Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

CHINA SILK TRADE . It is worth while to remember that , however hopeful European exporters may be of finding in China increasing outlets for their goods , the fundamental condition for a brisk import trade is an increasing export trade , and that lately some very alarming statements have been made respecting one of the most important of China ' s industries—the production and reeling of silk . The alleged decadence of this industry appears the more serious , as similar

reports have for some time past been current with regard to another Chinese industry—that of tea cultivation and preparation . Mr . Rocher , the Commissioner of Customs for Shanghai , made some statements in his report on the trade of that port during last year , in which he called attention to the inferiority of last year's cocoons in China , the spread of disease amongst the worms , and the general lowering of the vitality of the breeds . Mr . Rocher

has followed up this warning by a letter to the Viceroy—which has been published in the Chinese Gazette—in which he makes some very emphatic statements respecting the extent and reality of the evil . Nine years ago , when the question of Chinese silk culture was taken by a predecessor of Mr . Rocher , many of the silk growing districts were still free from disease * , but , in consequence of the neglect of the warning then given , the disease

has since made enormous progress , and China seems to be threatened with that general extermination of the silkworm , which had almost been completed in France and Italy when Pasteur began his memorable researches into its causes , and succeeded in arresting its march , and reconstituting the industry in both countries . It may now be said , Mr . Rocher urges , that almost all the silkworms in China are diseased , and the effect on the silk-producing

capacity of the worm is very marked . Formerly one picul of silk was obtained from three piculs of cocoons , but last year five piculs of cocoons , on the average , only yielded one picul of silk , and this year six-and-a-half piculs of cocoons have been consumed in obtaining the same result . Owing to bad and short crops , the cocoons have been dear as well as poor , and it is in consequence of this fact that so many of the steam filatures , or silk

spinning mills , in the Shanghai district have been closed , the total number of these establishments at work having been reduced from 24 last year to II this year . It is now stated that not a single district in China , where silk culture is carried on , remains quite free from the disease . This condition of affairs implies a large loss of revenue for both the central and provincial governments , and the Kiangsu and

Chtkiang provinces , hitherto made rich by the silk industry , are likely to be impoverished , more and more every year if the ravages of the disease are not arrested . Under these circumstances , Mr . Rocher , who two years ago made suggestions to the Viceroy for checking the decay of the tea trade of China , appears to have succeeded in awakening the Viceroy's interest in the silk question , and in obtaining official financial support for organised

methods of re-establishing healthy breeds of silk worms throughout China . His plan consists in the adoption of the methods recommended by Pasteurthe selection of healthy moths by the aid of the miscroscope , for the production of healthy eggs . Two " nurseries" are to be established in the provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang respectively , each of these stations "to be under the charge of a foreign assistant , and the two stations to be under

the control of a foreign director . Mr . Rocher estimates that , in three years' time , a sufficient number of pupils will have been trained , and native breeders educated , to enable the growers to go on without further external assistance . Expensive buildings , he has pointed out , are not necessary for the experimental stations . The necessary expenditure , he estimates , will be fully provided for by a payment of 6000 taels per annum , during the three

years by each of the two provinces mentioned . It is stated that provision has already been made by the Viceroy , forthe payment of these subventions , which in comparison with the enormous importance of the work to be done , may well be regarded as extremely moderate . No little importance may also be attached to the educational influence of this latest attempt to

introduce Western Science into China . The proposed " nurseries " may prove not merely instrumental in regenerating the Chinese silk industry , but influential aids in the regeneration of the Chinese Empire itself . A great difficulty is the apparent unwillingness of the Chinese to pay for experiments , with a view to a future reward . It is by a demonstration of the practical benefits to be ultimately reaped , that Mr . Rocher hopes to convert the native growers and merchants .

JOHN MABUSE OR MABEUGIUS . As there are several specimens of this old painter now being exhibited , it may be interesting to give a few details respecting him . He was born at a little town of the same name , in Hainault , about 1470 , and is supposed to have died 1532 . He had the two defects of his contemporary countrymen—stiffness in his manner and drunkenness . Yet his industry was sufficient to carry him to great lengths in his profession . His works were clear

and highly finished . He was a friend rather than a rival of Lucas of Leyden . After some practice at home he travelled into Italy , where he acquired more truth in treating nude subjects than freedom of expression . Indeed , Raphael himself had not then struck out that majestic freedom which has since animated painting , and delivered it from the servility of coldly copying motionless nature . A much admired work of Mabuse was

an altar piece at Middleburgh ( Holland ) , a descent from the cross ; Albert Durer went on purpose to see it , and praised it . Indeed , their style was very like ; a picture of Mabuse now at St . James's is generally called Albert ' s . The piece at Middleburgh was destroyed by lightning . A great number of Mabuse ' s works were preserved in the same city . But one of his most striking performances was the decollation of St . John , painted in

the shades of a single colour . The Marquis de Veren took him into his own house , where he drew the Virgin and Child , borrowing the ideas of their heads from the Marquis ' s lady and son . This was reckoned his capital piece . While he was in this service , the Emperor Charles V . was to lodge at the house of that lord , who made magnificent preparations for his reception , and , among other expenses , ordered all his household to be

dressed in white damask . Mabuse , always wanting money to waste in debauchery , when the tailor came to take his measure desired to have the damask , under pretence of inventing a singular habit . He sold the stuff , drank out the money , and then painted a suit of paper so like damask that it was not distinguished as he marched in the procession , between a philosopher and a poet . Other pensioners of the Marquis , who , being informed of the trick , asked the Emperor which of the three suits he liked

Science, Art, And The Drama.

best : The Prince pointed to Mabuse ' s as excelling in the whiteness and beauty of the flowers , nor did he , till convinced by the touch , doubt of the genuineness of the silk . The Emperor laughed much—but though a lover of the art , seems to have taken no other notice of Mabuse , whose excesses some time after occasioned his being flung into prison at Middleburgh

where , however , he continued to work . Vermander had seen several good drawings by him in black chalk . At what time Mabuse came to England is not exactly known . Vermander says , expressly that he was here , and the portraits drawn by him are a confirmation . The picture of Prince Arthur , Prince Henry , and Princess Margaret , when children , in the china closet at Windsor , was done by him .

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE . "A Midsummer Night's Dream , " now represented with such great success at the above theatre , is supposed by Malone , the learned critic of Shakespeare's works , to have been written about the year 1594 . Of all the plays of Shakespeare there is none more entirely harmonious than "A Midsummer Night's Dream . " All the incidents , all the characters are subservient , and in perfect subordination to the will of the poet . Throughout the

whole piece the more exalted characters are dependent on the interests of those beneath them . An unpractised author , when treating Theseus and Hippolyta of the heroic ages , would have made them ultra-heroical . They would have commanded events instead of moving with the supernatural influence around them , in harmony and proportion . Theseus , the associate of Hercules , is not engaged in any adventure worthy of his rank

or reputation , nor is he in reality an agent throughout the play . An immature poet , if the marvellous creation of Oberon and Titania , and Puck , could have entered into such a mind , would have laboured to make the power of the fairies produce some strange and striking events . But the exquisite beauty of Shakespeare ' s conception is that under the supernatural influence the mortals move more precisely

according to their respective natures and habits . Malone says , " That a drama of which the principal personages are insignificant and the fable meagre and uninteresting , was one of our author ' s earliest compositions , does not seem a very improbable conjecture ; nor are the beauties with which it is embellished , inconsistent with this supposition . " The beauties with which it is embellished include , of course , the whole rhythmical

structure of the versification . The poet has here put forth all his strength . If any single composition were required to exhibit the power of the English language , for purposes of poetry , that composition would be the " Midsummer Night ' s Dream . " Of the interpretation of the play , as arranged by Mr . Tree , we speak with unqu ilified praise . As in the case of King John , the previous revival , he has done wisely in compressing it into three

acts , it is thereb y rendered more briskly , and saved from becoming tedious . The scenic effects are fine ; we would especially draw attention to the Exterior of Theseus ' s Palace , which , with its varied architectural details , is most interesting . The woodland pictures , where the fairies resort , are full of grace and beauty ; the groupings and dances are in consistent harmony with Mendelssohn ' s music which inspired them . The

characters of Oberon and Titania are admirably played by Miss Julia Neilson and Mrs . Tree . Puck is depicted by Miss Louie Freear with much humour . Hippolyta , Queen of the Amazons , has a worthy exponent in Miss Miriam Clements , who well sustains , in conjunction with Mr . William Mollison , as Theseus , the dignity of her position . The characters

of Lysander and Demetrius are well contrasted , by the skill of Messrs . Lewis Waller and Gerald Lawrence , who undertake them , while the rival beauties , Hermia and Helena , are intelligently given by the Misses Sarah Brooke and Dorothea Baird . The rustics with their interlude , and Mr . Tree by his artistic representation of Bottom , the Weaver , most pleasantly serve to heighten the interest of the play .

GENERAL NOTES . As a result of a visit by Herr Lan Imark to the United States a new departure has been made in connection with the artificial hatching of salmon in Norway . Formerly , the young fry were allowed to escape as soon as they began to require food , and , therefore , when in a very delicate and defenceless condition . They are now retained in captivity , and fed four times a day upon the raw liver of slaughtered animals until the autumn

after the system used in America . According to Consul Nelson , of Bergen , the results of the first year ' s experiment at the Government hatchery on the Drammen were satisfactory ; on 280 , 000 ova treated the loss was only two per cent ., and in the middle of October about 211 , 000 fry were turned out , while the percentage of loss has been still further reduced of late years . A belief is prevalent among the coast fishermen that salmon and sea trout spawn successfully in salt water , and in this connection a series of

experiments were conducted under proper supervision , from which it appears that ( 1 ) roe taken from salmon captured in a river or from sea trout which have remained until spawning time in sea water cannot be successfully developed in salt water ; and ( 2 ) salmon and sea trout roe impregnated in fresh water may be hatched out in brackish water containing a small percentage of salt up to eight or nine mille , i . e ., rather less than one-third of the salt contained in the sea water on the Norway coast .

One of the effects of the war upon amusements is illustrated by the case of one popular vocalist , who has had 13 engagements cancelled within three weeks , and in the same period received 71 applications for his free services at entertainments for the various war funds . * » * * A widely-circulated rumour from Sjuth Africa states that some of the Boer ammunition was shipped from Europe to Delagoa Bay as Steinway

pianos . The instruments weigh from 638 Ibs . to 1027 lbs ., and it is supposed that the Boer ammunition was contained in one or some of the largest orchestral grand concert pianoforte , * . Ws have not heard of any denial of the report , which is quite likely to be true , for pianos being such heavy articles , should the mechanical part be removed and replaced by other weighty materials , no notice would be taken during exportation .

"Cinderella , " the p ) sthumous ballet of the late Johann Strauss , has been prepared for performance , and will shortly be produced at the Imperial Opera , Vienna . Some of the music is said to be in the composer ' s happiest and freshest style , a waltz illustrating Cinderella ' s dream and an intermezzo preceding the last act being especially charming . The intermezzo has alread y been performed successfully at a Vienna Conservatoire Concert ,