Mozart As A Freemason.

" Towards the close of September [ 1791 ] he Avas again at Vienna , where the ' Zauberflote' only awaited the last touches to be quite ready for representation . On the 28 th of this month be composed the memorable overture and a priest ' s march .

The opera Avas produced on the 30 th with a success Avhich fully Avarranted the manager ' s prediction . "By the advice of bis physician the score of the 'Requiem' was taken from him . This , for a timehad a good effect

, ; the removal of the work which so fatall y excited his imagination caused a sensible improvement in his health , and by the middle of November he was so far recovered as to be able to attend a meeting of bis old

friends , the Freemasons . Their joy at seeing him again among them , aucl the excellent performance of a little cantata Avhich be had just Avritten for them , entitled ' The Praise of Friendshi p' ( ' Das Lob der Freundschaft' ) , greatly revived his spirits . On reaching home after this

festival , he said to his wife , ' Oh , Stanerl , how madly they have gone on about my cantata . If I did not know that I had written better things , I should have thought that my best composition . ' " In the catalogue of his works is

mentioned " A Cantata : ' The Joy of Freemasons , ' composed in April , 1875 . " He was born January 27 , 1756 ; died December 5 , 1791 , aged thirty-five years and ten months . —Keystone , America .

Hubert And Ida; A Legend Of S. Swithin's Eve.

HUBERT AND IDA ; A LEGEND OF S . SWITHIN'S EVE .

BY BRO . EJIEA HOLMES , Glorious sunset rays were glinting , Hill and dale , ancl mount and lea , Purpling Avbite smoke curling upwards From the minute gun at sea .

Tinting all the rippling Avaters , And the vessels sailing o ' er ; Making golden tower and steeple , With the glories as of yore . Twilight came upon the ocean , Came and touched the ancient toAvn ; Slumb'rous shadows brooded over Lofty headland , noble down ,

And the curfew sounding sweetly , Caught by Avestern evening breeze , Floated over tower and steeple , Over those soft summer seas . All around seemed calm and peaceful , All on earth in sea and sky ,

Just as if there were no sorrow , Strife and discord ever nigh . Just as if this were a heaven , And no sin-stained stricken earth , Where the battle Avages ever'Tween good and evil , —sadness , mirth .

So thought Countess Eva gravely , As she looked o ' er sea and land ; Looked out Avestward through tbe gloaming , Seeking loved ones on the strand . One a fair and stately maiden , Eldest of a noble band ,

And another loved as fondly , Walking with her hand in band . Sauntering careless in tbe twilight , Over shingle , yellow sand , In and out , o ' er rocks and caverns Still they linger hand in hand .

Now the tide is creeping , crawling Like a treacherous snake it moves , Slowly round the cliffs ancl upwards , Towards those Countess Eva loves .

Looking down from beetling crag-path , High above the fated pair , Countess Eva sees the peril , Of the clear ones loitering there . The summer moon a path of glory Spreads across the glassy sea ;

Billow o \ 'er billow rolling , With a soft sound ceaselessly . Omvards Avith a stealthy motion As a truant creeping home , See the tide comes SAveeping , flowing , With the Avhite crest of its foam .

In the pathway of the moonbeams , Where they shimmer on the strand , By chill waters now surrounded , Still they wander hand in hand . Seeking here and there some outlet , Hoping yet some path to find

, Which may lead them yet to safety , Leaving treach ' rous sands behind . Vainly clo they call for succour , None are near to help and save ; Rushing waters come between them , Both must find a watery grave ,