrous observances are being paid to a lost soul who is now in (Laughter) He did not believe that in any part of England such an expression of bigotry as that would now be endured (Applause) It was a marvellous thing that Shakspeare had by this time so illuminated himself that all classes and all faiths agreed now in accepting him as one of themselves There seemed to him one he was sorry it was not that of a Birmingham man or even of an Englishman which absolutely said more in a nutshell about Shakspeare than any other he had ever heard It was that of Alexandre Dumas Shakspeare the man who created more than any other created (Applause) Within the past twelve months there had been an extraordinary recrudescence and intensification of the cultof Shakspeare Having referred to thelarge number of the principal books and articles which had appeared of late on Shakspearean subjects some of which such as the articles in the Dictionary of National Biography he specially commended to lovers of the ptet Mr Gosse said amongst the things which filled him with alarm aud chagrin was the levity and rapidity with which the people read nowadays He thought the reproof Dr Showell Rogers gave on that point was not entirely undeserved He was afraid the great majority of bookt turned out at the present day were bad certainly they were not up to a ver' high level What they wanted most in this age it seemed to him was something more definite in their line of reading There seemed to him to be a kind of anarchy in the reading world there was rebellion against anything like a definite taste Every age before them had obeyed a central taste The great danger now arose from no reader knowing exactlv what he wanted and from no writer knowing exactly what his reader wanted There was a tremendous amount of taste in the world but it reminded him of what the late eminent Master of Trinity Cambridge said of a very popular divine A lady remarking Oh Master he has so much taste the Master replied ard all of it so (Laughter) He thought some of the features which were to be regretted in the contemporary taste in reading were due to the aposfcaey of the ladies Long long ago in the Middle Ages the Queen of France passing through her palace found the old poet asleep and kissed him Asked by a lady could your Majesty kiss him lie is so old and the Queen said kissed the lips that have sung so many beautiful (Applause) From this he gathered that the ladies of exalted rank in those days were very romantic and very fond of poetry He did not think the ladies of the present day were very fond of poetry There was a very distinguished poet of the last generation who during his honeymoon read to his wife a very touching passionate song which he had written to her Then he said what do you think of it Siie replied Oh darling it is very sweet but why did you use the best notepaper (Laughter) In the time ot Shakspeare the ladies did not appear to have read anything at all they were equally remote from verse and prose but in the middle of the 17th century the ladies began to read and they thus became the class for which authors particularly catered It appeared to him that this position of woman as the muse to whom romantic and beautiful things were addressed culminated in the Georgian and early Victorian period Their grandmothers were all women of sentiment full of a transcendental love for what was beautiful or melodious and tender Wordsworth Coleridge Shelley Byron Byron certainly would never have existed if they had not addressed the ladies Ladies had so much to do to-day they took such an exceedingly active part in things then work was so beneficent they were interested in so many things that they had no time no inclination it to him for the higher branches of literature and as for poetry if it were not for the men there would be no poetry written or read (Laughter) He knew two or three very accomplished women who wrote poetry out they only wrote it because they had something to say and verse was the most suitable way in which they could say it If only the ladies would turn frem the utilitarian to the romantic occasionally and try and improve the kind of literature the world would be immensely obliged to them (Laughter) After saying all these right but disagreeable and pessimistic things he would close upon an optimistic and hopeful note He should not hdve the face to appear before them if he were not of the if he were not sure that literature whatever tlie momentary phases of it might be was sure of success and of a noble future (Applause) He thought that everything pointed in that direction They might pass through and he would not conceal his opinion that they were not passing through an exceedingly peaceful or healthy period just now but he was perfectly confident that all would come right that those eternal aspirations which mut be nurtured by literary expression were not in any wise less dominant with them than they were in the days of Shakspeare or of Milton And even if literature as we considered it now should cease to be produced the)- had always the ancients with them Nobody could take the dead from them If everybody else should cease to write the writers of the past would never cease to sustain and inflame them Whatever might be the trend or influence Augustin Daly in particular for his recent gift of a bronze bust of Miss Ada Itehan FLORAL TRIBUTES FOR TOMB The custom initiated a few years ago oy tne elder scholars of King Edward VI School Stratford-on-Avon of placing a floral wreath upon Shakspeare's tomb in Holy Trinity Church was this year more generally observed In addition to the Grammar School wreath memory of their distinguished the trustees of Shakspeare's birthplace have of late years contributed a wreath of laurel gathered from the own garden at New Place to which has been attached a suitable inscription This year tho Vicar I Rev Arbuthnot) publicly announced that he would oe at the church on birthday to receive the floral offerings of any who might be disposed to supplement those usually given and would deliver a short address suitable to the occasion On Saturday the chancel could not contain half those who desired to be present at the interesting ceremony and the other parts of the church were not available being under restoration Among those who managed to gain admission were several distinguished scholars and students from all parts of England and France and Germany were also represented The Vicar standing within tne altar rails reminded all present that that was St St George who vanquished the a day which was observed with far more ceremony in olden times than now and the day was also the anniversary of the birth and death of England's greatest poet William Shakspeare On that day all English-speaking people had agreed to commemorate hm in the place where he was bom and where he died He (the speaker) thought they could not but regret that it was also the dav whioh their American cousins had chosen to emlark upm a wat whlch had p(rhapg somewhat thoughtlessly and unnecessarily rushed into with a natlon which otherwise might at that very time have engaged in commemorating thedeath ol tber greatest authorfur it was a curious and interesting fact to recaij that Cervantes the author of Don died or was supposed to have died upon the same day a our great Anglo-Saxon and it inexpressibly American in William oommencemeut war and people that poet who some of them that church their floral redolent of memory in which question light in that until ten that John previously had been church they whatever with Shak wralls on precious book that: and see the old same register about mouths old and decimated previous year year that enormous of peril the by God learned that they were but that it with his precious infant house to passed by the Shakspeare was then briefly and spoke his content knowm He Compare that register not suggest that it was earned for And then his great last vear wWe town Shakspeare lieguiled of London a typical and certain laid to rest sauctuary in the most and they to give great genius of Shakspeare offerings Trustees (Mr Savage) a contemporary 1598 concluded with the School was offering of Benson In frem the has done town of were next School from School (some composed and from offerings tastefully was one prayer the proceedings AND of this in the respects remarkable theatre was birthday Garjands of containing the round arranged of laurel a ridge of in front chief actors to appear beautiful the to loud Pearce) Benson W'hen handsome and there a speech it was a to take part annual performances und to be identified with a commemoration which was becoming more and more a national festival (Hear hear) They had been reminded that that day was also the anniversary of England's patron saint St George and it appeared to hirn that the virtues of that great courage faith endurance and were to be found in the life and works of Shakspeare who well knew that without those virtues it would be impossible for the Anglo-Celtic race to remain a great nation and his works abounded with encouragement in that respect (Applause) Mr Benson concluded by thanking them sincere for the kind support given to the company and iiimself during their fortnight stay in Stratford ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTISTS There was a very large assembly at last musical matinee for which the musical director had provided an excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music The well-known St Quartette contributed several part-songs given in their own irreproachable manner and for special distinction we have to record their exquisite singing of beautiful setting of of the Summer which proved quite a revelation in the way of phrasing and light and shade Miss Gertrude Franoel a light but pleasing mezzo-soprano sang The Swallows and a pretty song entitled I love thee by Sobeski with vocal charm and intelligence Mr William Bennett who has already wTon his laurels on the concert platform is one of our foremost local basses and to hear him is always a pleasure his singing being distinguished by artistic conception and refinement He introduced for the first time here three well-writtensongsbvMaudeV White his second contribution consisting of Mr Fred Ward who was in excellent form gave De dainty violin Concerto No 6 and Bazzmi's The playing of both pieces was characterised by a laultless technique aud utm ust purity of tone and rarely has our local violinist appeared to greater ail van cage A pleasing item of the programme was he in by Handel arranged for harp violin and piano given with splendid effect by7 Mrs Stockham Mr Stockham and Mr HaJiiiey Mra Stockham and Mr Stockham also played with perfect art a for harp aud violin by Olerthnr Quite an nistjg success was achieved by Miss Ella Freeman Smith a pianist of great ability who chose for her solo Fantaisie and the presto from tbe now rarely heard Concertstiiek of Weber Her execution is clear and crisp her touch sympathetic and spontaneous Mr George accompaniments to the songs and instrumental pieces deserve special acknowledgment Fatal Accident ox the Railway at Banbcby Yesterday William Gascoigne of Middleton Cheney died at the Banbury Infirmary from the effects of an accident on the Banbnoy branch of the Great Central Railway Gascoigne Was engaged in the construction of the new line at Chacombe and it was stated that he was standing on a truck assisting to unload it when a sudden jolting of tle truck fcaosed him to fall in front of it The wheels passed) over loth his legs and both his thighs were fractured one of them sustaining a compound fracture He bad only been employed on the line for a few days He leaives a widow and family Tobacconist Commencing Hid Guide 259 3d How to O-pec Cigar Store £2) to £2 000 Tobacconirt Outfitting Euston Road Ltfjoa Largest and original bquK JO year puationIIairIroasei 1 frcsi J- Mysra 43 A school-girl eight years of age named Beatrice Horsley was killed at a level crossing on the Midland Railway at Ilkeston Early on Saturday morning Torn Day retired groemr residing in Church Street Brighouse committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver Mr James Hill clerk to the Ashton-in-MakerfieM District Council Lancashire and holding several other valuable appointments committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence Charles Neil a newsvendor was remanded at Southwark charged with stealing a gold watch and chain worth £25 from the Rev EJ Neale a Baptist minister at the foot of Waterloo Bridge Letters of tbe character common to such cases were rcAd in the London Court during the hearing of two breach of promise actions In one suit £25 damages were awarded the other £5 The Labour Leader says that the attention of tbe Public Prosecutor has been called to certain facts which had been overlooked at the inquest on Mrs Marx Aveling and that there may be a fresh enquiry A painter engaged on premises near the Royal in Piccadilly on Saturday morning was standing on a plank when it gave wav He was thrown to the ground a distance of 30ft and both his legs were broken Madame is dangerousiv ill with acuta pleurisy She was formerly of the Imperial and Royal Court and opera singer of Vienna prima donna of the Italian Opera Covent Garden aud Her Theatre At Bow Street Police Court London the Hon John Tyrwhitt (22) of independent means giving au address iu Guilford Street was further remanded on the charge of forging and uttering a cheque with intent to defraud Boil was allowed An old man named George Russell who has died at Aberdeen left property value £13000 the interest of which is to be distributed among the policemen and scavengers of the city iu recognition of kindness done by a local constable to testator's sister fifty years atro Ernest Stanley Martin an ex -army officer said to he well-to-do and having an office in tbe City was fined £20 with three guineas costs with the alternativ of a month's imprisonment at Westminster for travelling on the District Railway without having previously paid his fare At an inquest on the infant son of a carman named Hoddy living at 4 Wellington Place London who died from burns it was shown that the clothing must have been set on fire in tbe absence by the cat on which a live coal fell from the grate under which it was lying A woman named Alice Liggett wife of Joseph Liggett of 59 Willow Road Derby committed suicide on Saturday afternoon by taking poison She was forty-three years of age and had been considerably depressed of late through some family trouble Beyond this no reason is assigned for the act Benjamin Parker a corporal of her ship Pembroke was riding a bicycle whan in turning a corner of the Military Road Chatham he came into collision with a three-horse omnibus which passed over both rider and machine Parker died in the Royal NavaJ Hospital shortly afterwards At Spalding an inqaost was held on Donald Everson (26) a fruit salesman of Manchester and Sheffield who died at an hotel at Spalding after cycling from Boston to Spalding The medical evidence showed that the immediate cause of death was over-exertion in cycling heart being affected Judgment was given for the defendant in an action for alleged assault brought by Mr Robert Winter a solicitor against the London Exhibition Company The case was that he was forcibly ejected from Court when he refused to desist from smoking as other gentlemen were allowed to do so A boy named Barn7 aged fifteen recovered in the Shoreditch County Court £125 damages and costs from Messrs Spratt a firm of mathematical instrument makers fo the loss of a finger in a metai-entting machine Judge Trench said that if firms employed boys they must take the attendant risks Richard Banks dealer George Webb labourer George Greenwood flower-seller John Winning labourer and Harry Cleaver labourer alleged to be a gang of counterfeiters were committed for trial at the South-Western Police Court London charged with passing bogus silver coins into circulation a warrant was read to Francis Frederick Weeks a draughtsman of Harrow Green he asked to be allowed to change his clothes For that purpose he went into another room and while there took a quantity of cyanide of potassium At Stratford he was remanded on the charge of having attempted to commit suicide An inquest was opened at Chesterfield on Saturday on the Ixidies of two pit-sinkers named Taylor and Oldfield who wen killed by an explosion of gunpowder at Whittington Moor The men were emptying a barrel of powder into a bag when the explosion occurred One had some cartridges in his pocket and both received frightful injuries Edward Ernest Dickens aged nineteen was barman at the Sun Dial Goswell ltoad London until Good Friday On that day he absconded with £35 went to Leicester races and lost the money iu betting Then he went home to Clerkenwell The Clerkenweiu magistrate told linn that gambling is a terrible curse and remanded him for enquiries about his character On Saturday morning Henry Mosley aged sixty a Chelmortim farmer was proceeding to Miller's Dale Station with a horse and trap containing luilkcans and when passing a chain-horse attached to a heavy cart the latter animal kicked horse bolted and his vehicle collided with the heavy cart Mofley was thrown out and falling violently on his head was killed instantly It is stated that the death of Mrs Melville who died recently after eating chocolate from a box received by post addressed to her daughter has now been certified to have been duo to heart failure It is believed that the excitement caused by her having supposed the chocolate to have been poisoned accelerated her death No trace has yet been found of the sender of the chocolates The Free Library and Art Gallery established at Huddersfield in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee were opened on Friday Sir John Ramsden formally handed to the chairman of theoommitteealeaseof the premises the use of which has been permitted practically without charge the Marquis of Ripon opened the Free Library and the Art Gallery was opened by Lady Guendolen Ramsden At Nottingham on Saturday Albert Seelby labourer of Larnbley was charged on remand wflth attempting to murder Jessie Shelton Superintendent Harrop stated that the girl was still too ill to attend aud he asked for a further remand solicitor stated that the affair was an accident which he very much regretted and lie offered substantial lwuL This was refused and prisoner was remanded for another week Tbe Lancaster magistrates on Saturday committed William Ayrton proprietor Morecarnbe to three hard lalxur for abusing a horse by beating il along the Morecarnbe Promenade and bye streets He struck it with the butt end of a whip twenty times standing on the box afterwards and striking the horse 3 head The auimal reeled over dead in the street The case was proved by Halifax and Mann ing ham visitors Mr Yates (coroner) held an inquest at Crewe oa Saturday on the body of Richard Gibson engine-fitter The deceased bad been depressed on account of being unable to secure work He was at home on Thursday and cut his throat with a razor afterwards inserting his fingers in the wounds to tear them wider open He told a neigh hour he had committed murder Tbe jury returned a verdict of Suicide while temporarily At Stockport on Saturday William Radgway a young collier of New Mills charged Sarah Ann Ben-fold and Thomas Platt with robbing him Prosecutor said he visited Stockport the previous night and got into the female company Platt was in league with her and between them they got bin silver watch and chain Benfold pleaded guilty and Platt not guilty Both prisoners were sentenced to three imprisonment The daring attempt at burglary which was made at tbe shop of Mr Runneckle'L Central Beach Blackpool on Friday was investigated at Blackpool Police Court on Saturday The prisoner Michael Lawless was not tbe man who actually entered the shop It was stated that Iiawless lived at Bradley Court off Rome Street Manchester He had been seen with three other men loitering in front of Runneckles's shop on Thursday and Friday He was remanded until to-day At Dei by Borough Police Court on Saturday William Fulcher gardener was charged on a warrant with assaulting John Phillips head gardener at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary Derby Phillips wae tm conscious for some time and he appeared in court with his head enveloped in bandages and looking very ill Prisoner a big powerful fellow said he was sorry he haxl lost his temper and produced splendid testimonials from the army The Bench sentenced Fulcher to a hard labour A shocking railway accident occurred on Friday night on tbe Irish Great Northern line at Dunmurry Station near Belfast An elderly lady named Fulton was crossing the line when a passenger train travelling at forty-five miles an hour struck her When the train was stopped her remains were found scattered along the lme for nearly thirtv yards every limb being torn from the trunk which was terribly mutilated Deceased who belonged to Belfast had been visiting some country friends William Walters was committed for trial at Derby on a charge of legally stopping a passenger train on the Great Northern Railway on March 16 Defendant that day went to the railway station at EfcwaJl and was informed that no Derby train stopped there until one Being very anxious to get to the races and finding that an express was due Walter then went on the platform and by waring arms succeded bringing the train to a standstill and proceeded on it to his destination A daring robbery was discovered shortly after six on Saturday morning to have been committed at the warehouse of Messrs and Phillips and Co Church Street Manchester The night watchman notioed that one of the windows which was but a short time before closed bad been opened On investigation it was discovered that a safe on the second floor had been opened and about £200 in silver stolen It is conjectured that the thieves secreted themselves on the premises on Friday night John Clarke was on Saturday morning charged at Bow Street Police Court London with being in possession housebreaking implements and firing a revolver a' a police-constable to avoid arrest Shortly after midnight a constable on dnty in Gower Mews Tomngton Place observed prisoner trying doors He was stopped and when the constable proceeded to search him he pulled out a revolver and pointed it at the face The constable struck the weapon up and the bullet went wide Prisoner was committed for trial On Saturday Thomas Doherty (32) a labourer was tried by 'he Salford Stipendiary for an offence committed on January 2 1896 On that date he and another labourer lamed George Byrom of Factory Lane Salford quarrelled after drinking together and Doherty went into the house of Byrom and stabbed him on the right side of the nose At tbe same time Byrom was assaulted by brother who subsequently got a month Thomas decamped and was only arrested on Friday at Warrington over two years after tbe warrant bad been issued The mark inflicted on Byrom was distinctly discernible aDd the magistrate sent Doherty to prison for two months with hard labour IN the Matter of SHEPHERD COMPANY Notice is hereby given that by an Order made by the County Court of Warwickshire holden at Birmingham in the above Matter dated the 17th day of March 1398 on the petition of Skimukd SrxAUER Abraham Hoffn cng Sidney Francis Hoffnuno Goldsmid and Lewis ILevby Nathan it was ordered that the said Company lie Wound up by this Court under file provisions of the Companies Acts 1862 to 13SG and that Luke eason Sharp the Official Receiver attached to this Court be CONSTITUTED Provisional LIQUIDATOR of the affairs of the Company Notice is also hereby given that the FIRST MEETING of CREDITORS will be held at 174 Corporation Street Birmingham on the 5th day of Mav 1898 at Twelve and the FIRST MEETING of CONTRIBUTORIES will be held at 174 Corporation Street Birmingham on the 5th day of May 1398 at 1215 Dated this 23rd day of April 1393 LUKE SHARP Official Receiver Note All Debts dne to the Company should be paid to the Official Receiver at his Office 174 Corporation Street Birmingham orders for typewriting are Solicited by the GENERAL INSTITUTION for the BLIND Carpenter Road Edgbastou Birmingham A Typewriting Office with blind operators has been opened at the above Institution MSS Letters Circulars and general Copying Carbon Copies Reproductions by Duplicator Perfect work prompt attention dainty type ordinary charges Private Pupils for Typewriting received success guaranteed Orders and enquiries may be sent to the Secretary by post or a lepresentative will call to receive instructions on receipt of a postcard 103 SHAFTING AND PULLEYS HENRY TITTLEY SON Smethwick 114 BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD THE PRECEPT A meeting of the School Board will be held on Friday next at the Council House be annual report of the work of the Board for the year ended November 28 1897 will be submitted and the Chairman will call upon the chairmen of the several committees to move the adoption of their respective sections Finance Committee This committee will recommend that precepts be issued amounting to £121000 being the sum required for the year ending 25th March 1899 (The amount required for the year 1897-8 was £117000) The Attendance and General Purposes Committee will recommend that a memorial be forwarded to the Education Department urging that under ordinary circumstances whole-time exemption from attendance at school be not granted in the case of any child under twelve years of age and in five years from the date of the passing of this proposed enactment the age for exemption be extended to thirteen years further that wholetime exemption be granted in the case of a child over thirteen and under fourteen years of age only upon the condition that such child has made 350 attendances annually during five of the six years immediately preceding Mr Pentland has given notice that be intends to move "That all work connected with the Board be open for public competition and that as far as possible samples or specifications be open for the inspection of those wishing to estimate for the same Further that as far as possible all goods supplied to the Board be of British FUNERAL OF THE LaTE COLLINGS On Saturday afternoon the remains of the late Col lings were interred- at the Yardley Cemetery amid the manifestation of widespread anti sympathy A service was previously held in the Baptist Cnurcn Coventry Road Small Heath the area of which was filled with delegations representing a large number of temperance and religious organisations Among them were: West Midland Baptist Association Rev Gray (president) Rev George West and Mr Chapman Birmingham Evangelical Free Church Council Revds Hulme Brookes Lee Hutson Dr Carter West A Babidge Edgar Todd Messrs Locke Derrington Rutherford (secretary) Small Heath District Union of Evangelical Free Churches Mr Hart (president) and Mr Kirkbv (secretary) Conference Hall Jenkins Street Rev Odell Messrs Ager Neville and Walker Zion Baptist Church Victoria Street Baptist Church Long-more Street Baptist Church Moseley Baptist Church High gate Park Baptist Church Lodge Road Baptist Church Ebenezer Congregational Church Birmingham Temperance Society Birmingham Temperance Social Union Birmingham Church of England Temperance Society Birmingham Workhouse Drink Reform League Birmingham Baud of Hope Union Birmingham Gospel Temperance Mission Midland Temperance League United Kingdom Alliance (Birmingham Auxiliary) Messrs Lant Tyndal (president) Holmes (treasurer) Derrington (bon secretary) Moseley (secretary) Arkinstall Eyles and Lucas The staff of the Grand Lodge Offices in Edmund Street was represented by Messrs A Edkins Pentland A Potter Glover of Good Templar Watchword The Grand Lodge Executive were Councillor Malins GCT Mr Guy Hayler (Newcastle-on-Tyne) Mrs Hampshire (Rotherham) Mr Hopkins (Gloucester) Messrs Skinner (Beckenham) Sutherland (London) Harris (Cambridge) and Rev Tayider (Newcastle-on-Tyne) Messrs Insull (London) Wilkinson (Egremont) Turn-bull (Bristol) John Stand ford (Wrexham) Tolton (Manchester) Councillor Ellis (Derby) Musk PGM (Manchester) Wilde DCT (Warwickshire) Waite DSec and Councillor A Peters DSJT Members or representatives of lodges from nearly every county in England were present The mourners were Mrs Ceilings and her four daughters Mr and Mrs Tom Collings of Burton Latimer brother Mr Harold Collings nephew Rev Joseph and Mrs Dawson of Erdiugton Messrs and Dawson Miss Dawson Mr and Mrs Charles Pane Mr John Dawson Mr aud Mrs Webb Mr Gardner Gloucester Mr and Miss Marriott Mr Colin (Mr Buck Liverpool) Rev and Mrs Richards Bristol the surviving deacons of the church Messrs Brough Houghara Taylor Drewe Vines Derrington Freeman Evans While Perry (secretary) The Rev Smythe the pastor was unable to attend The service was conducted by Rev Akod of Pembroke Baptist Church Liverpool of which Mr Collings had been a member previous to his removal to Birmingham seven years ago and Mr Aked delivered a warm eulogy of the public work of the deceased gentleman Rev RichanJ of Bristol the pastor ot Pembroke Church Liveipool at the time when Mr Codings was a deacon church secretary and superintendent of the Sunday school there then gave a very touching address He referred to the fact that Mr Collings was the son of a Baptist minister and had therefore great sympathy ana proved a true friend to him when he began his ministry eighteen years ago lived in deeds not in for he was a very busy man and would be much missed The service at the church was closed with prayer by Mr Richard aud the (Chopin) played by the organist At the grave the service was conducted according to the Good Templar Service by the Grand Lodge officers who together with some 200 other persons wore Good Templar regalia A meeting of the Grand Lodge Executive was held on Saturday morning at the offices Edmund Street Councillor Malins GCT presiding when a resolution was adopted of regret and condolence MR ASQUITH ON CRITICISM There was a large attendance in the Egyptian Hall of the London Mansion House on Saturday afternoon to hear Mr Asquith on Criticism' this being the annual address to students in connection with the University Extension movement The hall was filled to overflowing The Lord Mayor took the chair Among those on the platform were t-e Lady Mayoress Mrs Asquith Sir John Lubbock Sir Philip Magnus Sir John and Lady Evans Sir Joshua and Lady Fitch Sir John Moore Rev Hadden and Mr Mr Asquith recalled the fact that more than twenty years ago when the society began its operations in London he was its first lecturer He also alluded with pleasure to the success which had attended the movement The subject of criticism had been chosen by him because it had always appeared to him that if what is called the higher education was worthy of the name it ought to stimulate and guide the power and practice criticism in its best and largest sense He disabused the minds of his audience of the idea that criticism was necessarily censure that the critical attitude was necessarily one of disparagement There had been eminent men in whom want of success had stimulated and soured the critical faculty hut that was a dwarfed and distorted kind of criticism One set of men produced works of art another set theorised about its principles and formulated its canons The great artist might be incapable of criticism and the good critic might he incapable of producing art but one set of gifts did not necessarily exclude the other Criticism in the true sense of the term was a positive and not a negative function It discriminated between good and evil between ability and imposture by dethroning the ephemeral idols of fashion and recalling the wandering crowd to the worship of beauty and greatness Criticism played the part of a vitalising and energising force in social and intellectual matters It performed tne double duty of a solvent and a stimulant It was the essentially criticitical speculations of Hume which awoke Kant from his dogmatic slumber and first caused the scales to fall from the eyes of Bentham and so caused two rival schemes of philosophy There was no greater fallacy than that criticism was a form of literary gymnastics Esthetic criticism had produced some of the great masterpieces in literature The reading of Laocoon had been to smaller people as it was to Macaulay an intellectual revelation But as a rule it must be said of art criticism that it had had a blighting effect even on good writers It had been unproductive either of speculative or practical guidance but it consisted in the unilluminated discussion of unreal problems in unintelligible language Turning to what criticism should be Mr Asquith said tbe most obvious requirement of criticism was that it should be open-minded many-sided not sectarian but catholic It was a sure sign of the degeneracy of the critic when he lapsed into the habitual use of catch-words and formulas There was nothing more hampering than 1116 habit easily acquired of drawing words and phrases from a particular literary or artistic dialect Criticism must also lie impersonal though not necessarily uncoloured by the personality of the critic it needed also for its proper exercise imagination The fatal consequence of defecti ve imaginatii was in nothing so glaring as in modem criticism on historical characters The greatest fault imaginable was to import modern standards of thought into judgments on the past Amongst the mistakes of great critics he alluded to criticism of Hamlet as a barbarous piece and failure to sec any merit in Tristram Sir Walter judgment that- Johanna Bailey was the greatest of women poets and other notable examples An example of blurred and distorted vision in a case where we should look for the light and warmth of vivid sympathy was to be found in review of life of Sir Walter Scott It might be asked if there were any practical rules by the observance of which the critical faculty might be traiued and enriched There was great danger in attempting to prescribe such a code Such ad vice as he would venture to give would be confined to a couple of seeming common-places which seemed to him all that could be wisely said on the matter They were the study of great models and diligent practice A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Asquith on the motion of Sir John Lubbock Yon bare tried and wire pleaerd with thorn They stimulate tbe liwer regulate bowels and improve the complexion Carter's Little T-iver Pilis le Britiab Depot 4o Sol born Viaduct Londoi Rut be sure tho are Carter 3 £10000 15000 No The SUBSCRIPTION LIST OPENED on Saturday tho 23rd day of April and will CLOSE at Four pm To-morrow (Tuesday) the 2oth day of April HUDSON COLLIER (LIMITED) under the Companies Acta 1862 to 1893 CAPITAL £20000 DIVIDED INTO 20000 ORDINARY SHARES OF £1 EACH Also 300 First Mortgage Debentures of £10 each bearing interest at 5 per cent redeemable after 1st January 1906 at £10 10s PRESENT ISSUE 15000 SHARES of £1 Each 5 COO of which are taken up by the Vendors and the balance is now Offered for Subscription 2s 6d per Share on Application 7s 6d per Share on Allotment 10s Oil one month after Allotment Tbe Delientures will be payable as follows: On Application £2 on Allotment £3 and Two Months after £5 or the whole on Allotment if desired Directors John Parker (Director of Parker Lamp Manufacturing Company Limited) Blenheim Road Moseley Charles Hudson Plume Street Aston Tube Manufacturer William Collier Plume Street Aston Tube Manufacturer Will join the Board after allotment The City of Birmingham Bank (Limited) Cherry 8treet Birmingham Solicitor Frank Ernest Bill Cannon Passage Birmingham Chas Hodgkinson (Hodgkinson Tolley and Oo) Birmingham Chartered Accountant Secretary Enoch Ayro Plume Street Aston Birmingham Registered Plume Street Aston Birmingham ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS Tho Company has been formed to purchase and extend the bupiDess of makers of Seamless Steel Tubes (which are used in the construction of Cycles Boilers Motor Cars and Engineering purposes) now carried on by Messrs Hudson and Collier at their Tube Works Plume Street Aston Birmingham and who are the endors to the Company The business was established by Messrs Hudson and Collier in April 1C96 since which the trade has steadily increased The Vendors who undertake to defray all the preliminary expenses of the Company up to and including the First Allotment of Shares have fixed the price to be paid by the Oomjiany for the lease of the Works in Plume Street Aston together with 11 Draw Benches and Annealing Muffles Plant including Engine and Boiler Fixtures Machinery Tools Stoek-in-Trade Goodwill and Trade Contracts at £15000 Of this sura Messrs Hudson and Collier stipulate that they shall apply for and have allotted to them in part payment of the purchase at least 6000 fully-paid Shares and they agree to liold these Shares for a period of two years from the incorporation of the Company and not to rank for dividend till 7 per cent has been paid to the Ordinary Shareholders The profits referred to below have been earned by four Benches only and included in the purchase are a further seven benches and the necessary tools which the Vendors have lately put down and which will enable them to greatly increase their present output The attention of the public is called to the fact that this is concern with eleven Benches and is capable of manufacturing 22000ft of Tubes per week Tho Works are compact and well arranged with a good frontage to Plume Street and with canal accommodation at back They are held on lease for a term of fourteen years from Christmas 1895 at the yearly reutal of £100 for the first seven years and £110 for the remainder of the term The Books were audited from the 1st of September 1896 to the 31st of May 1897 and the Accounts showed a profit of £2266 Is 2d for the nine months Taking these figures as a basis a profit of £3021 8s 2d is shown for twelve months and tbe Vendors aro of opinion that with the additional Plant and Machinery which has been recently added and is now in working order the profits will be materially increased The Valuation of Messrs Finney Brothers of the Columbia Engineering Works Birmingham is as follow Holliday Street Birmingham 7th March 1893 To Messrs Hudson and Collier Dear Sire -cording to yonr instructions we hare inspected the Works in Piume Street Aston and estimate the value of your Plant Machinery Tools Muffles and Extension of Buildings at £6177 12s viz Plant and Machinery £4877 3 0 1 mprovement to Buildings 813 19 6 Tools 399 19 6 Fixtures Fittings and Office Furniture 86 10 0 £6177 12 0 Yours faithfully Tho total assets acquired by the Company are therefore Plauf Ac as above £6177 12 0 Stock and Book Debts (as guaranteed by the Vendors) 3282 19 2 £9460 11 2 Leas Liabilities taken over by the Company 3379 10 6 £6081 0 No promotion Money has been or will be paid and no Shares have been or will be underwritten The following contract ha3 been entered into An agreement dated the seventeenth day of March 1898 made between Me-srs Hudson and Collier of the one part and Harold Howell of the other part Other Contracts may have been entered into and Subscribers will tie deemed to have had notice of such Contracts and to waive any claim they may have against the Directors for not more fully complying with the requirements of Section 33 of the Companies Act 1367 TTTUDSON COLLIER Tho follow- JlI ing Form of Application can be cut- out and when filled in can be forwarded to tise Bankers fer an Application for Shares To the Die ector5? of Hudson Collier (Limited) Gentlemen -I herewith apply for Shares in the above Company expressly upon the terms mentioned in the above abridge 1 Pro nd I enclose my cheque for teing 2s 6d per Share upon the number 9 1 Shares applied for by me Full Name Address c9326 Occupation HE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES EXAMINATIONS The NEXT EXAMINATIONS will be HELD on the following dates The Preliminary Examinations on the 7th 8th and 9th of June 1898 The I ntermediate Examination on the 14th and loth June 1898 The Final Examination on the 21st 22nd and 23rd June 1893 Persons desiring to present ihemselves for examination must give notice to the Council at least thirty days before the date of examinations at the same time forwarding the examination fee Fuil particulars and forms may be obtained at the Office of the Institute Moorgate Place London EC and at 8 Newhall Street Birmingham By order of the Council HO WG RAVE Secretary April 14 1S98 167 ITMVEB8ITY OF WALES lU The FOURTH MATRICULATION EXAMINATION will COMMENCE on Monday June 13 1893 Particulars from the Registrar Town Hall Chambers Newport Mon from whom Forms of Entry can be obtained Entries must oe made not later than Monday May 16 99 fjHHE BIRMINGHAM INCORPORATED BUILDING SOCIETY Offices 44 WATERLOO STREET BIRMINGHAM ADVANCES 1S97 £277600 THE DIRECTORS ARE PREPARED TO MAKE ADVANCES UPON MORTGAGE OF FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD PROPERTIES REPAYABLE BY EASY INSTALMENTS SPECIAL FACILITIES TO OCCUPIERS PERMANENT MORTGAGER ARRANGED AT NOMINAL CHARGES LOANS CAN BE REPAID AT ANY TIMB WITHOUT NOTICE OR EXPENSE) Interest Low Particulars on amplicatioi i IS Office Hours 10 till 4 Saturdays 10 till fl By order JOHN ROGERS idUuccr and Secretary The SUBSCRIPTION LISTS will be CLOSED at tbe latest at Three pm To-morrow (Tuesday) the 26th of April for both Town and Country ROOKS DOXEY (LIMITED) Union Iron Works West Gorton Junction Iron Works Miles Platting nmnnn mnnrw Share Capital £200030: Debenture Stock £300000 The Share C'npital is divided into 10000 Five per Cent Preference Shares of £10 each aud 10000 Ordinary Shares of £10 each £100000 The Preference Shares are entitled to an accumulative preferential dividend and also to a preference in respeet of the repay-inent of Capital One-third (or as near thereto as may be) of each class of security being the largest proportion allowed by the Rules of the btock Exchange will be taken by the Vendors in part payment of the purchase consideration 1 Subscriptions are invited for: Four per Cent Debenture Stock I £67001 6700 Five per Cent Cumulative Preference Shares £10 each £67000 6700 Ordinary Shares £10 each £201000 Payable as follows Preference Shares £1 £4 £2 10s £2 10s Ordinary Shares £1 £4 £2 10s £2 10s Debentures 10 per cent 40 25 25 On Application On Allotment On 1st July On 1st October 100 £10 £10-The Shares and Debenture Stock may be paid in full on the date on which any instalment falls due and interest will be allowed at the rate of 4 per cent per annum on instalments paid in advance The Debenture Stock will be issued as perpetual Stock I he Company reserves power to redeem the entire issue or any portion or portions thereof which the Directors may select for repayment at £105 percent at auy time after 1st January 1914 Ihe Stock may be transferred when fully paid and will bo secured by a tru-st deed containing a mortgage of the Company works uml fixed plants to the Trustees for the Debenture Stock holders and by a first floating chnrge in their favour upon the rest of the assets and undertaking of the Company The first payment of interest on the Debenture Stock will he made on the 1st of January 1839 calculated from the dates on which the instalments are paid and afterwards half-yearly on the 1st of July and 1st of January in each year The Debenture Stock is secured by property valued at an amount sufficient to secure the Debentures three times over Trustees for the Debenture Holders Robert Montgomery Williams Deacon and Manchester and Salford Bank (Limited) Alfred Simpson Major Street Manchester Iren Merchant Directors xiuel Brooks Union Ironworks WestA Gorton Directors Frederick Goodbehere Ui works West Gorton Joseph Glossop Union Ironworks West Gorton Janus Brown (James Eckersluy and Sohb Limited Wigan Cotton Spinners and Manufacturere) Henry Webb Engineer (Joseph Webb and Co Irwell Forge and Rolling Mills Bury join the Board after Allotment Williams Deacon ami Manchester and Salford Bank (Limited) St Ann Street Manchester A and Fox 55 Princess Street Manchester Edwin Guthrie and Co 71 King Street Manchester and 10 Tokenhouse Yard Loudon London Ellis and Co 2 Royal Exchange Buildings Manchester Brokers -Pixton and Coppock 12 naif Moon Street Manchester and Stock Exchange Manchester William Rouse Registered Union Ironworks West Gorton Man- PROSPEOTUS The Company is formed for the purpose of acquiring and working the Bnsiness of Textile Machinists as carried on by Messrs Brooks and Doxey at the Union Ironworks West Gorton and the Junction Ironworks Miles Platting Manchester The Business as originally founded by the lat Mr Samuel Brooks was carried on at the Minshull Mills Loudon Road Manchester from 1859 to 1564 when it was removed to the Union Ironworks West Gorton The Junction Works were added in the year 1888 aud th two establishment 8 now employ between 14000 and 2000 men und cover an area of nearly fifteen acres The whole of the Property is situate within the boundaries of the City of Manchester aud within the district within which goods are delivered from Manchester stations without extra charge The extensive Plant comprises Engines Boilers Millwright Work gnd a full equipment of ordinary and special automatic tools such as have been found the most effective for the economical and accurate production of tbe various machines manufactured by the flrn No expense has been spared to keep the Building Tools and Blunt in a state of the highest efficiency ami to adopt the latest Improvements in labour-saving appliances Cotton Spinning Doubling Winding and Woollen Spinning Machinery in ali their branches are extensively manufactured by Messrs Brook's and Doxey aud they have large connections in the United Kingdom throughout the Continent of Europe in China Japan India Australia Brazil Mexico the United States ami Canada and they have resident agents in most of the countries mentioned Tbe Company also nake the manufacture of Bing Travellers a speciality and its plant for Uia purpose is one of the three largest in the United Kingdom for the manufacture of Ring Travellers The business as now carried on has attained such large proportions and the prospects of its further gr iwth xiesuch that it has been decided to convert it into a Public Company so as to consolidate the Capital xml provide means for continued development- The gentlemen whose names appear as the first three directors have been actively engaged in the management of the business for periods varying from Vn to tweniy-five yesrsand hare agreed to continue on the Board Directors for a period of net less than five yeats so that a con- i tinuity of the successful policy hitherto pursued may lie assured The Company has agreed purchase the entire assets as and from i the 1st day of January last aud to pay the Vendors' interest at the rate of per cent per annum upon the entire purchase money from that date until payment For the purpose of ascertaining tho price which should be paid for the whole of the Company's property (exclusive of book debts investment patents patterns trade marks and godwilll a vaiua- i toon thereof has be made by Messrs Wheatley Kirk Price and Goulty who have certified the value of the lam! and buildings Ac taken as a current going concern to be the sum of £16S618 lbs 5d The total value of the Stock Stores and work in progress ae 31st day ot December 1S97 the sum of £77329 fca1 Tho book debts of the Company on the 1st day of January last amounted to the sum of £44500 ami the vendors have guaranteed that they will produce this sum and they have agreed to discharge all liabilities iu relation to the business up to the 1st day of January 1893 Tho vendors have decided not to charge anything for goodwill The purchase price agreed to be paid for the entire property is IBado up as follows For ixnd and Buildings Power Machinery Loose Tools Stores and Stock in-Trade including work in progress £245548 Book Debus 44 500 patterns Patents and Trade Marks at the very low sum at 10000 £300448 jor which the Vendors have agreed to accept £300000 The books have been invec! igrted for the past four years Messis Edwin Guthrie and Co and their certificate will be found in the full Prospectus No promotion morn has been or will be paid and no part of the Dompany's Capital has been or will be underwritten It is intended to make early application for a quotation for the fthares and Debenture Stock on the London and Provincial Stock Exchanges Full Prospectuses and Forms of Application may be obtained from fcbe Bankers Solicitors Auditors and Brokers of the Company or the Offices of the Company K)5 MTY BIRMINGHAM The Treamrer i prepared to Accept LOANS of £100 and jwards oa security of the local rates at Two-and-Three-quarters per Cent per annum repayable on six months' notice on either aide or for three ox five years certain and then subject to six months' po'ice ot tin same rate The interest payable half-yearly Offers of Iaus richer personally or by letter to be addressed to WILLIAM HUGHES Treasurer of the City The Council House Birmingham 21st April 1893 niTY BIRMINGHAM PROPOSED NEW ASYLUM AT HOLLYMOOR Notice is her given that the PLANS received in connection frith this Competition will be Open to the INSPECTION of the PUBLIC in the Hat and Coat Room Council House Birmingham on day Tcesday and WEDNESDAY April 25 26 and 27 Crorr Two to Five pm WILLIAM HUTTON Clerk to the Lunatic Asylums Committee Council HhUiOiA Birmingham April 22 16ig 4 S3 SHAKSPEARE MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION The twenty-third annual meeting of the Governors of the Shakspeare Memorial Association was held in the library of the Memorial Buildings Stratford on Saturday Mr Edgar Flower The council reported that considerable structural repairs had been carried out in the theatre and library Improvement had also been effected in other parts of the theatre new dressing rooms had been provided and greater precautions against fire had been adopted by providing new hydrants in the basement in the flies and on the stage The theatre had been partly reseated and a new system of flash light introduced on tbe stage A nchly-stained glass window the gift of the chairman bad been fixed at the head of the library vestibule stairway in place of the condemned figure of Shakspeare The subject was Queen Victoria in her coronation robes The wiudow was a fitting companion to the Queen of day at the foot of tbe same stairway Several very valuable oil-paintings had been added to tbe picture gallery presented by various donors One bequeathed by Sir Charles Gregory was a fine stage-portrait of Mrs Stirling A sum 'of £100 resulting from Miss Ada Rebates performance with the Dalv Company Jof You Like last August had been banked pending Miss Rebates decision as to the special form for its In moving the adoption of tbe report the Chairman mentioned that Mr Sam Timmins had been elected a member of tbe executive and Miss Ada Rehanhad been added to the list of governors Commencing upon the revival performances in the theatre Mr Flower said all had been admirably carried out under the direction of Mr Benson and the council were more than satisfied with the manner in which Antony and Cleopatra had been produced this month The receipts for the year were £1974 13s 8d and of this sum all except £3 0s lOd had lieen expended on the objects of tbe institution Very considerable and satisfactory results had been obtained and their expenditure had been kept within business-like limits They had had a very kind gift from Mrs Flower of £50 Some of tbe expenditure for the past year might fairly be regarded as exceptional referred more particularly to the reseating of a portion of the theatre the new fire appliances and improvements on the stage There was still a little to be done but nothing like the expense already incurred would be necessary Comparing the theatre receipts the Chairman said they had nsen from £759 in the previous year to £1118 this so that it would appear that the theatrical representations were becoming increasingly Mr Bird seconded the adoption of the report and accounts and the motion was The Chairman then stated that the annual report of the librarian (Mr Brassington FSA) was in the press and would shortly be issued to the governors It would be found to be a very interesting report and would show that the institution was doing good work which was bearing fruit The number of readers had trebled and the list of donation (Ixioks Arc had risen from 85 to 97 while the number of visitors who had paid for admission to the picture gallery had increased from 12117 to 13035 during the The Executive Council were re-elected and Mr Morgan was reappointed hon auditor and a vote of thanks accorded to him for his past A vote of thanks was also tendered to the chairman for tbe gift of the window referred to also to the members ol the Daly.