Society and Dramatic Gossip in the Hub

This morning Prof. W. J. Rolfe, who, as is well known, has been issuing new editions of Shakespeare's Works, and is being called on for further work of the same kind by Harper Brothers and the Osgoods, gave a lecture at the New England Conservatory on English Literature. He has consented to take charge of the class in this branch of study at that popular institution, and the talk this morning was preliminary to the course. He discoursed on Shakespeare's works and Tennyson's poems, closing with some interesting facts about Gray's Elegy. His remarks about critics as a class were quite amusing. It is evident that he has but little sympathy with that class of beings, especially with those who do not study, thoroughly, the passages which they attempt to criticise.

Mr. John Stoddard has been giving a course of illustrated lectures at Music Hall on Saturday afternoons. It would be difficult to find a more popular lecturer than Mr. Stoddard. He has always something interesting to say, which he says in a pleasant, even captivating manner. The great Music Hall was at every lecture full, which means that there were several thousand people present. His stereopticon illustrations were the finest ever given here, especially those used at the last matinee, "The Castle-bordered Rhine." They illustrated first the glaciers, chasms and ravines in Switzerland before the waters were emptied into Lake Constance. The views of the lake, too, were very beautiful, while those of the villages and castles and ancient German strongholds were picturesque and grand in the extreme. This lecturer's descriptions of the country and historical notes were highly instructive. The first lectures dealt with French history and the Reign of Terror. "The Dickens Lecture" was especially interesting to lovers of that author. The nooks and corners of London that are mentioned in Dickens' novels were shown, and of Brighton Beach, where little Paul used to lie and listen to the waves. Many country scenes were shown, but the picture which "brought down the house" was "Sairey Gamp," who seemed unusually well "disposed" to refresh exhausted nature with a drop of something hot. Mr. Stoddard is repeating the course at present in New York city, where he is drawing full houses.

Margaret Mather is playing in "Macbeth" and "The Honey-Moon" at the Boston Theatre. This popular actress has made a greater hit than ever this winter and is evidently gaining in power and finished execution. Lawrence Barrett is the next attraction at this favorite theatre. Irving plays next week at the Globe in a farewell appearance, and Booth the [...] at the Museum will give us three great stars at once — a brilliant galaxy surely.