The Authors' Reading.

The Authors' Reading which many people have been looking forward to with so much pleasure took place at Sanders Theatre last evening before a large attendance. Colonel Higginson made a few introductory remarks, in the course of which he said: "It was the custom in Ben Jonson's days, upon the death of a writer, for his brethren of the profession to throw their pens into the grave. And to-night we, the friends of him, the anniversary of whose birthday we commemorate, lay down a few selections of our literary labors to his memory." At the conclusion of his speech, Colonel Higginson read a short poem called "Dame Cragie." The Rev. Augustus M. Lord, a poet of considerable repute, then gave Longfellow's "The Chambered Nautilus." The first author introduced was Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, who read several extremely beautiful verses on the gondoliers of Venice, a poem entitled "Sunset on the Nile" and "A Legend of the Flies." One of Mrs. Howe's poems referred to the rivalry of the ladies of Venice in dressing their gondoliers in the most elegant liveries. This poem was rapturously applauded, and, though brief, received as much praise as given to any during the evening. The Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale read two selections from "Mr. Ingram's Double"- the Double's success at Governor Gorgeous' Ball, and the ruinous consequences of the imposture at the town meeting. Dr. Hale's reading lent an additional interest to this charming bit of comedy. Mr. William Winter moved the audience deeply when he read with much feeling "Lines Written a Few Days After Longfellow's Death." Mr. J. T. Trowbridge, of Arlington, portrayed the pathetic trials of a young play wright in the "Author's Night." Mrs. Moulton read "The House of Death," a poem of hers, dear to her old friend Phillip Burke Marston. Mr. George Parsons Lathrop gave "October Snow" and "Keenan's Charge." Mr. John Boyle O'Reilly followed with a number of epigrams, which were enthusiastically received; also the poems "Ensign Epps" and "In Bohemia." Mr. Charles Follen Adams amused his audience greatly by his recital of "Little Jacob Straus." The last reader who rendered original selections was Miss Charlotte Fiske Bates, to whose untiring exertions the entertainment of the evening was entirely due. Her most applauded poem was a "Quatrain on the Years." The programme was truly a literary feast, and it was thoroughly enjoyed by every one present.