Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

BAMBOO AND ITS USES . A museum or an exhibition arranged for the sole purpose of illustrating the innumerable and varied uses to which the bamboo is put would be neither a small nor an uninteresting one . Exterminate the bamboo , and the poor Chinaman is deprived of his big sun hat , and the wealthier one of the soles of his shoes . But although we are inclined to associate bamboo chiefly with the Chinese , yet it is hardly , if at all , less important to the natives of

India , the Malays , the Dyaks of Borneo , and the Japanese . The gracefulness and beauty of its foliage renders it an irresistibly attractive subject to the J apanese artist . And , indeed , hardly a fitter frame could be desired to any outline of Fusyama , the Peerless Mountain , than a cluster of slender bamboos , gracefully arching the foreground . Hardly a screen , fan , vase , or lacquer tray but probably owes more or less of its decoration to the

feathery leafage of the bamboo . And if some invisible power were suddenly to abolish all trees and suggestions of it , many a Kensington drawing-room would become surprisingly modified . The Chinese cultivate it in plantations . They have a method of keeping the shoots cut down , close to the ground , for three years , not allowing them to grow until the fourth . These young shoots , besides being boiled and serving as fresh vegetables , are also

preserved by different methods , being either candied or pickled . One of the medicines of Chinese physicians , called tabachir , is extracted from the bamboo , being developed from a fluid secreted in the joints . But if the leaves possessed the wonderful properties claimed for •them , there would he no need to extract tabachir . A charm ' against sickness or misfortune has only to be written on a bamboo leaf , the leaf burnt , and the ashes

mixed with tea and drunk . Whilst speaking of it as food and medicine , a more direct application may be mentioned ; administered , externally , in the form of bastinado , bamboo has extinguished the life of many an unhappy wretch , depriving him of the existence which it might also have been the means of supporting . A most barbarous form of punishment consists in tying down the victim over several growing bamboo stumps , cut down close

to the ground , and sharpened to a point . In " pidgin-English " •' bamboo chow-chow" is a term expressing the application of the rod . In some places bamboo forms the only material in the construction of a house . The framework consists of poles , lashed together with long strips of the outer fibre ; the roof is thatched with the leaves , the walls are of matting , and for flooring the largest poles are split into narrow strips . In Borneo the houses

are built thus , and there also the same material is exclusively used in the construction of pathways round the faces of precipices , and of bridges spanning the streams and gorges . Some of these native bridges are formed of a single bamboo for a footway and a smaller one for a handrailthe very simplification of a bridge . These bridge builders smoke tobacco

pipes , which are a kind of a large hubble-bubble , formed of the same material as their houses and bridges . More than 13 centuries ago , in the year 550 , a small hollow bamboo cane , so it is said , formed the packing case in which the first silkworms' eggs were smuggled from China to Constantinople b y two Persian monks in the service of the Emperor Justinian . ( To be continued . )

Caterpillars In Procession.

CATERPILLARS IN PROCESSION .

The extensive pine forest which covers the dunes of South-western France , stretching from the " Bassin d'Arcachon " on the north , for many miles southward towards Biarritz , is the home of a very curious caterpillar ( Bombyx Pythiocampa ) , of the same family as the silkworm . These insects possess a few interesting characteristics . They pass the winter in nests , at the pine-tree top—very snug nests , woven around a bunch of pine needles ,

and large enough to accommodate a family of from 50 to 200 . Spring having arrived , each community leaves its winter home and prepares to set out into an unknown world . On leaving the nest , they form a procession in , single file , each caterpillar in immediate communication with the one preceding and the one following it . In this manner they descend the tall pine and reach terra firma . From this habit , they acquire the local name of

" Chenille Processionaire , " or Processional Caterpillar . Their principal object now is to bury themselves in the sand j and to achieve this , some distance has often to be travelled before a spot suitable for the purpose can be found . Especially is this so when the pine trees happen to be situated in the streets or gardens of Arcachon ; and in such a case , an interesting and rather amusing sight may be seen , when a procession consisting of

some hundreds of the insects , and perhaps 15 or 16 yards in length , wends its way slowly along the road . Let us detach two or three from the middle of the line—thus dividing it into two parties—and watch the result . The last of the foremost portion , feeling the loss of his neighbour , immediately stops , and this action is communicated all along the line , until the vanguard is at a stand-still . Meanwhile , the leader of the rear portion redoubles his

speed , End in a short time has caught up the foremost party , and the touch being commun ' u ated the whole procession resumes its march with as little delay as possible . When a suitable place has been found , the party forms into a group , and by a gentle wriggling motion , digs a hole in the soft sand , in which the chrysalis state is attained . Care must be taken not to touch these caterpillars with the hand , as the hairs create a stinging rash on the

skin . So poisonous , indeed , are they , that sensitive skins feel the rash during the spring , although unconscious of any direct contact with the insect . In appearance , these caterpillars are of a dark brown or neutral colour , with orange-coloured spots and about an inch and a half in length They are much disliked by the people of towns and villages which they infest , who destroy them in large numbers .

Domestic Architecture Under Henry Vii. And Viii.

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE UNDER HENRY VII . AND VIII .

In endta-.-ouring to supply a certain amount of information on the sublet , the instances to be described must be confined to the whole of the 15 th and tie first part of the next century , which preceded the appearance of Holbein and John of Padua , by adducing the examples built by sovereigns and

others of the nobility in England . The castles which were formerly erected , alter they had ceased to be entirely military in their plan and dimensions , had usuallya spacious court , accommodated to the purposes of domestic habitation , and which consisted . of large and even splendid apartments . As the necessity of defence and seclusion abated , with the exigencies of the times , the palaces and great manor houses were constructed with more

Domestic Architecture Under Henry Vii. And Viii.

ornaments , which were engrafted upon , or mixed with , the ancient military manner of building towers placed at the angles were retained , but now richly parapeted and embattled-superb portals and gateways rose from the centre-wide windows were perforated through the external side walls , and the projecting , or bay , windows were worked into forms of most capricious embellishment . About the reign of Edward IV . a mode of building

of a new character , as applied to palatial structures , was introduced into our own country . In the middle of the 15 th century ( for there are no satisfactory proofs of an earlier date ) , under the auspices of Philip , the good Duke of Burgundy ( 1419—1497 ) , a peculiar invention of civil architecture appears to have originated , and was certainly much practised within his dominions . It may fairly be considered as a distinct mode , and

denominated the " Burgundian . " In that prince's palace at Dijon , its features and discriminations were first exhibited , and these were carried to a higher degree of excellence in the hall of justice at Rouen , and likewise in similar edifices at Bruges , Brussels , and Ghent . The " Maison de la Pucelle " at Rouen is an admirable specimen of the Burgundian domestic architecture . Our English architects soon adopted , in part , the

Burgundian style , aided probably by the increasing intercourse between Flanders and England . When any memorable change in _ the construction or ornament of any considerable castle or mansion-house took place , the novel mode of building was adopted by others . Such a transition , from rude and massive strength to light and picturesque decoration , may be traced , with scarcely less certainty than in

sacred architecture ; and although so few instances remain , they are equally to be referred to their own era . The " Burgundian " may be therefore considered as the true prototype of our " Tudor" style , and as being merely confined to the two first reigns of that d ynasty . Speed , the historian , observes concerning Henry VII ., " Of his building was Richmond Palace , and that most beautiful piece , the chapel at Westminster , which forms of more curious and exquisite building he and Bishop Fox first , as

is reported , learned in France , and thence brought with them into England . " This , the Tudor style , was effectually promoted by Henry VII ., whose enormous wealth enabled him to undertake the most sumptuous buildings , and , in most cases , his avarice directed that they should not be paid for till after his death . By his executors , in the early part of his son's reign , the chapels of Westminster , King ' s College , Cambridge , and Windsor were completed . { To he continued . )

Italian Opera, Covent Garden.

ITALIAN OPERA , COVENT GARDEN .

Another opera season has commenced , and everything points to its proving an eminently successful one . We are promised by the directors the best that can be provided in the way of operas and their exponents . The opening performance included a disappointment and a surprise . Mine , Melba was unable to take her promised part in "Faust , " but Mme . Suzenne Adams , who appeared as Marguerite , revealed quite new sources

of strength as an actress , and an added freshness in her always delightful voice . M . Cossiva was acceptable , if not altogether so , as Faust , M . Plancon was as stagey as ever , in the rdlc of the Tempter , but his magnificent singing won hearty appreciation , and the " Veau d'Or " song had to be repeated . Signor Scotti did well as Valentine , and Mile . Maubourg , a new-comer , gained favour as Siebel . There was a brilliant audience for the initial performance . We shall from time to time notice the operas and their exponents .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

In ordinary life " dancing " among the Red Indians prevails at weddings and funerals . Old squaws and young children dance till they can stand no longer , but " medicine " dances are quite another thing . Females are never allowed to take part , and men have been murdered for trying to pry into one ol these sacred orgies . Last year the " headman " called

upon Miss Dawson , our Government teacher ( says Travel ) . and told her that as there was going to be a dance she must lock herself in the house until it was all over ; whilst at another Pueblo the teacher is notified what he shall do . If an ordinary occasion , he is locked in his room ; if the dance is of a deeply religious character they compel him to leave the town entirely .

The snake dance , which has been much written about , is really a symbolic prayer for rain to the rain gods , who dwell in the clouds . There is also a dance to ward off all diseases , another for thanksgiving , one for the dead , one for the sun and moon ; but , probably , the most useful is one expressly

to trighten the children and keep them good . Then , figures of fearful goblins who come to devour and carry off the children are taken round the town , and as they approach the houses the parents conceal their little ones , and pretend to fight the demons and defend their offspring .

Mr . Guy Waller , stage manager of the Globe Theatre , having acquired the provincial rights of the farcical comedy " Nurse , " has arranged for two companies to start on tour . Mr . Waller has sub-let his No . 1 rights to Miss Jennie Maynard , who brings from the colonies a well-established reputation , and who will play the title role , now so ably sustained by Miss Lottie Venne at the Globe .

Miss Olga Nethersole has entered an action at Washington in which she claims 20 , 000 dollars ( £ 4000 ) as damages from a Presbyterian minister , for denouncing her from the pulpit as a " lewd actress , " in respect of her assumption of " Sappho " in the play of that name . It is understood that other suits will follow against persons or papers which have made similar attacks upon the lady .

The Department of Art at the Paris Exhibition is taking a lively interest in the forthcoming appearance of Mr . F . R . Benson with his company of players at the Gymnase Theatre , the directors of which are about to visit

London in order to settle details of the enterprise . * * * * Mr . Murray Carson is another aspirant for managership , upon ' which he will enter in the autumn , provided he can get a suitable West End theatre . Mr . Carson has secured for his venture , a new romantic play , by the adapter Ot x CSS *