Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

SOME MODERN USES OF GLASS . ( Continued . ) The Infanta Eulalie of Spain was , a short time ago , presented with a wonderful dress by the Libbey Cut Glass Company , of Toledo . " Its foundation , " says a lady who has seen it , " is a silk warp , woven with fine strands of glass . In each strand there are 250 almost invisible threads , and to make three-quarters of a yard of this material employs Four women one

whole day . This curious fabric of mingled silk and glass is arranged as a gored skirt over one of white silk . It is bordered with a flounce of chiffon , partially veiled with a glittering fringe of g lass . Above it is a twist of chiffon and plaited glass . The bodice is in silver cloth , woven in with threads of glass , and glass epaulets glimmer above the chiffon sleeves . The price of this ball dress was 500 dollars . The Infanta ' s is pure white , but

the g lass can be made in a variety of colours , and can be so woven in the silk as to produce a shot effect ; The seams have to be glued together instead of being sewn . The silvery sheen produced by the fine threads of g lass is remarkably pretty , especially under the rays of artificial light . " And while on the subject of dress we may mention a most foolish and dangerous fashion prevalent a few years back , fortunately not to a very

wide extent , and only for a short time , viz ., sprinkling the hair , dresses , and flowers at balls , parties , and theatres with powdered glass . » - The inhalation of these minute particles of glass , one of the deadliest forms of slow poison and perfectly insoluble , sets up serious inflammation in the pulmonary organs , stomach , throat , and other membranes to which it adheres ; and , moreover , these grains injuriously affect the delicate structure of the eye . A church

bell of green glass , finches high and 13 inches in diameter , was placed in the turret of the chapel at the Grange , Borrowdaie , Cumberland , in October , 1 S 59 ; and now we are told that glass is used as a filling for teeth , especially the front ones , where it will be less conspicuous than gold , and , in fact , indistinguishable from the tooth surface . From . time to time glass has

furnished the material for scientific toys . At the old-time fairs " Rupert s drops" formed a staple commodity , long pear-shaped drops , on breaking off the tiniest morsel of the surface of which the whole mass shattered itself into a thousand atoms . Charles II . was so delighted with them that he broug ht them to the notice of the Royal Society , wno formed a committee to inquire into their nature . They also provided Butler , in his Huditaes , with a

simile" Honour is like that glassy bubble That finds philosophers such trouble ; Whose least part cracked , the whole does fly , And wits are cracked to find out why . " Hooke , in his Micrographia , tells of candle bombs , small glasses hermetically sealedand containing a drop of water , which when placed on hot

, coals burst with a loud report . Another curious article was the " Bolognaphial , " a hollow cup of annealed glass capable , as are also the Rupert's drops before mentioned , of resisting hard strokes from without , but which shivers to pieces on certain light minute bodies being dropped into it . In some glasshouses the workmen show glass which has been cooled in the open air , on which they let fall leaden bullets without breaking it . They then

desire you to drop a few grains of sand upon the glass , which shiver it into infinitesmal atoms . The lead does not scratch the suiface , but the sharp and angular sand does sufficient to produce the surprising result . One of the most curious inventions of this age of progress is platinised glass . A piece of g lass is coated with an exceedingly thin layer of a liquid charged with platinum , and is then raised to a red heat . The platinum becomes united to

the glass in such a way as to form a very odd kind of mirror . 'I he glass has not lost its transparency , yet if one places it against a wall and looks at it he sees" his image , as in an ordinary looking-glass . But when light is allowed to pass through from the other side , as in a window-pane , it appears perfectly transparent like ordinary glass . By constructing a window of this material , one could , stand close behind the panes in an unilluminated room ,

and see clearly everything going on outside , while passers-by looking at the window would behold only a fine mirror , or set of mirrors , in which their own figures would be reflected , and the person inside remains invisible . In France various tricks have been played . In one a person , seeing what appears to be an ordinary mirror , approaches to look at himself . A sudden

change in the mechanism sends light through the glass from the back , whereupon it instantly becomes transparent , and the startled spectator finds himself confronted by some grotesque figure which has been hidden behind the magic glass . What wonders might not a magician of the dark ages have wrought with a piece of platinised glass !

Miniature Painters In The Reign Of Elizabeth.

MINIATURE PAINTERS IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH .

Continued . Nicholas Hilliard , limner , jeweller , and goldsmith to Queen Elizabeth , and afterwards to King James I ., was son of Richard Hilliard , of Exeter , high sheriff of that city and county in 1560 . Nicnolas , a younger son , was born 1547 , and brought up to the business of a jeweller and goldsmith , to which his inclination soon added that of painting in miniature . The want

of an able instructor directed him to study the works of Holbein , as he says in a MS . before alluded to , " Holbein ' s manner of limning I have ever imitated , and hold it for the best . " But though Hilliard copied the neatness of his model , he was far from attaining the nature and force which that great master impressed on his most minute work . Hilliard arrived at no strength of colouring ; his faces are pale and void of any variety of

tints , the features , jewels , and ornaments expressed by lines as slender as a hair . The exact dress of the times he curiously delineated , but he seldom attempted beyond a head ; yet his performances were greatly valued ; Dr , Donne , in his poem on the storm in which the Earl of Essex was surprised , returning from the island voyage , says : " A hand or eye

By Hilliard drawn , is worth a history By a worse painter made—" And Pencham on Limning says : " Comparing ancient and modern painters brings the comparison to our own time and country ; nor must I be ungratefully unmindful of my own countrymen , who ' ve been and are able lo equal the best if occasion served , as old Hilliard , Mr . Isaac Oliver , inferior to none in Christendome , for the countenance in small , '' &<; . Richard Heydock , too , of New College , Oxsn , in his translation of L'Maseo

Miniature Painters In The Reign Of Elizabeth.

on Paintirg , published in 1598 , says : " Limnings much used in former limes in church bcoks , as , also , in drawing by the life , in small models , of late years , by some of our countrymen , as Shotte , Betts , & c , but brought to the rare perfection we now see , by the most ingenious painful and skilful master , Nicholas Hilliard , and his well profiting scholar , whose farther commendations I refer to the curiositie of his works . " Blaise Vigenere

mentions Hillwrd , and the neatness of his pencil , very particularly : " Telle cstoit annsi l ' ccriture et les traits d ' un peintre Anglois nomine Oullarde , d ' autant plus : \ emeveiller , que cla se faisait avec tin pinceau , fait des poils de la queue d ' un esenreuil , qui ne resiste ni se soutient pas comme ferait une plume de corbeau , qui est tres ferme . " Hilliard's portrait , done by

himself at the age of 13 , was in the cabinet of the Earl of Oxford . He was still young when he drew the Queen of Scots . Queen Elizabeth sat to him often . Charles I . had three of her portraits by him ; one , aside face in the clouds ; another , one of his most capital performances , a whole-length of her in her robes , sitting on her throne . ( To be continued . )

The London Sketch Club.

THE LONDON SKETCH CLUB .

The fifth exhibition ( Autumn ) of this interesting club is now held at the Modern Gallery , 175 , Bond-street , VV . Though , nominally , a collection of sketches , yet it seems to be generally understood that every kind of artistic work possessing merit is admissible . A free hand being thus given , we can easily imagine what a varied sphere of work is exhibited , thus we have , not only sketches , some veritably so , but also many fine examples of finished

work . To our minds , this constitutes the chief charm of this delightful exhibition . Here the critic , however captious he may be , must surely make acquaintance with some picture which will meet his style and merit his approval . As on previous occasions , we will notice some of the works which suit our individual taste , leaving future visitors to form their private judgment as we have done . The first of many of his productions we notice

is No . 6 , " A Reverie , " by Cecil W . Quinnell . What a fine eye for colour this artist has and what beautiful harmonies he produces . We eive the numbers of a few other important examples by the same artist , Nos . iS , Memories : 26 , Reflections , particularly good ; 83 , Entre Nous , Next we commend Innes FripD for his admirable conscientious work , we would mention 15 , A Wood Nymph ; 32 , The Jester , possessing much humour ;

also 34 , Hit ; and 36 , Criiics . Then we have Champion Jones with his country scenes—hia perspective is so good—instance , 35 , A yard , Wells , Norfolk ; 3 S and 45 , Bits of Norfolk , very pleasing . L « e Hankey charms us by his interesting pieces . Notice Nos . 4 , 51 , 63 . Frank Jackson has great merit , Nos . 56 , 57 , 61 . Very clever is No . 68 , Head of a celebrated model , by J . A . Fitzgerald , as are also 174 and 175 . Then there is Tom Browne , who well maintains his high reputation , No . 73 and 88 , very clever

, 94 and 157 , are also worthy of notice . No . 79 , The Forbidden Path , by Edwd . O . Davey , has good tone , 106 and 16 7 , also possesses considerable merit . We have several pictures by Dudley Hardy in his well-known style , we would notice 120 and especially 124 . Do not let the works of Cecil Aldin pass unnoticed , those who like a laugh will obtain one by the Lost Fiddlestick ( the series of four ) , it reminds us of Gammer Gurton ' s Needle . One word in closing our report—visit the London Sketch Club .

The Empire Theatre.

THE EMPIRE THEATRE .

Among the many theatres of varieties in London , "The Empire Theatre " holds high rank . The reason of this is obvious . The programme is well selected and the artistes engaged well perform what they profess , and render the entertainment provided for the numerous visitors a continuous success . We were present one evening last week . The band gave Massenet ' s March , " Heroique , " in a spirited manner , then there was

Carlos C . xsaro , the equilibrist , with his wife , we presume , the latter balancing on her head a large lamp with four glass globes , she then ascended and descended ladders raised to a great height , clever as showing good training and nerve , her husband balanced on his feet a large model of a war vessel by an arrangement with his feet he was able to furl the sails , illuminate the vessel with coloured electric lights . Then some good war pictures of Pekin

and the war there , the Boccacio Quartette , very tuneful ; Sam Elton , an eccentric sketch ; a ring act by the Three Nightons ; Miss Claire with her trained cats , very amusing , who acted in a manner utterly different to the feline tribe in general . After which Granto and Maud , eccentric rope dancers , then Conn and Conrad in a comedy gymnastic sketch ; the Kremo Family , premier acrobats of the world—their performances very neat introduced their

; they marvellous triple somersault act . This was followed by " Sea Side , " a ballet in one tableaux . This forms the vehicle for introducing some prelty dances , arranged by Madame Katti Lanner . The group ngs of the dancers and the gracelul solos and poses of Madlle . Adeline Gentle were much appreciated and applauded by the audience . We spent a pleasant evening , and recommend visitors to the Empire Theatre .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

Novelties likely to be criven during next year ' s opera season at Covent Garden are revivals of " Falstaff , " " Salambo , " and " Le Cid , " as well as a new comic opera , by Mr . Villiers Stanford , founded upon Shakespeare ' s

" Much Ado about Nothing . " * * * * The Grand Theatre ( Islington ) , now being rapidly rebuilt from plans by Mr . Frank Matcham , will open at Christmas with " Robinson Crusoe , " with the favourites , Harry Randall , Alexandra Dagmar , and Cliff Ryland .

URO . ALDERMAN SIR J OSEPH DIMSDAI . E has been appointed a member of the Parliamentary Committee of the London County Council . THE HOUSING OK LONDON ' S POOR . —According to Mr . Alderman H . R . Taylor L . C . C ., fully 14 000 acres of open land are available tor building at the present time in the county of London . After allowing for open spaces , roads , shops , & c , 100 , 000 houses could be built on that land . Allow ( ivn , say , to each house , and there you have half a million souls accommodated in healthy quarters on land that is now vacant .

URGENT APPEAL is made in the last annual report of the Central London Throat Nose , and Ear Hospital for the following special objects : ( 1 ) To enable the benevolent work of the hospital to be continued without stress ; ( 2 ) to repay the loan of £ 2500 to the bankers which has recently been called in ; ( 3 ) to provide for the building and equipment of a pew operating room so justly considered necessary by the Council of the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund , ar . d towards which a grant of , 1 , 150 was made ,