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The Theatres.
THE THEATRES .
Whatever may be said about the decline ol melodrama , and the altered taste of the present generation , there can be no doubt whatever that such dramas as "The Lights o' London" and "The Romany Rye " appeal toa very large class indeed of playgoers , and the nightly crowd at the Princess's , attests this fact , lt is more than probable—indeedwe may take it as a well-determined
, fact—that Bro . George R . Sims's play of " 'The Romany Rye" is one of the best that has been produced for many a day , and , in a certain sense , revives our recollections of the good old times of the Adelphi , when our recentlydeceased Bro . Benjamin Webster was in his palmiest of melodramatic and managerial days . The Princess's , in fact , has latterly been producing a succession of admirable
pieces , and "The Romany Rye" will bear comparison with the best of them . It is the misfortune of a journal like the Freemason that it is occasionally a little behind its colleagues in its criticisms on current drama . It is unnecessary therefore , we should give a lengthened sketch of the play . Suffice it to say , that it is admirably put together , and that in the cast which has been engaged the several characters find as capable exponents as are to be
found on the English stage . Mr . Wilson Barrett , as the hero , and Aliss Eastlake , as the heroine , acquit themselves splendidly , aud the merit of their acting is made all the more conspicuous by reason of the strength exhibited by the other members of the company—Alessrs . Willard , Coote , Cathcart , and G . Barrett ; Mesdames Ormsby , Masson , Vincent , Sc . The piece is well mounted , and the other accessories are in keeping .
Bro . Irving having discovered that his contemp lated visit to America would not be as private as he desired , seeing it was to be a holiday , and not in any way connected with business , has given up all idea of going .
Music
MUSIC
The events of the season 18 S 2 will compare successfully with those of former years , and deserve at our hands some last adieux . Bro . Carl Rosa opened the ball at Her Alajesty ' s with a series of operatic performances , mostly Wagnerian , in English . His company has established for itself a high reputation , and in the members composing it the works he set before the public found able
interpreters . They—that is , of course , the works , not the members of the company—were , moreover , splendidly mounted , so that the eye , as well as the ear , of the British public was taken captive ; the one by scenic beauty , the other by the beauties of sound . There is , then , the hope in which we may legitimately indulge , that next year our worthy brother will repeat his experience of the season now terminated .
The appearance ( for the first time ) of a German Opera Company in our midst is an event that would , of itself , suffice to make the year 1 SS 2 a memorable one in our musical annals . It was an experiment which , as it happens , has turned out disastrously for Herr Franke , the enterprising director who engaged in it , and he has our full sympathy . But , even though it has proved financiall y
disastrous , an experiment which introduced to our acquaintance a company so capable , both collectively and individually , even to its humblest members . stageaccessories so admirable , an orchestra so well trained , and a conductor so painstaking and efficient as Herr Richter , is certainly not to be regretted . Weber , Beethoven , and Wagner were the composers whose works were selected for performance ; the first named being
represented by his " Euryanthe , " and the second by his " Fidelio , " while the last had allotted to him the lion ' s share , in the shape of " Die Meistersinger , " whicli at once established itself as a universal favourite , " Lohengrin , " and other of his operas . 'There is a well-known proverb about people who have been " once bitten " being " twice shv , " and Herr Franke may not be disposed to repeat an
experiment which has been the reverse of a benefit to him . Yet he must have gained some experience as to how so vast an enterprise should be conducted , so as to turn out a profit instead of a loss . He must be in a position to know whether , and , if so , where his expenditure might be reasonably , and yet without sacrifice of excellence , curtailed . Other changes of programme may suggest themselves , and
the failure of 1 SS 2 , converted into a success in 1 SS 3 . Or be failing Herr Franke , some other experienced " entrepreneur" may be induced to repeat the venture . At all events , though the outlook for the moment is confessedly not a promising one , let us hope we have not yet seen the last of German Opera as it was a short time since presented to us
on the boards of " Old Drury ; " not only on the score of its own merits , but because it must stimulate the authorities atthe "Garden" to make their company something else than a mere framework , which , by its very inferiority , makes still more prominent thc excellencies of a " prima donna . "
lie Iff ' tf The Italian opera season , though it has been pretty much what it has been in former years , has been signalised by more than one event which calls for observation . In the first place , the management was , for the first time placed in the hands of a limited company , with Mr . Gye as the managing director , and there is now onc ,
instead of two rival companies . The re-appearance on the London boards of so admirable an artist as Aladame Pauline Lucca is also noteworthy ; and , as may be well imagined , the reception accorded her , after an absence of some ten years , was worthy of her reputation , and cannot have been otherwise than most gratifying to her . Aladame Adelina Patti and Madame Albani were the other " prime donne , " and but for the breakdown of the arrangements with
Music
Madame Nusson the co pany would have been able to boast of no less than four " first ladies . " Lastly a new opera , " Velleda , " was produced , but though the reception was not unfavourable , we shall , in all probability , hear little of it in the future . Another opera , produced for the first time in 1 SS 0 , at Her Alajesty's—Boilo's " Alefistofele " —was revived , and from the manner in which it was received we may look upon it as a permanent addition to the repertory of English opera in this country .
One other item remains to be noted , and wc shall have completed our review . The " Nibelung's Ring , " in four cycles , was produced by Bro . Alapleson at Her Majesty's 'Theatre , under the immediate auspices of Herr Angelo Neumann . That the performances had in them much
to commend them to the public is beyond question . Yet we are in doubt if they have established themselves sufficiently in the favour of that public to warrant their being produced another year . And , saying this , we bid farewell to the season of 1 SS 2 .
-. ' . . * .-t - * Mr . A . Gwyllym Crowe , commences to - day ( Saturday ) , his second series of Promenade Concerts . Among the principal instrumentalists , whose services Air . Crowe has succeeded in engaging , are Mr . Carrodus , Air .
Viotti Collins , Mr . Hughes , Air . Ellis , Air . Val . Nicholson , & c , & c . ; Aliss Alaric Schumann as solo violiniste . It is hardly necessary to say that the concerts will be held at Covent Garden , which , with the Floral Hall—the latter being turned to account as a smoking lounge—will be lighted by the electric light .
The Birmingham Musical Festival is fixed for Tuesday , the 29 th inst ., and three following days , and we rejoice that , bar accident in the interim , Bro . Sir Alichael Costa , P . G . W . England , will wield his bAton as conductor . The vocalists engaged are Mesdames Albani , Alarie Roze , Patey , and Trebelli , Aliss Anna Williams , Alessrs . E . Lloyd , J . Maas , F . King , Signor Foli , and Bro . Santley . The chorus
\ will number 357 , and the band 142 : Organist , Air . Stimpson . The arrangements are as follow : Tuesday—morning , " Elijah ; " evening , Sir J . Benedict ' s new cantata , " Grazieila , " and a miscellaneous selection . Wednesday —morning , Gounod's new oratorio , "The Redemption ;" evening , Air . A . R . Gaul's new cantata , " The Holy City , " together with a new orchestral work by Mr . Villiers
Stanford . Ihursday—morning , "lhe Messiah ; evening , Herr Gade's new cantata , " Psyche , " with a miscellaneous selection . Friday—morning , Cherubini ' s " Alass in C , " Beethoven ' s " Alount of Olives , " Brahm ' s " Triumph Lied , " and a symphony ; evening , "The Redemption . " The executive are to be congratulated on a programme
which , in addition to such splendid and familiar works as "The Messiah , " "Elijah , " & c , & c , includes a new oratorio , three new cantatas , and other novelties . It is needless to say the chief interest will centre in Gounod ' s oratorio , "The Redemption , " which he regards as the work of his life , and for which the immense sum of £ 4000 has been paid to him .
« * * The next important annual event will be the Festival of the Three Choirs , which will be held this year at Hereford , a fortnight later , on Tuesday , 12 th September , and three following days . The artistes include Alcsdames Albani and Patey , Miss Alarian Fenna , Aliss Anna Williams , and . "* . ! ss Hilda Wilson ; Alessrs . E . Lloyd , F . King , C . VV . Fredericks , and Frank Boyle , and Bro .
Santley . The festival commences , as at Birmingham , with Mendelsshon ' s "Elijah . " On Wednesday morning Handel ' s "Judas Ataccab .-eus , " Beethoven ' s " Symphony No . 4 , " Coetz ' s " 137 th Psalm , " and Bach ' s " Alagnificat in D Alajor : " evening , Alendelssohn ' s "St . Paul . " Thursday morning , Dr . Garrett ' s " Shunammite , "
Beethoven ' s " Alass in C , " and a selection from Alolique ' s " Abraham . " Friday morning , Handel's " Alessiah . " There will be a full choral service in the cathedral daily , as well as concerts in the Shire Hall , on Tuesday and Thursday evenings , and a chamber concert on the evening of Friday . Here , again , we must congratulate the management on the excellence of the programme .
« * ss A new opera by Hen * Wagner , entitled " Parsiford , " has recently been produced at Bayreuth , and will , doubtless , find its way over to this country at an early date , when the musical world will have an opportunity of judging of its merits .
There are few of those who make it their business to cater for the public amusement , both on ordinary and special occasions , who acquit themselves more to the general satisfaction than Bros . Bertram and Roberts . Alonday next , as our readers are aware , will be Bank Holiday , and , if only the weather remains such as it has been the last few days , the Crystal Palace may look fonvard
to an unusually large gathering on the occasion . Certain it is that those who visit the Palace at Sydenham on Alonday will be more than ordinarily difficult to please if they do not express themselves satisfied with the varied and extensive programme which has been arranged for their gratification . This is not the place to speak of the general items of the entertainment , but it is worth while
mentioning that one of its most attractive features will no doubt be the great military concert , in which the combined bands of the Scots Guards and Koyal Engineers , under the direction of Mr . J . P . Clarke and Herr J . R . Rawenthal , will take part . This will be sure to prove attractive , especially as there is just now prevalent both in London and the provinces an epidemic of " scarlet fever " in a very pronounced form .
* * •* Similar remarks will apply to the programme which Alessrs . Jones and Barber , of the Alexandra Palace , have announced for the same holiday . Here , likewise , music will form a conspicuous feature of the entertainment . There will , in the first place , be a concert of English , Irish , and Scotch ballads , while the lovers of niartial music will
Music
have their appetite satisfied by a performance , with " special startling effects , " of the ever-popular " British Army Quadrilles , " composed by the late AL Jullien ; and should the Clerk of the Weather be as good a boy as he ha * been latterly , there will no doubt be a monster attendance to listen to and applaud to the echo the inspiriting strains oh the well-known quadrilles .
1 his day ( Saturday ) the Mohawk Minstrels , of which Bro . James Francis , Bro . William Francis , and Air-Harry Hunter are the proprietors , will return to their old quarters at the Agricultural Hall , after a lengthened tour in the provinces and visits to other parts of the metropolis .
'Their hall has been entirely reconstructed and redecorated , new talent has been engaged , and a new programme will be forthcoming with , as usual , two performances , at three o'clock p . m . and eight o ' clock p . m . respectively , on Bank Holiday .
J'urther important additions have also been made in the Aloore and Burgess Minstrels , St . James ' s Hall , twocelebrated American comedians , Air . Jake Budd , of the Capitol Theatre , Washington , and Mr . John Robinson , of New York , having been recently added to the company . A new and excellent programme has also been arranged- "
Science And Art.
SCIENCE AND ART .
It is hardly necessary , in noting the fresh evidences that have been presented during the current week , to the effect that the London season is rapidly drawing to a close , that , to use a familiar phrase , we should go on piling up the agony . Yet time slips away so rapidly , that ' our readers if they are not reminded of the fact , may be unaware that , to take a conspicuous instance , the exhibition at the Royal
Academy will close on Monday next . During die present week it has been open in thc evening as well as throughout the day , the charge for admission during the former being , as usual , sixpence , while on Alonday , that will be the price charged during the morning as well . When , however , the doors close on the public at 10 . 30 p . m . of that day they will be closed for the present season .
- * * SN Another ot our Metropolitan attractions will be a ^ thing of the past this time next week , to wit , the Grosvenor Gallery , which likewise closes its doors on Bank Holiday ; while the exhibition of Rosa Bonheur ' s grand picture "The Lion at Home , " comes to an end this ( Saturday ) evening .
On the other hand , there is now on view at the Pall Mall Gallery , 4 S , Pall Alall , a collection of marine p ictures by Aivasovsky , among them being several magnificent Alediterranean , and Crimean coast scenes . The management of thc Royal Aquarium ,
Westminster , announces a winter Electric Exhibition , at whicli prizes to the amount of , Ciooo will be awarded , and which will be opened on the ist of November , and will remain so till ist March , 1 SS 3 . Particulars as lo conditions , plans , space , & c , may be had of Capt . Hodgson , Royal Aquarium , Westminster .
# * * One of the chief attractions at the Crystal Palace is the electric railway , on the second terrace , which still continues to interest the numerous visitors who , during the present agreeable weather , pay a visit to this popular resort .
s s a The Electric Lighting Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Commons , and the public will , in due time , be aware of the effect it is likely to have , and whether or not the system of lighting by ga . s stands a chance of being superseded by the new electric system .
« » * It has been clearly shown , by the system of instantaneous photography , that a horse raises the left fore foot and left hind foot together , and does not , as hitherto imagined , step diagonallv .
* At Malmesbury , on Wednesday , Lord E . Fitzmaurice , AI . P ., presided at the meeting of the Archaeological Society , and delivered an inaugural address , in which he descanted on the origin and history of Wilts as a county from the time when it was an old Saxon sub-kingdom .
On Wednesday the Royal Archaeological Institute made an excursion to Penrith , the party comprising some 300 folk * . Air . Evans , President of the Antiquarian Section , Professor Stephens , of Copenhagen , and Air . Clark , of Dowlais , delivered short addresses . Owing to the shortness
of time at their disposal , the party were prevented from paying a visit to Lowther Castle , the seat of the Earl of Lonsdale . In the evening Lord Talbot de Alalalude , at a meeting of the Antiquarian Section , read a paper on Algeria . - it lit %
American men of science "—an elastic term , one may remark—are said to be engaged in the preparation of a scheme for the production of artificial rain . Arguing from the well-known lact that most great battles have been succeeded by showers , they propose by a series of shocks or explosions to disturb the atmosphere , in Ithe confident expectation that rain will follow . The idea is an old one , but has never yet been put to the test of experiment .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Theatres.
THE THEATRES .
Whatever may be said about the decline ol melodrama , and the altered taste of the present generation , there can be no doubt whatever that such dramas as "The Lights o' London" and "The Romany Rye " appeal toa very large class indeed of playgoers , and the nightly crowd at the Princess's , attests this fact , lt is more than probable—indeedwe may take it as a well-determined
, fact—that Bro . George R . Sims's play of " 'The Romany Rye" is one of the best that has been produced for many a day , and , in a certain sense , revives our recollections of the good old times of the Adelphi , when our recentlydeceased Bro . Benjamin Webster was in his palmiest of melodramatic and managerial days . The Princess's , in fact , has latterly been producing a succession of admirable
pieces , and "The Romany Rye" will bear comparison with the best of them . It is the misfortune of a journal like the Freemason that it is occasionally a little behind its colleagues in its criticisms on current drama . It is unnecessary therefore , we should give a lengthened sketch of the play . Suffice it to say , that it is admirably put together , and that in the cast which has been engaged the several characters find as capable exponents as are to be
found on the English stage . Mr . Wilson Barrett , as the hero , and Aliss Eastlake , as the heroine , acquit themselves splendidly , aud the merit of their acting is made all the more conspicuous by reason of the strength exhibited by the other members of the company—Alessrs . Willard , Coote , Cathcart , and G . Barrett ; Mesdames Ormsby , Masson , Vincent , Sc . The piece is well mounted , and the other accessories are in keeping .
Bro . Irving having discovered that his contemp lated visit to America would not be as private as he desired , seeing it was to be a holiday , and not in any way connected with business , has given up all idea of going .
Music
MUSIC
The events of the season 18 S 2 will compare successfully with those of former years , and deserve at our hands some last adieux . Bro . Carl Rosa opened the ball at Her Alajesty ' s with a series of operatic performances , mostly Wagnerian , in English . His company has established for itself a high reputation , and in the members composing it the works he set before the public found able
interpreters . They—that is , of course , the works , not the members of the company—were , moreover , splendidly mounted , so that the eye , as well as the ear , of the British public was taken captive ; the one by scenic beauty , the other by the beauties of sound . There is , then , the hope in which we may legitimately indulge , that next year our worthy brother will repeat his experience of the season now terminated .
The appearance ( for the first time ) of a German Opera Company in our midst is an event that would , of itself , suffice to make the year 1 SS 2 a memorable one in our musical annals . It was an experiment which , as it happens , has turned out disastrously for Herr Franke , the enterprising director who engaged in it , and he has our full sympathy . But , even though it has proved financiall y
disastrous , an experiment which introduced to our acquaintance a company so capable , both collectively and individually , even to its humblest members . stageaccessories so admirable , an orchestra so well trained , and a conductor so painstaking and efficient as Herr Richter , is certainly not to be regretted . Weber , Beethoven , and Wagner were the composers whose works were selected for performance ; the first named being
represented by his " Euryanthe , " and the second by his " Fidelio , " while the last had allotted to him the lion ' s share , in the shape of " Die Meistersinger , " whicli at once established itself as a universal favourite , " Lohengrin , " and other of his operas . 'There is a well-known proverb about people who have been " once bitten " being " twice shv , " and Herr Franke may not be disposed to repeat an
experiment which has been the reverse of a benefit to him . Yet he must have gained some experience as to how so vast an enterprise should be conducted , so as to turn out a profit instead of a loss . He must be in a position to know whether , and , if so , where his expenditure might be reasonably , and yet without sacrifice of excellence , curtailed . Other changes of programme may suggest themselves , and
the failure of 1 SS 2 , converted into a success in 1 SS 3 . Or be failing Herr Franke , some other experienced " entrepreneur" may be induced to repeat the venture . At all events , though the outlook for the moment is confessedly not a promising one , let us hope we have not yet seen the last of German Opera as it was a short time since presented to us
on the boards of " Old Drury ; " not only on the score of its own merits , but because it must stimulate the authorities atthe "Garden" to make their company something else than a mere framework , which , by its very inferiority , makes still more prominent thc excellencies of a " prima donna . "
lie Iff ' tf The Italian opera season , though it has been pretty much what it has been in former years , has been signalised by more than one event which calls for observation . In the first place , the management was , for the first time placed in the hands of a limited company , with Mr . Gye as the managing director , and there is now onc ,
instead of two rival companies . The re-appearance on the London boards of so admirable an artist as Aladame Pauline Lucca is also noteworthy ; and , as may be well imagined , the reception accorded her , after an absence of some ten years , was worthy of her reputation , and cannot have been otherwise than most gratifying to her . Aladame Adelina Patti and Madame Albani were the other " prime donne , " and but for the breakdown of the arrangements with
Music
Madame Nusson the co pany would have been able to boast of no less than four " first ladies . " Lastly a new opera , " Velleda , " was produced , but though the reception was not unfavourable , we shall , in all probability , hear little of it in the future . Another opera , produced for the first time in 1 SS 0 , at Her Alajesty's—Boilo's " Alefistofele " —was revived , and from the manner in which it was received we may look upon it as a permanent addition to the repertory of English opera in this country .
One other item remains to be noted , and wc shall have completed our review . The " Nibelung's Ring , " in four cycles , was produced by Bro . Alapleson at Her Majesty's 'Theatre , under the immediate auspices of Herr Angelo Neumann . That the performances had in them much
to commend them to the public is beyond question . Yet we are in doubt if they have established themselves sufficiently in the favour of that public to warrant their being produced another year . And , saying this , we bid farewell to the season of 1 SS 2 .
-. ' . . * .-t - * Mr . A . Gwyllym Crowe , commences to - day ( Saturday ) , his second series of Promenade Concerts . Among the principal instrumentalists , whose services Air . Crowe has succeeded in engaging , are Mr . Carrodus , Air .
Viotti Collins , Mr . Hughes , Air . Ellis , Air . Val . Nicholson , & c , & c . ; Aliss Alaric Schumann as solo violiniste . It is hardly necessary to say that the concerts will be held at Covent Garden , which , with the Floral Hall—the latter being turned to account as a smoking lounge—will be lighted by the electric light .
The Birmingham Musical Festival is fixed for Tuesday , the 29 th inst ., and three following days , and we rejoice that , bar accident in the interim , Bro . Sir Alichael Costa , P . G . W . England , will wield his bAton as conductor . The vocalists engaged are Mesdames Albani , Alarie Roze , Patey , and Trebelli , Aliss Anna Williams , Alessrs . E . Lloyd , J . Maas , F . King , Signor Foli , and Bro . Santley . The chorus
\ will number 357 , and the band 142 : Organist , Air . Stimpson . The arrangements are as follow : Tuesday—morning , " Elijah ; " evening , Sir J . Benedict ' s new cantata , " Grazieila , " and a miscellaneous selection . Wednesday —morning , Gounod's new oratorio , "The Redemption ;" evening , Air . A . R . Gaul's new cantata , " The Holy City , " together with a new orchestral work by Mr . Villiers
Stanford . Ihursday—morning , "lhe Messiah ; evening , Herr Gade's new cantata , " Psyche , " with a miscellaneous selection . Friday—morning , Cherubini ' s " Alass in C , " Beethoven ' s " Alount of Olives , " Brahm ' s " Triumph Lied , " and a symphony ; evening , "The Redemption . " The executive are to be congratulated on a programme
which , in addition to such splendid and familiar works as "The Messiah , " "Elijah , " & c , & c , includes a new oratorio , three new cantatas , and other novelties . It is needless to say the chief interest will centre in Gounod ' s oratorio , "The Redemption , " which he regards as the work of his life , and for which the immense sum of £ 4000 has been paid to him .
« * * The next important annual event will be the Festival of the Three Choirs , which will be held this year at Hereford , a fortnight later , on Tuesday , 12 th September , and three following days . The artistes include Alcsdames Albani and Patey , Miss Alarian Fenna , Aliss Anna Williams , and . "* . ! ss Hilda Wilson ; Alessrs . E . Lloyd , F . King , C . VV . Fredericks , and Frank Boyle , and Bro .
Santley . The festival commences , as at Birmingham , with Mendelsshon ' s "Elijah . " On Wednesday morning Handel ' s "Judas Ataccab .-eus , " Beethoven ' s " Symphony No . 4 , " Coetz ' s " 137 th Psalm , " and Bach ' s " Alagnificat in D Alajor : " evening , Alendelssohn ' s "St . Paul . " Thursday morning , Dr . Garrett ' s " Shunammite , "
Beethoven ' s " Alass in C , " and a selection from Alolique ' s " Abraham . " Friday morning , Handel's " Alessiah . " There will be a full choral service in the cathedral daily , as well as concerts in the Shire Hall , on Tuesday and Thursday evenings , and a chamber concert on the evening of Friday . Here , again , we must congratulate the management on the excellence of the programme .
« * ss A new opera by Hen * Wagner , entitled " Parsiford , " has recently been produced at Bayreuth , and will , doubtless , find its way over to this country at an early date , when the musical world will have an opportunity of judging of its merits .
There are few of those who make it their business to cater for the public amusement , both on ordinary and special occasions , who acquit themselves more to the general satisfaction than Bros . Bertram and Roberts . Alonday next , as our readers are aware , will be Bank Holiday , and , if only the weather remains such as it has been the last few days , the Crystal Palace may look fonvard
to an unusually large gathering on the occasion . Certain it is that those who visit the Palace at Sydenham on Alonday will be more than ordinarily difficult to please if they do not express themselves satisfied with the varied and extensive programme which has been arranged for their gratification . This is not the place to speak of the general items of the entertainment , but it is worth while
mentioning that one of its most attractive features will no doubt be the great military concert , in which the combined bands of the Scots Guards and Koyal Engineers , under the direction of Mr . J . P . Clarke and Herr J . R . Rawenthal , will take part . This will be sure to prove attractive , especially as there is just now prevalent both in London and the provinces an epidemic of " scarlet fever " in a very pronounced form .
* * •* Similar remarks will apply to the programme which Alessrs . Jones and Barber , of the Alexandra Palace , have announced for the same holiday . Here , likewise , music will form a conspicuous feature of the entertainment . There will , in the first place , be a concert of English , Irish , and Scotch ballads , while the lovers of niartial music will
Music
have their appetite satisfied by a performance , with " special startling effects , " of the ever-popular " British Army Quadrilles , " composed by the late AL Jullien ; and should the Clerk of the Weather be as good a boy as he ha * been latterly , there will no doubt be a monster attendance to listen to and applaud to the echo the inspiriting strains oh the well-known quadrilles .
1 his day ( Saturday ) the Mohawk Minstrels , of which Bro . James Francis , Bro . William Francis , and Air-Harry Hunter are the proprietors , will return to their old quarters at the Agricultural Hall , after a lengthened tour in the provinces and visits to other parts of the metropolis .
'Their hall has been entirely reconstructed and redecorated , new talent has been engaged , and a new programme will be forthcoming with , as usual , two performances , at three o'clock p . m . and eight o ' clock p . m . respectively , on Bank Holiday .
J'urther important additions have also been made in the Aloore and Burgess Minstrels , St . James ' s Hall , twocelebrated American comedians , Air . Jake Budd , of the Capitol Theatre , Washington , and Mr . John Robinson , of New York , having been recently added to the company . A new and excellent programme has also been arranged- "
Science And Art.
SCIENCE AND ART .
It is hardly necessary , in noting the fresh evidences that have been presented during the current week , to the effect that the London season is rapidly drawing to a close , that , to use a familiar phrase , we should go on piling up the agony . Yet time slips away so rapidly , that ' our readers if they are not reminded of the fact , may be unaware that , to take a conspicuous instance , the exhibition at the Royal
Academy will close on Monday next . During die present week it has been open in thc evening as well as throughout the day , the charge for admission during the former being , as usual , sixpence , while on Alonday , that will be the price charged during the morning as well . When , however , the doors close on the public at 10 . 30 p . m . of that day they will be closed for the present season .
- * * SN Another ot our Metropolitan attractions will be a ^ thing of the past this time next week , to wit , the Grosvenor Gallery , which likewise closes its doors on Bank Holiday ; while the exhibition of Rosa Bonheur ' s grand picture "The Lion at Home , " comes to an end this ( Saturday ) evening .
On the other hand , there is now on view at the Pall Mall Gallery , 4 S , Pall Alall , a collection of marine p ictures by Aivasovsky , among them being several magnificent Alediterranean , and Crimean coast scenes . The management of thc Royal Aquarium ,
Westminster , announces a winter Electric Exhibition , at whicli prizes to the amount of , Ciooo will be awarded , and which will be opened on the ist of November , and will remain so till ist March , 1 SS 3 . Particulars as lo conditions , plans , space , & c , may be had of Capt . Hodgson , Royal Aquarium , Westminster .
# * * One of the chief attractions at the Crystal Palace is the electric railway , on the second terrace , which still continues to interest the numerous visitors who , during the present agreeable weather , pay a visit to this popular resort .
s s a The Electric Lighting Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Commons , and the public will , in due time , be aware of the effect it is likely to have , and whether or not the system of lighting by ga . s stands a chance of being superseded by the new electric system .
« » * It has been clearly shown , by the system of instantaneous photography , that a horse raises the left fore foot and left hind foot together , and does not , as hitherto imagined , step diagonallv .
* At Malmesbury , on Wednesday , Lord E . Fitzmaurice , AI . P ., presided at the meeting of the Archaeological Society , and delivered an inaugural address , in which he descanted on the origin and history of Wilts as a county from the time when it was an old Saxon sub-kingdom .
On Wednesday the Royal Archaeological Institute made an excursion to Penrith , the party comprising some 300 folk * . Air . Evans , President of the Antiquarian Section , Professor Stephens , of Copenhagen , and Air . Clark , of Dowlais , delivered short addresses . Owing to the shortness
of time at their disposal , the party were prevented from paying a visit to Lowther Castle , the seat of the Earl of Lonsdale . In the evening Lord Talbot de Alalalude , at a meeting of the Antiquarian Section , read a paper on Algeria . - it lit %
American men of science "—an elastic term , one may remark—are said to be engaged in the preparation of a scheme for the production of artificial rain . Arguing from the well-known lact that most great battles have been succeeded by showers , they propose by a series of shocks or explosions to disturb the atmosphere , in Ithe confident expectation that rain will follow . The idea is an old one , but has never yet been put to the test of experiment .