MAIL NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4354, 14 December 1882, Page 2

MAIL NEWS.

iTennyson's new play, " The Promise of MaY," was produced at the Globe Theatre, London, on JS"ov. 11th, and is pronounced a failure by the Observer. The performance was a fiasco. The delineations of character were received with roars laughter, and the representations of rustic life moved the spectators to couleinptuoui merriment. During the performance the Marquis of Queensberry twioe arose, and protested against Tennyson's representation of the principle of froatliought, which he said was a travesty on the sentiments of freethinkers; His remarks created a sensation, and the lYlarquisleft the theatre.

An encyclical letter from the Pope was read in all the Catholic Churches of London on Sursday, November 5, the occasion -being the seventh centenary of St. Francis of Assissis. Tno Pope laments the dearth of Chiistian virtues in the ninetsentli century, and says the greater part of men to-day are seeking to revel in luxury, and, being extravagant with their own goods, are greedy after those of their neighbours. They extol the name of fraternity of mankind, but talk more fraternally than they act. The votaries of Rationalism encaurage violence and sedition among the people, provoke agrarian disturbances, flatter the appetites ,v of the lower classes, and by these means * and others'serve to weaken the .foundations of domestic life and public order, instead of strengthening them by lives of probity. The letter recommends that Franciscan institutions be more widely spread among the laity as a partial remedy again the spread of Socialism. Davitt, in a speech at Aberdeen, urged the Scotch farmers to demand a decrease in their rents. He said they should claim the right to have an independent tribunal to arbitrate between them and their land* lords, for he thought it possible to have conceded to Scotland the same rights already granted to Ireland.

Mr P. J. Smyihe, M.P. for Tipperary, and a moderate Nationalist, has written a letter in which he says the recent National Conference held in Dublin was not a repre* sentative one. He warns his countrymen against the new movement, which he describes as a "sham, deceit, and fraud." Its only object, he declares, is to get money, which will never be accounted for,; to the ' support of Ireland's worst enemy. In consequence of the improvement in the state of the country, the proclamation of Loughrea and the neighboring districts have been reversed.

The Yorkshire colliery owners adranced their quotations 10 per cent, on November Ist, and raised their trimmers wages 5 per cent., so preventing an intended strike.